TheNewsGuru

Tag: Protest

  • Land Use Charge: NBA, NCP, others protest, warn Ambode against implementation

    The Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), along with the National Conscience Party (NCP), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and Joint Action Committee, among others on Tuesday protested against the implementation of the Lagos State Land Use Charge Law 2018 by the state government.

    The groups stormed the Lagos State Government’s secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, to protest against the new law, saying it had led to a hike in the levies charged by government on property.

    The ‘Hell Tax Must Go’ protest started from the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja, from where the protesters marched to the Government House and the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa.

    The protesters displayed placards, some of which read, ‘We are not selling houses,’ ‘Lagos is not only for the rich,’ and ‘Land Use Charge increment is wicked and oppressive.’

    Submitting a protest letter to the Assembly, the Chairman, NBA, Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana, said lawyers and members of the civil society organisations were opposed to the law, which he described as a “Pharaohoic tax regime,” asking the government to reverse it.

    Ogunlana said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must not take Lagosians who voted for him for granted by imposing heavy taxes on them.

    “Must Lagos become a so-called paradise at the expense of the lives and limbs of Lagosians?

    “Ambode should not let people regret voting for him the first time and go on to reject him for a second term,” Ogunlana said.

    The NBA branch chairman pointed out that that taxes introduced by the present administration would further lead to job losses.

    He said. “We urge that you suspend the application of Land Use Charge Law for immediate review.

    “The truth is that the populace lacks the capacity to bear the tax burden imposed on them.”

    Responding, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, and the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Senai Agunbiade, assured the protesters that government would respond positively to their demands soon.

    Bamigbetan, said, “We have received your letter and I can assure you that we will address your demands. The governor is open to dialogue.”

    Agunbiade, however, pointed out that if the protesters had attended the public hearing on the bill, their input would have been included before the passage.

    “However, all the state lawmakers will look at your demands and respond appropriately,” he added.

  • BREAKING: FA fines Guardiola £20,000 over Catalan ribbon protest

    Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola has been fined £20,000 and warned regarding his future conduct after accepting a Football Association charge of wearing a “political message”.

    The count related to the Manchester City manager’s wearing of a yellow ribbon in support of imprisoned Catalan politicians during his side’s FA Cup defeat at Wigan Athletic on 19 February. Guardiola’s deposition pointed out that he had the ribbon covered before half-time and it only became visible accidentally during the second half.

    An FA statement said: “Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct after admitting an FA charge for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of The FA’s kit and advertising regulation.”

    The Catalan may continue to wear the ribbon for his pre- and post-game media duties but it remains to be seen if he will ensure it is covered during his 90 minutes on the touchline. The regulation refers to this time period.

    The ribbon is in support of prisoners in Catalonia following November’s referendum regarding independence for the region.

    Meanwhile, Guardiola has admitted he does not like playing on Mondays before City’s visit to Stoke. The last time City were in action on a Monday evening was their defeat at Wigan, though the manager says his aversion to playing a day or two after everyone else dates back to his time with Barcelona.

    “It’s nothing to do with Wigan – the reason we lost there was that for 50 minutes it was 10 v 11 and we were not precise enough to find a goal,” Guardiola said. “I just prefer to play at the weekend, when all the other teams are playing. I have had some bad experiences on Mondays.”

    Guardiola will take the opportunity of a blank Saturday to watch Manchester United v Liverpool, partly because United are among City’s next opponents. “We play them in two or three weeks so I intend to take a look,” the manager said, “But it is a big derby, an English classic, the history of both teams is amazing.”

    Should United lose at Old Trafford the possibility exists that City could be crowned champions before the Manchester derby at the Etihad, though Guardiola does not like to look too far ahead. “The distance [we are ahead] is not normal in the beginning of March; it’s almost done but we are not the champions,” he said. “The champions are still Chelsea. We have to get the points as soon as possible, knowing that we have the opportunity. We need to be focused because Stoke away is always difficult. They are fighting to stay in the Premier League, and any time you are up against a team like that it is complicated.”

  • Pete Edochie leads Port Harcourt protest

    Veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie led a group of protesters to the High Court in Port Harcourt over a suit by ex-militant leader, King Ateke Tom.

