Thursday brief: Presidency replies secessionists
+ Resident Doctors' strike and Okonjo-Iweala's charm
Good morning.
Yesterday was dizzying. I spent too much time writing Python code while tracking what was happening at the University of Benin. I’m glad things turned out well for the students, but I believe we still need to fix our university system, especially in the area of funding and management. I said as much while later hanging out with a couple of senior friends who bought me beer and nkwobi and grilled catfish.
Now, to this morning’s business. And, of course, the usual reminder: please share the briefing to everyone you think will benefit.
Presidency links ‘Yoruba Nation’ with IPOB
A march organised by a coalition of secessionist groups at the United Nations headquarters in New York has drawn criticism from the Presidency.
Although the coalition claims to represent the people of southern Nigeria and the middle-belt, its Chairman, Prof Banjo Akintoye, has openly declared support for a ‘Yoruba Nation’ carved out of Nigeria.
According to presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, Yoruba Nation activists have thrown “their lot in with” IPOB, a proscribed organisation.
Quote: “Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps. No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.”
Response: The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) quickly disassociated itself from IPOB and accused the Presidency of employing divide and rule tactics.
Demands: According to spokesperson Maxwell Adeleye, NINAS wants the federal government to abolish the 1999 constitution, conduct a referendum, end the Fulani genocide, declare Miyetti Allah a terrorist organisation and stop being petty.
Femi Gbajabiamila: The Speaker of the House of Representatives says “miscreants and criminals masquerading as separationist activists have emerged to wreak havoc, take lives, and commit economic sabotage against fellow Nigerians and against the state.”
Striking doctors, FG meet in court
The Federal Government and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors met at the National Industrial Court on Wednesday over the latter's strike.
Both parties said they were open to negotiation in resolving the industrial impasse.
After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Bashar Alkali adjourned to September 17 for a ruling in the matter.
The doctors embarked on a strike on August 2 over unpaid benefits and poor conditions of service.
Related: Meanwhile, the federal government has been appealing to members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to not go on strike amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Villagers bombed in Yobe community
At least eight persons were reportedly killed in an aerial bombardment on Buwari village in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, on Wednesday.
“People were really confused on who launched the attack because the Boko Haram attacks that we all know had never come through aircraft,” one resident told Daily Trust.
“When shots were fired from the aircraft, people ran helter-skelter. Sadly, some were killed while others sustained injuries.”
Yunusari shares a border with Niger Republic.
Reaction: The Nigerian Air Force said it was not responsible for the bombardment.
What else is happening?
Goodluck Jonathan: Amid rumours that the former President is expected to dump the PDP, APC spokesperson John Akpanudoedehe says Jonathan will be welcomed into the APC.
Ibrahim Attahiru: The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has submitted an interim report on an air crash that killed several top military officers, including a Chief of Army Staff in May.
Twitter: More than 100 days after suspending the social network, the federal government has insisted that it will lift the ban in a “few days”.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been named in Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people for 2021. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said she was “honoured and privileged” for the recognition.
Unicef: The UN agency says at least one million children in Nigeria are unable to return to school over fear of attacks.
Economy: Nigeria’s inflation rate fell to 17.01 percent in August, maintaining a steady decline for the fifth consecutive month, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
Stamp duty: After the nation’s 36 state governments sued the federal government for its failure to remit funds generated from stamp duties into state accounts, AGF Abubakar Malami says no stamp duty funds have been recovered between January 2016 and June 2020.
And that’s it for this morning. By tomorrow, the weekend will be upon us. So, cheer up.