TheNewsGuru

Tag: threats

  • 2019: El-Rufai clears air on death threats to foreign election observers

    Following massive reactions that greeted his statement, Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has clarified his comments, saying the reactions that followed his comments were false outrage, which he said must stop.

    In a statement he issued through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai insisted that his comments were not call for violence, but a powerful defense of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

    The Governor said he merely stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    According to him, “A notorious trait of the characters that constitute the opposition in Nigeria is the manufacture of outrage on flimsy grounds. However, contriving anger on false premises and summoning a din of feverish commentary will not alter the facts. Election season is regarded as silly season in some quarters, but it is a very serious moment.

    “When Malam Nasir El-Rufai appeared on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live, he made comments every patriot can understand. He stood up for Nigeria’s dignity in the wake of those who would traduce their country and reduce it to the status of a colony in their vain quest for power.

    “The video of his comments is in circulation. Any fair-minded person with modest familiarity with the English language and unimpaired comprehension can understand it. It does not contain any call for violence. What it is a powerful defense of sovereignty? Are some sections of our political class implying that they will acquiesce in or collaborate with foreign intervention in our country?

    “Affirming that a country will defend itself against needless intervention is the kind of statement you expect to hear from a patriot. It is not a call for violence. Warning about the consequences of meddling in another country’s affairs is legitimate.

    “Non-interference in the affairs of other countries is a basic principle of international law. Threatening to intervene in another country implies the use of force. Those who are basing their electoral calculations on foreign intervention need to be discouraged. Only the lawful votes of the Nigerian people should make or unmake governments.

    “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has issued a powerful call for vigilance and a clear notice that other countries should not mistake the supine posture of the opposition for national weakness.

    “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has stood firmly against those who have been trying to divide Nigerians on ethnic and religious lines. He is resolutely opposed to violence, and firmly committed to peace and harmony.

    “Let the false outrage stop,” El-Rufai said.

  • Biafra: Presidency reacts to Nnamdi Kanu’s 'coming with hell' threats

    The Presidency on Tuesday said there was no cause for alarm over the recent threat by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, that he would return to the country “with hell.”
     
    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists.
     
    Shehu said the Presidency viewed the threat as a mere distraction.
     
    He said Nigerians had nothing to fear because the present administration was ready to defend the nation’s territory against any threat.
     
    He added that the administration is in touch with other friendly nations and has been assured of their commitment to the sovereignty of the nation.
     
    The statement read, “The Presidency wishes to restate that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is strong enough to defend its territory against any threat, assuring all Nigerians that there is no reason to worry about the hollow outburst by Nnamdi Kanu, the disputed leader of IPOB on returning to the country ‘with hell.’
     
    “Instead, we see the re-enactment of his bizarre, episodic threat as a mere distraction which will not be allowed to detract from the existing cordial relationships between Nigeria and other countries.
     
    “The Buhari administration is in constant touch with other friendly nations and has the best assurances that they would continue to reciprocate the respect Nigeria has for the sovereignty of their nations.
     
    “Nigerians have nothing to fear from this.”

  • Resignation: Miyetti Allah disowns official threatening Saraki

    The national leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has dissociated itself from threatening comments against Senate President, Bukola Saraki by its state coordinator for Benue.

    Recall that the state coordinator, Garus Gololo, had in an interview with The Punch warned Saraki to resign or be forced to do so.

    “It is on this note that we are saying that Saraki ought not to be in office again as Senate President, more so, Saraki has failed to coordinate and organise the National Assembly to offer quality legislation that Nigerians need,” he was quoted as saying.

    “Nigerians are in dire need of people that have the interest of the masses. Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency.

    “We are now tired of Saraki’s style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out”, Gololo said, refusing, however, to explain how the association would remove the Senate president,” Punch quoted him as saying.

    Reacting, however, the national body of the association said Mr Gololo only spoke for himself.

    In a statement signed by its secretary, Othman Ngelzarma, on Wednesday, the association said Mr Gololo’s comments do not reflect the position of the association.

    The statement reads, “The attention of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has been drawn to an interview granted by one Garus Gololo in Makurdi to Punch Newspaper titled ‘Resign or we will force you out’. Miyetti Allah to Saraki. This statement is unfortunate.

    “I will categorically state that Garos Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and has no mandate to speak on behalf of the association. Miyetti Allah is a non partisan association with no interest in the political terrain and we couldn’t meddle into the affairs of political actors thereby compounding our already obvious challenges. I, therefore, urge all and sundry to disregard this statement. This statement is not from MACBAN and should be disregarded in its entirety.”

    The group said it would sanction Mr Gololo for making such statement.

    “We take exception on this statement and Garos Gololo is entirely on his own and will be sanctioned accordingly. We cannot afford to add up to the many challenges we are confronted with. I’m therefore appealing to the general public to disregard this statement as it is coming from someone who doesn’t have the mandate of the association to speak on its behalf. Thank You and God bless you all.”

