Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said the supporters of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and others who are averse to contrary views can’t stop him from speaking truth to power. He said despite the attack on his personality by Obi’s supporters who are known as ‘Obidents’, during the build-up to the 2023 general elections, he would continue his style of putting out facts in his interventions. Soyinka had in May 2023 come under criticism on social media by LP and Obi’s supporters for faulting some remarks made by the LP vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed. The playwright had described Baba-Ahmed’s comments as “fascistic language”. Speaking on his experience with trolls online in a recent interview with Noble Nigeria, Soyinka said the episode won’t change him, adding that those expecting him to keep quiet should get their head examined. “Nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks he can stop me from telling the truth as I see it should get his or her head examined,” Soyinka said. On the Obidient movement’s attack on his personality, he said, “Again, it has to do with education. I feel disgusted especially when facts are being ‘manufactured’. I read some of these things and I was disgusted. There is no other word for it, I really was disgusted. And I know it was orchestrated. The Internet has become so promiscuous and I know there is a relay mechanism that is triggered into action by those who control the trolls of the Internet.   So, I just went about my business because nobody, anybody on this earth who thinks he can stop me from telling the truth as I see it should get his or her head examined, it is as elementary as that. But it is depressing to see those who wanted to be political leaders encouraging that kind of action, and attitude in the youth. And my mind went to the expression, ‘They don’t know what they’re doing.’ The literary icon, however, warned that if the trolls are not controlled, those instigating their actions would soon feel the wrath of what they have created. He said, “Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. These very trolls, these foot soldiers who they have trained in that aspect, one of these days, they will turn on them and teach them a lesson.” “But it is for me a sad phenomenon, especially for those who want to lead a multi-texture society, different religions, different ethnic groups, different world views and who actually want to preside over sub-groups as one, it means that have already declared themselves incompetent to lead such entity and that’s it,” Soyinka added.

  Friday 24 May 2024 Lagos-Calabar highway will retain original route to save submarine cables – Umahi Asset declaration: CCB set to investigate three former governors, nine former ministers I’ll vie for presidency as long as my health permits, says Atiku Naira slumps against dollar, trades at N1,485/$1 Lagos-Calabar highway will retain original route to save submarine cables – Umahi Sanusi Returns As Emir Of Kano FCT Residents To Enjoy Free 2-Month Ride On Abuja Metro Rail – Wike ECOWAS Parliament elects first female speaker Lagos-Calabar highway: 750 houses for demolition as property owners allege poor compensation IOCs to invest $20bn in Nigeria –FG Gov Yusuf Signs Bill Dissolving Kano Emirates Created By Ganduje Tinubu Directs Review Of Governing Boards Of Tertiary Institutions Alleged Money Laundering: Binance Executive Slumps In Court Tinubu, Seven Other African Leaders Attend Déby’s Inauguration As Chad’s President Bill Seeking Return To Old National Anthem Scales Second Reading At Senate Alleged N19.4bn Fraud: Court Grants Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika Bail Five Killed, Three Injured In Kogi Auto Crash Our ministerial stewardship, by Badaru, Wike, Alake, others NANS, NAUS, NAPTAN, others applaud Fed Govt on Student Loan Scheme NBS: Osun, Anambra residents paid over N17k for 12.5kg cooking gas in April Ajaka vs Ododo: Tribunal to deliver judgment in Kogi guber dispute on May 27 Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  8-year-old Anambra pupil ‘beaten to coma by teacher’ is dead Henry Okonkwo, a primary two pupil of Landmark School, Mgbakwu, in Awka North LGA of Anambra state who was allegedly beaten to a coma by his teacher, has died. TheCable earlier reported that the teacher simply identified as Faith Nwonye was arrested after she was said to have physically abused the 8-year-old pupil over the weekend. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state commissioner for education, in a recent chat with journalists, said the school’s proprietor and Nwonye were summoned to explain the incident that led to the alleged brutalisation of the pupil. The commissioner said the school was also found to be operating illegally, adding that it has been closed indefinitely. However, in a Facebook post on Thursday, Chuma-Udeh confirmed Henry’s passing while revealing that they will “seek justice” for the pupil. “He was a boy like any other, with hopes and aspirations. He went to school for a better future but met a gruesome death at the hands of the people who were supposed to help him achieve his life ambition,” she wrote. “A quack teacher in an illegal school bludgeoned him to death. We mourn a life nipped in the bud! We mourn Henry Chukwuemeka Okonkwo! We mourn and we seek justice.” Credit: TheCable

