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Bolivia: Evo Morales accuses government of refusing talks

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Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said he is on a hunger strike until the government holds talks with him. His supporters have taken to the streets, blocking roads in the mountainous country.

 

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales on Sunday said he would go on a hunger strike until the government agreed for dialogue with him.

He was on the third day of his hunger strike, which he began to get “international organizations or friendly governments” facilitating talks with his political rival, President Luis Arce.

Morales was ousted from office five years ago. Tensions have risen in the past few days as his supporters have blocked highways in protest of the government trying to revive a 2016 rape case against Morales.

Case against Morales

Morales is being investigated for statutory rape, human trafficking and human smuggling over an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015.

The 65-year-old has denied any wrongdoing, and says the charges are being brought up to thwart his political comeback in the upcoming elections.

He said he is being targeted because he belongs to the ethnic Aymara community. In 2006, he became the first Indigenous person to rule the Latin American nation, staying in office until 2019, when he resigned under pressure from the military after elections marked by allegations of fraud.

Protests against the government

Morales is currently accusing Bolivia’s government of avoiding his requests for dialogue over protests against these charges. His supporters have started blocking roads since last month.

The Bolivian government accused those protesters on Friday of holding soldiers hostage.

Morales has been living in Chapare, Bolivia’s rural coca-growing region that serves as his stronghold.

“I asked for immediate dialogue… and the government’s response was to arrest… comrades and take them to La Paz,” he told the AFP news agency.

“Luis Arce’s response has been repression, an attempt on our lives, a judicial war and the taking of dozens of our comrades as hostages, transferring them to La Paz,” he said in a post on X.

https://twitter.com/evoespueblo/status/1852898167190139276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1852898167190139276%7Ctwgr%5E3b11514561fee88baab172944ee93e0c5acb1d5e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dw.com%2Fen%2Fbolivia-evo-morales-accuses-government-of-refusing-talks%2Fa-70677847

During a protest in La Paz, some 3,000 security forces quelled protests using tear gas. Morales has called for the release of 66 people detained by the police during the protests.

“It’s not that I, Evo, want to be president. The people have asked me to return. During my administration there was stability. When there is economic and political stability, there is happiness,” he told the AP news agency.

Morales has also claimed he survived an assassination attempt against him last month.

Road blocking is a common protest method to cut off access in the country, which has a mountainous terrain. Government estimates have estimated losses of up to $2.1 billion (€1.93 billion) after 21 days of protests.

Presidential aide Maria Nela Prada said the government has agreed to talk but only “to address issues that concern the executive branch and not other state bodies.”

Morales resigned in 2019 after accusations of fraud after the elections. He was barred from running again, but wants to compete against his former ally Arce in the 2025 elections.

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Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a critic was abducted by policemen yesterday in front of his wife and children in their Abuja home and taken to Owerri. His crime: criticizing Hope Uzodinma, Imo state governor.

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Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a critic was abducted by policemen yesterday in front of his wife and children in their Abuja home and taken to Owerri. His crime: criticizing Hope Uzodinma, Imo state governor.
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Suspected gunmen have reportedly abducted Fabian Ihekweme, the former commissioner for foreign affairs in Imo state.

In a viral video seen by TheCable, a woman who identified as Ihekweme’s wife pleaded for the release of her husband.

She added that the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at their residence.

“They first took my husband’s driver to my house and gave him the phone to call my husband, and when he came out, they picked him up,” the woman said.

“I do not know why they are trailing me; I don’t have any business with Imo politics; I don’t know why they are trailing my children.

“I don’t know where my husband is. They are still holding him now; Ndi Imo, please help me.”

Ihekweme, who served as a commissioner between 2020 and 2022 under the Hope Uzodimma-led administration, later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In October, the former commissioner alleged that the governor refused to appreciate his efforts towards his reelection, despite all he did for him.

Henry Okoye, the Imo police spokesperson, told TheCable that the command had not been briefed about the abduction.

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Obasanjo Sends Strong Message To Those who Wish Him Dead

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Obasanjo Sends Strong Message To Those who Wish Him Dead
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Ekwutosblog has gathered that Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has debunked his death rumours making the rounds on social media, saying he’s alive.

The ex-president, who wondered why some people would wish him such, said he quickly informed his family members that he’s hale and hearty.

Obasanjo stated this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Old Garage/Oke Fia-Lameco Dual carriageway in Osogbo, Osun State, one of the projects being inaugurated to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“I heard the rumour that I was dead. I saw it on the social media. I quickly told my children and my relations that it was not true and that I was alive. Those who want me dead, that is their wish but God still keeps me alive.

“Why would anyone wish me dead? Those who harbour such thoughts will not escape tragedy themselves.

“This kind of rumour is not only disturbing but shows the extent to which some people misuse technology. It is unacceptable,” Obasanjo stated.

Speaking at the event, the governor, Adeleke stated, that his government is committed to the state’s infrastructure development and provision.

“My dear people of Osun State, our administration has constructed over 120 kilometres of roads across the state. Two major flyovers are also progressing to completion at Osogbo while works are progressing at the Ile-Ife flyover and Ilesa dualisation.

“I have redirected our efforts and plan at the completion of Iwo-Osogbo Road. We have added the dualisation of Odoori-Adeeke Road inside Iwo to be executed in two phases. The first phase will reach the Post Office and the Oluwo Palace, while the second phase will take off from the Post Office to Adeeke Junction.

“I want our people to note for the record that for all our projects and programmes, we did not obtain any loan. We only block leakages in the state’s finances and employ local content to moderate project costs and enforce high stand

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF
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The House of Representatives has passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025 to 2027 as submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

This followed the consideration and approval of the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning which laid its report at Wednesday’s plenary.

The House adopted the projected oil benchmark prices pegged at 75 dollars per barrel for 2025, as well as 76.2 dollars and 75.3 dollars per barrel for 2026 and 2027.

Domestic Crude Oil Production Projections for 2025 is put at 2.06 million barrels per day representing a significant increase from 1.78 million barrels per day in the current year.

GDP growth rate is projected at 4.6, 4.4 and 5.5 percent for 2025 to 2027, respectively, while the projected exchange rate is pegged at 1,400 Naira to the US Dollar for years 2025, 2026 and 2027

The MTEF projections aim towards a realistic and sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s budget planning over the next three years.

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