Why We Won't Ban Buhari For Threat Message Like We Banned Trump—Twitter - BY SAHARAREPORTERS

Buhari had in a tweet on Tuesday stated that his government will get “harder” on those hellbent on destroying Nigeria. Microblogging platform, Twitter has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s “threat” tweet does not violate its rule. Buhari had in a tweet on Tuesday stated that his government will get “harder” on those hellbent on destroying Nigeria. He said those wanting to destroy his government will receive the shock of their lives as his administration will do everything possible to ensure they fail. The president said the sponsors and orchestrators of insecurity in the country are doing so because they want his administration to fail. His tweet had read, ”I receive daily security reports on the attacks on critical national infrastructure, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time. “I received a briefing today from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the series of attacks on their facilities nationwide. These attacks are totally unacceptable, and we will not allow those behind them to achieve their evil objectives. “I have assured INEC that we will make available to them everything they need to operate efficiently, so that no one will say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. There will be no excuse for failure. We will meet all of INEC’s demands. “In the area of security, we have changed the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General, and we are demanding that they rise fully to the challenges confronting us. There must be zero tolerance for all those bent on destroying our country by promoting crime and insurrection! “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.” The President's Twitter account was reported by Nigerians who understood the last part of the thread as threats against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Many reminded Buhari of the consequences of the Nigerian civil war which lasted from 1967 to 1970, stating that such must not be repeated. Also, social media users likened President’s statement to that of the former United States President Donald Trump which earned the latter a permanent suspension. Trump's Twitter account was "permanently suspended... due to the risk of further incitement of violence," Twitter had said. Twitter said the decision was made "after close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account". Trump was locked out of his account for 12 hours after he called the people who stormed the US Capitol "patriots". Hundreds of his supporters entered the complex as the US Congress attempted to certify Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election. The ensuing violence led to the deaths of four civilians and a police officer. Twitter warned then that it would ban Trump "permanently" if he breached the platform's rules again. Trump posted two tweets further that the company cited as the final straws. However, in a statement, Twitter said Buhari did not violate its rules, despite heavy criticisms that trailed the tweet, accusing the president of declaring a genocidal war on the Igbos. “We’re writing to let you know that after reviewing the available information, we didn’t find a violation of our rules in the content you reported,” the company said. Twitter added that “we appreciate that you let us know what happened, and encourage you to reach out again in the future if you see any potential violations.”

Buhari: You want my administration to fail? I will treat you in the language you understand soon By Robby Akeju

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, issued a stern warning to those bent on destroying the country through promoting insurrection, and burning down critical national assets: a rude shock awaits them, and very soon too. The President spoke after he received briefing from Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on series of attacks on facilities of the electoral body round the country. “I receive daily security reports on the attacks, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail. “Insecurity in Nigeria is now mentioned all over the world. All the people who want power, whoever they are, you wonder what they really want. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time.” Buhari recalled that he visited all the 36 states of the country before the 2019 election, “and majority of the people believed me, and the election proved it.” He promised to continue leading the country in accordance with constitutional provisions. He said those misbehaving in certain parts of the country were obviously too young to know the travails and loss of lives that attended the Nigerian Civil War. “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand. We are going to be very hard sooner than later.” The President said the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police have been changed, “and we will demand security from them.” On the dangers posed to future elections by the burning of INEC facilities, President Buhari said he would give the electoral commission all it needed to operate, “so that no one would say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. There will be no excuse for failure. We’ll meet all INEC’s demands.” In his briefing, Yakubu said that so far, there have been 42 cases of attacks on INEC offices nationwide, since the last General Election. “The 42 incidents so far occurred in 14 states of the Federation for a variety of reasons. Most of the attacks happened in the last seven months, and they are unrelated to protest against previous elections. From the pattern and frequency of the most recent attacks, they appear to be targeted at future elections. The intention is to incapacitate the Commission, undermine the nation’s democracy and precipitate a national crisis,” Yakubu said.