  • Russia 2018: ‘British threats to boycott World Cup hurt ties, sport’

    Russia’s foreign ministry said on Monday that British threats to boycott the 2018 FIFA World Cup would damage ties with Moscow and hurt world sport, Interfax news agency reported.

    The British government it would respond decisively to any Russian government’s involvement, in the wake of the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in England.

    Prime Minister Theresa May said earlier on Monday it was “highly likely” that Moscow was responsible for the attack.

    Some British officials have suggested boycotting the Russia-hosted World Cup later this year in response.

    “We want to emphasize once again: such provocative statements, which fan anti-Russian hysteria, only complicate relations between our countries and are blow to world sport,” Interfax quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

  • Retract your threats on Olubadan in seven days or face public ridicule – Mogajis warn new obas

    Ibadan Authentic Mogajis (family heads) have told the newly crowned 21 obas to withdraw their 21-day dethronement threat against the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji in seven days or face public ridicule for disloyalty against the Olubadan.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the new obas had issued a 21-day ultimatum to Oba Adetunji to abide by the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration law review or face dethronement.

    The mogajis advised the new obas to immediately withdraw their ultimatum or face the wrath of Ibadan sons and daughters.

    According to them, the new obas risk losing their crowns should they recommend the Olubadan for removal because of what they called “phantom charges” against His Imperial Majesty.

    The mogajis, after their meeting at the Oja’ba palace, which was reportedly attended by Alhaji Abass Oloko (Mogaji Oloko), Chief Abduljelyl Karheem (Mogaji Adanla), Alhaji Moshud Gbolagade (Mogaji Akere), Alhaji Waheed Kosoko (Mogaji Onilabu), Alhaji Ademola Oladosu (Mogaji Olasomi) and Chief Wale Oladoja (Mogaji Akinsola), said they would not allow the city to disintegrate.

    A statement on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by their spokesman Wale Oladoja, said: “We can’t continue to fold our arms and watch while some people rain abuses and insults on our revered kabiyesi. It is a big slap on the real Ibadan sons and daughters and we have decided to appeal to the eight high chiefs to withdraw their statement within the next seven days or face the consequences of their disloyalty to the Olubadan, who, by law and tradition of the city, remains the paramount ruler of the land.

    “These eight high chiefs are members of the Olubadan-in-Council and they should stop parading themselves as constitutional obas in Ibadan; failure to do so may lead to anarchy. We know quite alright that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not tolerate anything that will jeopardise the security of any part of the country and the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, should caution all these-so-called vassal obas. They should allow court to decide the cases on merit and stop cutting corners.

    “We, the authentic mogajis, begin to wonder if these people are already feeling guilty before the court pronouncements. Why should anybody not allow the status quo to remain pending the judgment of several cases on the matter?

    “We hold dear the Nigerian Judiciary as bastion and hope of all. Therefore, they should allow the Judiciary to do its job. Otherwise, we will go after them and subject them to public ridicule too.

    “They are our fathers and they should know that an injury to one is an injury to all. They risk losing their crowns should they go ahead to recommend the Olubadan for removal over phantom charges.”

  • Kenya bows to US threats, withdraws ban on used clothes

    Kenya has withdrawn a proposed ban on used clothes by the East African regional bloc after threats by the United States to review trade benefits to specifically Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

    Kenya’s Trade and Industrialization Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo said the country had decided to comply with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) conditions, reports web portal The East African.

    “When we saw the petition filed in March, we knew that the lobby group had strong arguments,” he said.

    Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and South Sudan decided to fully ban imported second-hand clothes and shoes by 2019, arguing it would help member countries boost domestic clothes manufacturing.

    As signatories to the AGOA trade programme which offers them duty-free access to the United States, their decision violates the conditions including eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment, among others.

    The U.S. Trade Representative said last Tuesday that it was reviewing trade benefits to the three countries in response to a petition filed by a United States body that complained that the ban “imposed significant hardship” on the U.S. used-clothing industry.

    Rwandan President Paul Kagame has stated that his country will proceed with the ban on used clothes and will choose to grow its local textile industry at the expense of being a member of the AGOA.

    This is the choice we find that we have to make. As far as I am concerned, making the choice is simple, we might suffer consequences. Even when confronted with difficult choices, there is always a way,” he said after officially applying to run for a third term in office.

    “Rwanda and other countries in the region that are part of AGOA, have to do other things, we have to grow and establish our industries,” Kagame added.

    Uganda and Rwanda have already raised taxes for used clothes and offered incentives to manufactures to invest in their local textile industry.

    Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry Julius Onen told The EastAfrican that they are still studying the matter and will issue a formal position next week.

    U.S. imports from Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda totaled $43 million in 2016, up from $33 million in 2015 while exports were $281 million in 2016, up from $257 million in 2015.