  A Federal High Court in Kano has issued an order stopping the Kano State Government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law. Justice Mohammed Liman granted the order in an application by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate. Court papers regarding the case have since gone viral. The Kano State House of Assembly, on Thursday, dissolved all the four newly created emirate councils in the state, PUNCH Online reported.   The dissolution of the affected Emirates was a sequel to deliberations on the floor of the House during plenary. Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by a former governor of the state, Umar Ganduje. In addition, the governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces. He also directed them to hand over all affairs to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In the latest lawsuit concerning the Emir’s seat, the news agency reports that the respondents in the fundamental rights case are the Kano State Government, the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the State Security Service. Meanwhile, the court ordered that all court processes be served on the IGP in Abuja. The judge ruled, “That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application. “That in view of the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024. “That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the fifth to eight respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law. “That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application. “That this case is adjourned to the 3rd day of June 2024, for hearing of the fundamental rights application.” “Status quo ante” refers to the previously existing state of affairs. The repealed law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had created Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates in addition to Kano. The law’s repeal means that the newly created emirates have been dissolved, consolidating the Kano Emirate once again under a single ruler.

  The Kano State House of Assembly has dissolved all the four newly created emirate councils in the state. The dissolution of the affected Emirates was a sequel to deliberations on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday. The Kano State Emirates Council Amendment Bill was considered on the floor of the House after scaling second and third reading on Thursday morning. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Butu, explained that repealing the law would revive the lost glory of Kano as the division of Kano emirate to five reduced the capacity and dignity of the state at national level. The Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Dala, said that the emirate council served as a custodian of culture which was distorted by the creation of the four additional emirates. With the amendment of the law, all four new emirate councils were abolished leaving only the Kano Emirate. The House also adopted a motion to create a new second-class emirate council in the state. The PUNCH had in May reported that the House initiated steps to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law. The move could pave the way for the return of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. Also in January 2024, Former Kano governor and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, said that the issue of Kano emirates would definitely be revisited. Former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje had split the Kano emirate into five and dethroned the then Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II. Following the victory of the New Nigerian Peoples Party in last year’s election, Kwankwaso had said the government of Abba Kabir Yusuf would review the dethronement and balkanisation of the emirate. “Honestly it (the Kano Emirates issue) is one of the things that nobody has sat with me to discuss so far but I am sure we are going to sit and see how to go about it. Is it going to be allowed, demolished, corrected, or whatever? It will be revisited, and what’s supposed to be done will be done. “There were a lot of things and this was a trap. All these things were not done in good faith or intention. It was brought with some bad intentions which every one of you here and our listeners are aware of. “Sometimes you come with things that are good and they turn out to be bad while sometimes you bring bad things and they turn out to be good. So, all I know is that I was not consulted as of now but definitely, we will come to discuss and see what should be done.”

  IPC’s Centre for the Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), Lagos-Nigeria has demanded immediate release of Globalupfront Editor-in-Chief, Madu Onuorah. Onourah was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Police Force at about 6p.m on Wednesday May 22, 2024, at his residence in Lugbe, FCT Abuja. IPC in a statement issued and signed by its Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, observed that, “About ten fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses.” “He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family. He was not even allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station.” The statement quoted IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade as saying: “The media once again is under attack. The rate at which journalists and media practitioners are being arrested is alarming and should be of serious concern to all.” “Anybody who has an issue against Madu Onuorah should approach the court of justice and not use the Police to unlawfully infringe his fundamental rights,” he further stated. The statement called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Madu Onuorah, who at the time of drafting this statement has neither been released nor charged to court. I-CSPJ in the statement called on other national, regional and international media freedom groups, freedom of expression organisations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for a free press in Nigeria.