Ignore the past, we are friends, brothers – Oshiomhole begs Obaseki By Don Silas

Ignore the past, we are friends, brothers – Oshiomhole begs ObasekiPublished on June 1, 2021 By Don Silas Adams Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has pleaded with Governor Godwin Obaseki, to be magnanimous in victory. Oshiomhole said this while congratulating Obaseki on his victory at the Supreme Court on Monday. In his letter to the Governor, which was made public by Oshiomhole’s media aide, Victor Oshioke, in Benin, on Monday, the ex-APC national chairman appealed to Obaseki to put the past behind. “Congratulations on your victory at the Supreme Court, which has effectively laid to rest all matters arising from the last election,” the letter read in part. “As I had repeatedly reminded you during our several meetings, our relationship has through the years developed beyond being friends to being brothers of different parents. “Whatever happened is unfortunate, and I believe God has a reason for everything. I’ve put all behind me and moved on. “As I’ve consistently advised, please be magnanimous in victory. You’re the Governor of all Edo people, regardless of political leanings. “Once again, congratulations Excellency!”

NNPC plans to acquire stakes in six private refineries by Okechukwu Nnodim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Monday said it is currently considering equity participation in some private refineries across the country. It said this was in line with a Federal Government’s policy directive which stipulated the mandatory participation of the corporation in any privately-owned refinery that exceeded 50,000 barrels per day capacity. The corporation stated that it had identified at least six refinery projects in which it had intensions to seek equity participation. It said five of them were at the development stage with the Dangote Refinery being the largest of them all. A statement issued in Abuja by the corporation’s spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, explained that NNPC, as the national oil company of Nigeria primarily had a dual role of providing stewardship for the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. He said the corporation also had the role of adding value to the country’s resources for the benefit of all Nigerians and other stakeholders. “These roles enable it to achieve the twin objectives of providing energy security for the country and stimulating the nation’s economic development and growth,” Obateru stated. He said NNPC’s objective to ensure energy security and stimulate economic growth with limited resources required it to consider strategic partnerships with competent investors in sectors of the oil and gas value chain especially where it currently operated on a sole risk basis. Obateru said, “The oil refining sector is one of such segments where NNPC is revisiting its strategy in order to strengthen domestic refining capacity and guarantee national energy security. “The new vision is to grow domestic refining capacity, improve petroleum products supply from our local refineries and become a net exporter of petroleum products.” The corporation said the move to seek equity participation in the private refineries would not undercut its commitment to the rehabilitation of its own refineries and strengthen the domestic refining sector. PUNCH.

Obaseki: Oshiomhole says conflict unfortunate, Ize-Iyamu pleads for 14 lawmakers by Adeyinka Adedipe

IMMEDIATE past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, and the APC candidate in the September 19, 2020, Edo State Governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki, to be magnanimous in victory. They appealed to Obaseki to consider a political solution to the case involving members-elect of the State Assembly who failed to present themselves for inauguration. In his letter to Obaseki, which was made public by Oshiomhole’s media aide, Victor Oshioke, in Benin, on Monday, the former APC national chairman urged the governor to put the past behind. The letter read in part: “Congratulations on your victory at the Supreme Court which has effectively laid to rest all matters arising from the last election. “As I had repeatedly reminded you during our several meetings, our relationship has through the years developed beyond being friends to being brothers of different parents. “Whatever happened is unfortunate and I believe God has a reason for everything. I have put all behind me and moved on. As I have consistently advised, please be magnanimous in victory. You are the Governor of all Edo people, regardless of political leanings. “Once again, congratulations Excellency! Please accept the renewed assurances of my very best wishes and high regards.” On his part, Ize-Iyamu, who dwelt on the issue of the 14 lawmakers-elect and some Local Government Council Chairmen in a separate letter, said, “Though the matter is in court, you are in a vantage position to consider an out-of-court settlement of the issue, in the overall interest of our state.” He equally wrote, “I also urge the Governor to intervene in the issue of elected Local Government Chairmen, Vice-chairmen, Councilors and Supervisory Councillors, who sometimes ago were suspended and removed from office. “Our appeal is that you consider paying them their entitlements since it is now late for them to return to their offices. This can also be through an out of court settlement”. “Last Friday’s judgement of the Supreme Court puts an end to the series of litigations we had over last year’s governorship elections. “We are happy that all these cases have come to an end. Now that it is all over, please accept my congratulations.” However, the Edo State chapter of the PDP, which spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare said, “Now that it is clear that the APC boobytraps of unwarranted, unnecessary, mindless and malicious court cases have collapsed, we have entered the season of congratulatory messages. “Edo PDP thanks all Nigerians, especially Edo people, who have congratulated us and of course His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on the resounding victory he recorded at the Supreme Court on Friday, May 28, 2021.”

