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Africa Plans Joint Response To Maltreatment Of Citizens In China, As Nigeria Draws Red Line

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Nigeria has started discussion with other African countries on the definitive steps to be taken on the maltreatment of their citizens in China.

It is also to commence the airlifting of stranded Nigerians next month, with those in the United Arab Emirates being the first.

Over 2,000 Nigerians, are stranded across the globe following the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19(Coronavirus) pandemic.

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama made this known during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja on Thursday.

Onyeama, who was fielding questions from reporters at the event, added that Nigeria had “drawn a red line” for the Chinese authorities on the maltreatment of its citizens and entire black race.

Onyeama said government was ready to follow up the maltreatment of Nigerians in China to its logical conclusion since it had resolved not to compromise the dignity of its citizens and all people of black colour on the alter of economic cooperation with China.

His words: “We have been engaging with the Chinese government at various levels. At the level f our consulate in Guangzhou, which is where cases of discrimination and racism have been taking place and also the Central level in Beijing without our ambassador.

“We have made it clear to the Chinese government in no uncertain terms, unequivocally that under no circumstance will we accept a racial discrimination against Nigerians or indeed Africans or blacks in China. That is a red line for us.

“They have in turn told us that there is no case of that but clearly we have seen a video, I have received reports and we told them that it is unacceptable and we are also engaging with other African countries to decide and work together, definitive steps and measures that we will take because of this situation.

”In addition, I have directed our consulate in Guangzhou to systematically detail every single case of dIscrimination and every single case of loss or damage suffered by any Nigerian. We will pursue each and every single one very robustly with the Chinese government. If it requires compensation and damages, etc, we will demand for them.

“ So, for us, it is a red line and we are going to fight it to the very end. We are extremely disappointed because we have excellent relations with government and people of China. We are therefore surprised that such a thing can happen at this stage.

“When there were calls for travels to China to be banned when they had the outbreak in Wuhan, we went along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice not to place a ban on China.

“We showed real solidarity because we also had our own experience of epidemics with Ebola and so forth .” We are deeply wounded by what has happened to Nigerians and other Africans in China and of course the government has given us explanations.

”But it is something we never expected and we will pursue to its final conclusion and we would not make any compromises in doing so.”

He stated that the government was aware of some comments that it was not boldly handling the maltreatment of Nigerians in China because of “a lot of economic cooperation from China.”

The minister added: ”I can assure you that we are going to pursue to the very end, irrespective of whatever economic cooperation that we have with China, this matter because in the world of today, we absolutely can’t tolerate and accept any form of racism or discrimination against blacks as the largest black country in the world.

”It behoves on us to be in the front line in defending the dignity of blacks and Africans everywhere in the world.”

On the planned evacuation of the over 2,000 stranded Nigerians abroad, he said that it might take up to another two weeks.

Onyeama however said that with the gesture from Emirate Airlines, stranded Nigerians in UAE will be the first set to be airlifted back to the country.

The minister also denied the report that the government demanded for £350 each from the would -be returnees from United Kingdom.

He said, “In respect of someone in UK who paid £350 two weeks ago, with the hope of been evacuated from UK, I have this to say. First of all, when we made the announcement that we were trying to assess first of all how many Nigerians in various countries that wanted to come home, we pointed out that all communication should be with the High Commission and in no time did the High Commission or did any directive emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Nigerians should be tested.”

”So, where the £350 for test came from I really don’t know but it’s certain it is not from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor from our various embassies and High Commissions. ”

Also at the briefing, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed , said that a petrol attendant in Aba, Abia State was killed by a motorist and not police as claimed.

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JUST IN: Reps Reject Bill Seeking Single Six-Year Term, Zonal Rotation For President, Governors

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The House of Representatives on Thursday, November 21, rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at instituting a single six-year term for the president, governors, and local government chairmen across the federation.

The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) and 33 co-sponsors, also sought to divide the country into six geopolitical zones and establish a rotational system for the presidency and governorship within these zones.

Additionally, the bill proposed that all elections be conducted on a single day.

It aimed to amend Section 132 of the Constitution by inserting a new subsection (2), deleting the extant subsection (4), and renumbering the entire section accordingly. The proposed amendment would have stipulated that elections to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be rotated between the North and South regions every six years.

The bill also sought to amend Section 180 of the Constitution, replacing “four years” with “six years.”

Furthermore, it proposed altering Section 76 by inserting a new subsection (3), which would read: “(3) For the purpose of Section (1) of this section, all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”

When the bill, which was scheduled for a second reading, was put to a vote, the majority of lawmakers voted against it. This is not the first time the House has rejected a bill seeking a six-year single term for the president and governors.

In 2019, a similar bill, sponsored by John Dyegh from Benue State, also failed to progress to the second reading.

Dyegh’s bill had also proposed a six-year term for Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. He argued that a six-year term would allow members of the National Assembly to gain more experience, as opposed to the current four-year term.

According to Dyegh, re-election for the president and governors costs three times more than the first election and is often marked by violence. He believes a single term of five years would help curb the irregularities associated with re-election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had also proposed a further amendment to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, advocating for a six-year single term for the president for each of the six geopolitical zones.

He added that the law must mandate electronic voting and the collation of results, and require the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to verify the credentials of candidates, among other reforms.

The governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, also backed calls in June this year for a single term for elected politicians.

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BIG STORY

I Appointed Aides On Garden Egg, Yam, Pepper To Boost Food Production — Enugu LG Chairman

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Eric Odo, chairman of Igbo Etiti LGA in Enugu state, has defended the appointment of aides for yam, pepper, and garden egg.

On Tuesday, Odo announced the appointments of Ezeugwu Ogbonna as senior special assistant on agriculture (yam and pepper) and Nwodo Ugonna as special adviser on garden egg and pepper.

The appointments attracted criticism from many Nigerians, who viewed the positions as an anomaly.

In his defense on Wednesday, Odo explained that the appointments were designed to increase the production of these crops in large quantities, aiming to meet local demands and support export.

The chairman emphasized that the Igbo-Etiti area is particularly well-suited to cultivating these crops and holds a significant comparative advantage.

“Their appointments are to ensure that local farmers receive adequate attention, needed resources, support, and expertise to enhance production, improve market access, and increase income for farmers,” NAN quoted Odo as saying.

“In essence, the appointment, which is wrongly misunderstood by disgruntled individuals, bad losers, and opposition, reinforces my determination to create a thriving local economy based on the strengths and potentials of Igbo-Etiti’s agricultural landscape.”

Odo explained that the decision was part of a carefully considered plan aimed at boosting productivity, creating jobs, and improving the livelihoods of farmers within the LGA’s communities.

He called on the public to disregard any online or offline comments intended to discredit the appointments, asserting that the council is committed to massive food production and sustainable development.

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JUST IN: Simon Ekpa, Four Others Arrested In Finland Over Terror-Related Activities

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Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, and four other individuals have been arrested in Finland over terror-related activities.

A local report in Finland stated that Ekpa, the self-declared “Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile,” was remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

In a Thursday statement published on its website, the Central Criminal Police in Finland said it had arrested five people on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime.”

The police added: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”

The statement reads: “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

The statement quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police, as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.

“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week.”

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.

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