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Abuja: Stop Wike’s plan to evict beggars, NGO urges Tinubu

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A Non-Governmental Organization, Long Term Solution for Destitute Initiative has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Neysom Wike over the ultimatum handed over to beggars to vacate the streets of Abuja,

The Chairman of the group, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, in a statement made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday said street begging is an embarrassment to any society that creates the conditions for the rise and growth of such poor and vulnerable people.

“I am particularly embarrassed by the fact that Northerners dominate the population of beggars in the country, despite our privilege of holding political power the longest.

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“It’s a badge of shame. Islam forbids and discourages begging. Begging destroys one’s pride. It is an insult to self-esteem. In his last interview with the BBC Hausa Service shortly before his demise, General Hassan Usman Katsina admonished bitterly against begging.

“However, while we are commending the FCT Minister for his “courage” we shouldn’t ignore the human rights angle of the issue. We shouldn’t treat a complex issue superficially. Cosmetic approach to public policy usually makes a bad situation worse. Wike was not the first Minister to expel beggers”

The statement further said former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai had done the same thing before, but the beggars still floored back to Abuja.

“General Jerry Useini also expelled Abuja beggars to a remote forest in Zuru, Kebbi State, but the beggars found their way back. That means the picture is bigger than the surface level understanding of the issue by our policy makers, including Mr. Wike.

“Our constitution has conferred on citizens regardless of their social standing the freedom to reside in any part of the country. Meanwhile the beggers as part of the weak and vulnerable in our society have a right to be catered for in governance.

“The question that is begging for answer now is what has the FCT administration done in terms of catering for the welfare of the weak and vulnerable. Commendably the administration of former FCT minister Nasir El-Rufai built a settlement for the destitute in Yargoji on Abaji road.

“The settlement has a primary school and land for cultivation of food. According to Housing Rights Watch Policy analyst, Anna kompatscher (FEANTSA), “the stigmatization and penalisation of beggars and poor people have heavy consequences for their dignity.

“Banning begging but also other penalization strategies can push the people targeted by these measures further into poverty and social exclusion. A way forward can only be a change of mindset on begging as a criminal economic activity. If begging should be eradicated, then it should not be through penalisation and criminalization but thanks to a more supportive approach, helping low-income families to receive assistance and resources.

“Ironically, in Nigeria, those resources are stolen through corruption. The recent revelations about the large scale corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have exposed how billions of public funds meant for poor people were brazenly stolen. Corruption impoverished the people and make them more vulnerable.

“These vulnerable people are victims of multidimensional poverty. They can’t afford to send their children to school or afford the costs of basic medical care. They die of preventable diseases such cholera, malaria, meningitis and other infections.”

Saleh emphasised that treating beggars as criminals is morally offensive. “They’re victims of the corruption in the country. You can’t punish the victims of corruption and spare the perpetrators. In fact, beggars are the human debris of the devastating impact of pervasive poverty in the country.

“The current insecurity has aggravated poverty which in turn has made the victims to become beggars and refugees. A system that allows people to amass incredible wealth through corruption without consequences is worse than the menace of begging.

“The poor recruitment process into governance in our country is responsible for the endemic nature of begging in our polity. Indonesia, Kenya and several other countries have successfully researched and addressed the menace of begging.”

He, therefore, called on those in position of authority need to understand that addressing the menace of begging is not a rocket science.

“There are steps that are scientifically proven as international best practice of addressing such social problem where there is good governance and sincerity of purpose.”

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FLASHBACK: “Jonathan Is A Drunk, A Sinking Fisherman”— Tinubu’s Past Insults On Jonathan Resurfaces As Police Begin Crackdown On Citizens Criticizing Govt Officials

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December 22, 2024

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Tinubu mustered the temerity to call the President of Nigeria a drunkard, a sinking fisherman. This was how Tinubu put it: “I think the President is wrong because that is an insult to our parents. It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.

As Nigerian authorities begin a controversial clampdown on citizens criticizing government officials on social media, an old episode from the country’s political history has resurfaced, bringing to light the sharp rhetoric of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his time as Lagos State Governor.   Tinubu mustered the temerity to call the President of Nigeria a drunkard, a sinking fisherman. This was how Tinubu put it: “I think the President is wrong because that is an insult to our parents. It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.

Another Man Arrested for Insulting Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, As Police Begin Crack Down on Nigerians Insulting Politicians on Social Media   In a flashback to 2011, Tinubu, then the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), launched a verbal assault on then-President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as a “drunk sailor fisherman” whose “boat is about to capsize.” Tinubu’s comments came in reaction to a statement made by Jonathan at a campaign rally in Ibadan, where the President had referred to the need to rescue the Southwest from the hands of “rascals.”   Tinubu, speaking at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on his way to Abuja for an ACN campaign event, called Jonathan’s remarks an insult to Yoruba parents. “You don’t come to this land, seek our votes, and then insult our parents, saying they raised rascals,” Tinubu said. “It is a speech from a drunk sailor fisherman whose boat is about to capsize.”

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Fraudsters move to defraud home-bound Imo residents in Lagos

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December 22, 2024

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GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

Fraudsters move to defraud home-bound Imo residents in Lagos

A group of persons believed to be fraudsters, and poised to take advantage of the massive return of Imo indigenes resident in Lagos for the Yuletide, has devised devious means to defraud the unsuspected ones among them in the guise of providing them with free transportation from Lagos to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

To make their devilish intention look real, they have raised a press statement they purport was issued from my office for such a project.

In their warped imagination, they have deliberately fixed December 24, 2024 and January 4, 2025, as the days their prey and unsuspecting home-bound Lagos residents should approach them for a trip back home and return trip back to Lagos respectively.

Below is part of their poorly written press statement:

“The buses are free for Imolites from *Lagos to Imo State on *24th December* and back to Lagos on *4th January* .

“Interested persons should please call *(ISTDAL)* *08033255565, 08092362966* or *07089303866* for seats reservation.

“Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked, the registration closes, ( *_PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO_)*

“Please the buses are *NOT LUXURY BUSES* , so only passengers with a small sizable luggages will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed).

“The buses will leave on *Tuesday 24th December* at exactly *7.15am* to *Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.*

“The departure point will be made available after your registration, *(if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed)* and please indicate your direction.

“*Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.*

“Thanks and best regards.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser Media to the Governor did not issue any statement on the trending fraudulent travel plan.

The statement is both false and deceptive, and could not have emanated from the government.

Therefore, the general public, and particularly Imolites who live in Lagos and any other part of the country and who intend to be home for the Yuletide should not take the statement and the authors seriously as they will be doing so at their own peril.

Please, be properly guided.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor
December 22, 2024.

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For inside Delta Staati: Meet efe money wey k!dnap him Friend con bęhe*d that he friend, b*ry the he*d for shr!ne and were still collecting money from the boy family wey him kee

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23 hours ago

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December 22, 2024

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UPDATE:

Meet efe money wey k!dnap him Friend con bęhe*d that he friend, b*ry the he*d for shr!ne and were still collecting money from the boy family wey him kee

The person wey the Mr Efe kee so na him t!ght friend, na destiny helper to efe. The person wey efe kee so give efe all the access to heąd over hís invęstments.

Nothing this very guy dey do wey him no dey tell this ev!l boy called Efe.

Na the guy he*d Mr Efe hoļd for hand so when police go remøve the he*d for where Efe bųřy am pųt.

 

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