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THEY STOLE EVERYTHING EXCEPT BOOKS. Ahmad Sajoh: Riots in the North Not A Reflection of Discontent with Tinubu But of Northern Elite’s Failure

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On out-of-school children, Sajoh said: “When they broke into the national library in Kano, they took away everything except books.”

Ahmad Sajoh, Former commissioner for information and strategy Adamawa State says the northern elite is the primary target of ongoing protests and riots in Northern Nigeria and not President Bola Tinubu.

Sajoh criticised the Northern elite for neglecting their responsibilities towards youth empowerment, resulting in a large population of uneducated, out-of-school children who lack proper values and direction. This neglect, he suggested, has created a fertile ground for insurgent recruitment.

He also epressed grave concerns about the political exploitation of youth discontent in the North, stating that the recent protests are evidence of political opportunism among the elite.

“I sympathise with the president that this is happening in his own time and that people could interpret it to mean that he is the target but i think the target is all of us that are the political elites in Northern Nigeria,” Sajoh said during an interview with ARISE News on Sunday.

“If you want my opinion as a Nigerian and as a northerner, what played out was not a perception of Asiwaju by the north, but a clear indication of the abdication of the responsibilities of we, the northern elites.

“We have abdicated our roles and responsibilities to empower our youth. We have empowered a large army of uneducated, out-of-school children walking about without imbibing any values, roaming the streets.

“When they broke into the national library in Kano, they took away everything except books, not one book was taken by anybody. That tells you that their direction is different from what you are thinking of. We have neglected education in northern Nigeria.

Speaking further he said, “I think there are political hawks, opportunists that are trying to cash in on this seeming discontent as exemplified by the protest to say look, we want to gain some political currency out of this.

He continued, “They have been the reservoir from where insurgents have been recruiting their army. This is a wakeup call to every northern elite. I sympathise with the president that this is happening in his own time and that people could interpret it to mean that he is the target but I think the target is all of us that are the political elites in Northern Nigeria.”

Sajoh also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address in response to the nationwide protest, praising his speech for its empathetic tone. He also emphasised the importance of the President’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the protesters.

“The president’s speech on the issue of not conceding to hate mongers and bigots is very central and key. I also believe very sincerely that his empathy was very genuine, his concern for people was very genuine, especially in the manner the speech was delivered.

“I think the president has conceded on a number of things, particularly opening himself up for dialogue and I think this an opportunity for whoever is the organiser of the protest to now arrange a platform for engagement with the government since they have said they are ready and willing to come and dialogue with them.”

Sajoh expressed concern over the violent turn of some protests, which involved young children and raised flags of foreign countries.

He questioned the motives behind the display of foreign flags, calling it a dangerous deviation from the protest’s original intent.

“We were concerned that people whose motives were totally not in tandem with the original organisers of the protest seem to have taken over the protest at some level and at some level, we could see some dangerous occurrences during the protest. The young people that went out on looting sprees are barely toddlers, 5 to 10 years old. Those ones cannot be telling you that they are fighting over unemployment Unlike the young people that are well organised and peaceful and articulately talking about their plight as unemployed people.

“Secondly, we noticed that in some states, flags of foreign countries were hoisted. That is a very dangerous thing. Why should anybody protesting the Nigerian government raise the flag of another country? We have also seen people who block the roads, asking for military rule. I think there are some other aspects of this protests that go beyond the original organisers had wanted us to address. Nobody should deceive anybody to say we don’t need this democracy any longer. Nobody should also say we need a foreign power at this stage to run our country.”

Sajoh further urged citizens to hold all levels of government accountable and to remain vigilant in their oversight of leaders, including legislators.

He expressed hope that the President’s address would mark the beginning of a constructive dialogue to address the root causes of the discontent and bring about meaningful change in governance and youth empowerment.

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MC Oluomo rejected as NURTW national president

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12 hours ago

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November 13, 2024

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MC Oluomo rejected as NURTW national president
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MC Oluomo rejected as NURTW national president

 

Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo’s recent election as National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has faced strong opposition.

Tajudeen Baruwa, is insisting that he is the union’s rightful leader.

Baruwa, supported by court rulings from both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal, contended that MC Oluomo’s appointment disregards legal decisions and violates the union’s constitution.

Baruwa, who assumed office in 2023, has been engaged in a legal tussle with a faction led by former President Najeem Usman Yasin.

After Baruwa’s election, Yasin’s faction formed a caretaker committee to challenge his leadership.

Baruwa responded by seeking judicial intervention, which led to a favorable ruling in March 2024.

This decision dissolved the caretaker committee and affirmed Baruwa’s position.