     

    Edochie led other Nollywood stars on the streets of Port Harcourt to register their team spirit with Ateke whose reputation they claim was being destroyed by politicians.

     

     

    The veteran actor told newsmen that were in the High Court, “to appeal to the Court to expedite action on the suit filed by High Chief Ateke Tom and give his verdict to serve a deterrent to others who try to defame the personality of other people.”

    In the same vein, another group of protesters from Okirika including chiefs, elders and youths also stormed the court premises in solidarity.

     

    Chief Dere Oforome who steered the other group of protesters said they were in court to register their grieviances over what they described as atrocities against the Okirika Kingdom.

     

    Meanwhile, the hearing on the one billion naira defamation law suit by ex-militant leader and the Amayanabo of Okochiri in Okirika, King Ateke Tom against eight chieftains of All Progressive Congress, has been delayed at a High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt.

    Dana Air: AIB sends team to investigate incident at Port Harcourt Airport

     

     

  • Nigerians in UK protest herdsmen killings [Photos]

    Nigerians living in the United Kingdom on Monday protested against the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria. The protest, at Trafalgar Square, London, was convened by Mutual Union of Tivs in the United Kingdom (MUTUK) and was supported by members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom.

    The protesters while chanting, ” Buhari, no more killing,” expressed disappointment on the silence of the Nigerian government. They were seen holding placards with inscriptions like “Nigerian Government stop your silence on Fulani herdsmen’ ‘Blood ‘Nigeria life matters,’ ‘Stop killing Nigerians, Enough is Enough’ among others.

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  • Herdsmen killings: Nigerians in London to protest against govt’s inaction tomorrow

    Concerned Nigerians who reside in London are prepared to embark on a massive protest against the inaction of the Nigerian government over the incessant killings of Nigerians by the deadly Fulani herdsmen group.

    In a statement circulated in the social media, the protest is said to take place tomorrow [Monday] at between 09:00 to 14:30 at the Trafalgar Square, Nigeria High Commission, 10 Downing Street and Parliament Building.

    The convener of the protest stated that a Police permit has been granted to them by the Metropolitan Police and also confirmed that the British Prime Minister’s Office have agreed to receive our petition for the British Govt.

    The statement partly reads, “We must not fold our hands and allow these evil group to destroy the peace, progress and unity of our country. The Owners of these Cows and those arming them will be named and shamed.

    “The Nigerian executive body has failed us. The Nigerian legislatures have failed us. These are all bodies we elect to defend and protect us. Our only option is to cry to the international communities to help us. Please …pass this on to people you know in London to come out and help us cry.”

  • Teachers’ sack: NLC dares El-Rufai, security operatives, commences protest in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday ignored the directives of Governor Nasir El-Rufai and security agencies to shelve its proposed protest of the mass sack of teachers in Kaduna.

    Recall that the police had earlier deployed 8,000 officers to stop the planned demonstration.

    Soldiers and armoured vehicles were also deployed to stop the march.

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai warned he would sanction teachers who join the protest, one of the biggest the state has seen in recent years.

    But the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, said the union would not be intimidated and the protest would continue.

    By afternoon, thousands of protesters broke through police blockade and marched along Independence Way towards along Muhammad Buhari way.

    “Anybody who think we cannot come out for the protest has malaria, and that malaria must be treated today,” Mr. Wabba, said while addressing members inside the Labour House.

    The protesters continued to shout “bama yi, bama so bama so, El-rufai Barawo ne” as they marched to the Government House to deliver a letter to the governor.

    They held banners and placards with different inscriptions.

    Three police vans later joined to give security cover along Ali Akilu Road by NNN roundabout.

     

    Details later…

  • Police deploy 8,000 personnel over NLC protest in Kaduna

    The police have deployed 8,000 personnel across Kaduna metropolis ahead of the protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the sack of 36,000 civil servants by Gov Nasir El-Rufa’i.

    TheNewsGruu reports that heavily armed security personnel were stationed at the NLC headquarters along Independence Way and strategic areas of the metropolis while others were patrolling the town.