Birth limit policy: China to allow three children per family by Victoria Edeme

China has announced that married Chinese couples are now allowed to have up to three children, easing the child limit policy that restricted couples to just two children. The announcement was made on Monday, following a need to cope with the risk faced by Chinese economy as a result of the increasing aging population in China, according to Reuters. In order to reduce economic risks stemming from the rapidly aging population, China introduced the two-child limit policy in 2016 after its one-child policy that had been practiced for decades. However, the country expressed worry over a rapid fall in the working population and claimed that such is capable of disrupting the country’s future plans for the economy. Recent data has shown that there is a dramatic decline of birth and a rapid increase in the aging population, leading to more concerns. The reduction in birth rate, resulting from the high cost of child up-keep in China, has led to more provisions by the government. The new policy change will come with “supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country’s population structure, fulfilling the country’s strategy of actively coping with an aging population”.

N90bn drugs seized, 2,175 suspects arrested in four months –Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted assorted drugs worth over N90 billion and arrested 2, 175 drug traffickers in four months, the Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has said. Marwa disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a ceremony to present the best performing commands for March and April and presentation of commendation letters to outstanding officers and men. Marwa said the agency had spent the past four months implementing various measures aimed at repositioning the agency, with emphasis on strengthening the capacity of its officers. He said that the agency in return had reaped high-impact, far-reaching results that left no room for any doubt about the efficacy of the strategies adopted. The NDLEA chairman added that the results, however, justified the agency’s efforts saying that the evidence was clear for everyone to see. According to him, we would not have been able to arrest 2,175 drug traffickers. “And neither would the seizure of 2,050,766.33 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs have been possible if you had chosen to do just the minimal work across your various commands. “If our approach has been one of business, as usual, we would not have been able to seize drug and cash valued at over N90 billion in just four months. “Think of what a fraction of that could have done to the various criminalities in Nigeria. “The filing of about 2,100 drug cases in court with over 500 convictions was made possible by the collective efforts of our officers and men who decided to go the extra mile. “Today, it is part of our records and collective credits that we are not only breaking down the high walls shielding drug cartels but also reining in drug barons. “So, every one of you, our officers and men, spread across the country made the achievements possible,” he said. The NDLEA boss assured the officers and men that the agency would not rest on its oars. He added that the offensive action would not stop until the streets, communities, towns and cities have been cleaned up of any remnant of illicit drugs. Marwa said that the agency would keep up the offensive in the field, saying that the leadership of the agency would daily continue to work out effective strategies and tactics to sustain the momentum. “That is why we have strengthened our Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigations to go after all assets or funds linked to drug trafficking which had led to interim and final forfeiture orders on assets and funds worth billions of naira linked to drug traffickers and barons. “Of significant interest is our current investigation of N30 billion slush fund believed to be proceeds of drugs,” he said. Marwa charged the officers and men to sustain the hard work, adding “reward for good work is more work”. (NAN).