However, the conflict escalated when Yasin appealed the ruling.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal earlier this month, confirming Baruwa’s leadership and prohibiting Yasin from further interference in union matters.

Despite these legal victories, MC Oluomo’s inauguration has been described as a direct challenge to the judiciary and the union’s governance.

Baruwa has called on the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure compliance with court orders, asserting his authority as the legally recognized leader of NURTW.

“It appears a faction took it upon themselves, without regard for the union’s constitution or court decisions, to select a random individual as President,” Baruwa said.

“Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, is not, and cannot be, the National President of the Union,” he stated, urging media outlets to disregard any reports suggesting otherwise.

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Israeli forces kill 14 people in Gaza, force new displacement in the north

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16 hours ago

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November 13, 2024

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A child looks on as Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on tents of displaced people, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed © Thomson Reuters
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By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) – Israeli military strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, as Israeli forces deepened their incursion into Beit Hanoun town in the north, forcing most remaining residents to leave.

Residents said Israeli forces besieged shelters housing displaced families and the remaining population, which some estimated at a few thousand, ordering them to head south through a checkpoint separating two towns and a refugee camp in the north from Gaza City.

Men were held for questioning, while women and children were allowed to continue towards Gaza City, residents and Palestinian medics said.

Israel’s campaign in the north of Gaza, and the evacuation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the area, has fueled claims from Palestinians that it is clearing the area for use as a buffer zone and potentially for a return of Jewish settlers.

A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
© Thomson Reuters

 

“The scenes of the 1948 catastrophe are being repeated. Israel is repeating its massacres, displacement and destruction,” said Saed, 48, a resident of Beit Lahiya, who arrived in Gaza City on Wednesday.

“North Gaza is being turned into a large buffer zone, Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing under the sight and hearing of the impotent world,” he told Reuters via a chat app.

Saed was referring to the 1948 Middle East Arab-Israeli war which gave birth to the state of Israel and saw the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their home towns and villages in what is now Israel.

NO PLANS FOR SETTLERS’ RETURN

The Israeli military has denied any such intention, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he does not want to reverse the 2005 withdrawal of settlers from Gaza. Hardliners in his government have talked openly about going back.

A Palestinian firefighter works to extinguish fire following an Israeli strike on tents of displaced people, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip November 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ahmed Mustafa
© Thomson Reuters

 

It said forces have killed hundreds of Hamas militants in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun during its new military offensive, which began more than a month ago. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad armed wing claimed killing several Israeli soldiers during ambushes and anti-tank rocket fire.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
© Thomson Reuters

 

On Tuesday, the United States stressed at the United Nations that “there must be no forcible displacement, nor policy of starvation in Gaza” by Israel, warning such policies would have grave implications under U.S. and international law.

Medics said five people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a group of people outside Kamal Adwan Hospital near Beit Lahiya, while five others were killed in two separate strikes in Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip where the army began a limited raid two days ago.

In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, one man was killed and several others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike, while three Palestinians were killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes in Shejaia suburb of Gaza City, medics added.

Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel last October, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 43,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza over the past year, Palestinian health officials say, and Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland of wrecked buildings and piles of rubble, where more than 2 million Gazans are seeking shelter in makeshift tents and facing shortages of food and medicines.

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
© Thomson Reuters

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No Bomb Explosion In Jos – Commissioner Of Police Debunks Reports

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20 hours ago

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November 13, 2024

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No Bomb Explosion In Jos – Commissioner Of Police Debunks Reports
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No Bomb Explosion In Jos – Commissioner Of Police Debunks Reports

The Plateau State Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in Jos, the state capital, on Tuesday.

There were reports of an explosion in Jos terminus area of Plateau State in the early hours of Tuesday.

However, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Adesina debunked the reports, urging residents to go about their normal activities without fear.

According to the CP, the area is safe and free of any threats to lives and properties.

The CP disclosed this after an on the spot assessment of the area in company of members of his management team.

A statement issued by the Command read, “In the early hours of today the 12th day of November 2024 at exactly 08:20am, the Plateau State Police Command received a report of a shallow dug hole suspected to be planted with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Murtala Way beside Old JUTH fence which created panic among the residents of the State.

“Upon receiving this report, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police,CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, immediately ordered the Area Commander Metro and the Officer in Charge of the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit (Anti-Bomb Squad) to mobilize a team of bomb technicians to the scene in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), “C” Division to assess the situation and take necessary actions.

“On reaching the scene, the area was immediately cordoned and our EOD Team began examination. Upon conclusion of the examination, the hole was found to be safe and free of any explosive devices.”

The CP commended residents for being security conscious and cooperating with the Police throughout the exercise.

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