    The police and other security personnel were also stationed along major streets in the city including Kaduna-Kachia road, Kaduna-Zaria highway and Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

    Most streets were empty with minimal vehicular movement due to the high presence of security personnel within the town, with few commercial vehicles plying the roads.

    The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba is expected to lead other union members from across the country to protest the mass sack of workers by the state government.

    However, the police and state government on Wednesday announced total ban on all forms of protests in the state.

    Muktar Aliyu, Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, told NAN that about 8,000 policemen were deployed in the city to stop the planned protest and ensure law and order.

    “The police will not fold its arms to whatever will disrupt peace and order in the state.

    “We are on top of the situation to ensure maximum protection of lives and property,’’ Aliyu said.

     

  • Why we attacked, arrested 52 protesting Shiites – Police

    Why we attacked, arrested 52 protesting Shiites – Police

    The Nigerian Police on Wednesday explained why it attacked and arrested some members of the Shiite group protesting the illegal detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife by the Nigerian Government.

    In a statement by its Abuja spokesperson, Anjuguri Manzah, the police confirmed that 52 IMN members were arrested.

    The police said the protesters were violent and that they “recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles.”

    Read the full police statement below.

    “Following the violent protest by members of the El-Zakzaky Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) group who went on rampage and were attacking innocent citizens including Police operatives on Wednesday 10th January, 2018, the FCT Police Command has arrested some members of the sect and recovered some bottles of improvised petrol-bomb, stones and catapult used by members of the sect to attack police operatives and damage police operational vehicles.

    It is pertinent to state that the unlawful action of members of the sect which started on Monday 8th January, 2018 is constituting a serious security threat to the peace of the Federal Capital Territory and at the same time disrupting innocent citizens from going about their lawful businesses.

    In view of the current security situation in the Country, the Command wishes to unequivocally state that while it will continue to be professional in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory roles of the protection of lives and property of the good people of FCT; and equally recognise the rights of citizens to express their lawful grievances, the Command will not fold its arms and watch some persons hold the capital city to ransom by disrupting government and legitimate business activities.

    In view of the foregoing, the Command wants to state that any person or group of persons arrested for violating the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution while registering their protest will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the appropriate section(s) of the law,” the statement said.

  • Muslim group wants to embark on nationwide protest over hijab controversy

    The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the controversy on hijab.

    Amasa Firdaus, a graduate of the Nigeria Law School, was denied her called to bar for wearing a hijab to the ceremony.

    This had attracted criticisms.

    Commenting on the development, NSCIA asked federal government through the ministry of justice to call the council for legal education and the Nigerian Law School to order in order to prevent a religious crisis in the country.

    The body also demanded that Firdaus be called to bar immediately and that she should be compensated adequately.

    “We stand by Abdulsalam Firdaus Amasa who acted within her constitutional rights and we insist that she must be called to the Bar and adequately compensated for the humiliation she was subjected to,” read the statement signed by Salisu Shehu, its deputy secretary-general.

    “Our council patiently waits for what the ministry will do as it puts other options on the table including litigation and nationwide protests.

    “There is no doubt that Abdulsalam Firdaus Amasa has been victimized, humiliated and traumatized by the Nigerian Law School, the Body of Benchers and the Council for Legal Education on account of her faith. She has been denied of rightfully joining her professional colleagues just because of her religion. She has been exposed to ridicule and opprobrium by standing for her religious rights.

    “It begs the question that she is not the only Muslim lady among those concerned as no one will stand for her when she appears before her creator to defend the correctness and otherwise of her actions. We reiterated that she has not violated any law.

    “This is the last straw to break the camel’s back and it will be difficult for the Council to persuade Nigerian Muslims from taking these serial injustices against them again.”

  • PDP Reps protest, walk out over defection of Igbokwe to APC

    Members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are protesting the defection of a member Mr. Raphael Igbokwe, from its fold to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Igbokwe, who is from Imo State, first came to the House in 2011.

    PDP members immediately walked out in protest after the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, allowed the defection to stand.

    PDP members had argued that based on the recent decision of the Supreme Court, there was no division in the party.

    Imo State Governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, witnessed the defection of Igbokwe at the session.

    Igbokwe announced that he had since joined the APC in January when there was a leadership crisis in the PDP.

     

    Details later…