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Sports minister links terrorism in Nigeria to Religious bigotry, negative religious ideologies
**Advises youths to shun bigots, sponsors of violence
The minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has linked the insurgency and terrorism that has been ravaging the Northern parts of the country to activities of religious bigots who feed some gullible individuals with negative religious ideologies and fundamentalism.This the Minister said can easily instigate them into taking up arms against their fellow human beings particularly people that have divergent views from their belief.The minister spoke at the National Programme on preventing and countering violent extremism among Youth (PCVE) in collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser to the President held on Wednesday at the Cinema Hall,Cyprian Ekwensi Center for Arts and Culture in Abuja.According to the minister, the issue which was previously addressed as mere religious intolerance has snowballed into violent extremism with its global dimension of terrorism”You may wish to recall that this agitation has birthed the dreaded Bokoharam, which has ravaged the country, particularly in the North East part of the country, in the last 13 years.
he therefore admonished the youths to shun such bigots and sponsors of violence in their own interest as they do not mean well for them and the country.
“This sect has launched several attacks by bombing places of Worship, Public buildings, Security formations, Police Headquarters, including the UN building.
“The dastardly activities of this terrorist group have destroyed severa! billion naira worth of properties, and more devastatingly sent several thousands of people to their early graves, while many communities have been sacked, turning people there-from into IDPs, with its attendant implications.
“The whole of North East was almost overwhelmed at a point, when the daring Bokoharam sect was hoisting its flag in some local government areas in the North East, Borno State in particular.
“Alongside the terrorist activities of Bokoharam are also the farmer-herder clashes that have also resulted in killings of many farmers and sacking of several ones from their farmland, with the resultant implication of high prices of food items, due to
insufficient supply, as Most of the sacked farmers have been turned to IDPs and could not go back to their farms.
“While the country was yet contending with the harrowing and devastating effects of the activities of Bokoharam and herdsmen, another terrorist group by the name ISIS/ISWAP invaded the North West, kidnapping and abducting people for ransom to the tune of tens to hundreds of millions of naira; killing victims whose ransom could not be paid in the process.
“I am glad to inform you that currently, the Ministry has started synergizing with the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President, hence the collaboration between the Ministry and ONSA for this important programme.
“Violent Extremism is one of the terrible security challenges facing the world today, and they are attributable to some human factors, such as socio-economic inequality, ethnic jingoism, religious fundamentalism or fanaticism and political ideological differences.
“Although, it is a global phenomenon, Nigeria has however been bedeviled with violent extremism in recent years, which is being sponsored or executed by some ethnic bigots or religious fundamentalist.
“What could have been regarded as genuine and lawful agitations have been hijacked by some unscrupulous individuals, sponsoring misguided youth to foment violent destruction and killings, in the name of seeking redress for being marginalized in the scheme of things.
“Hiding under this pretext, public facilities have been attacked, vandalized and destroyed; as we have witnessed in the cases of Police stations and INEC offices across some states of the country.
“As you may also be aware, some private individuals and security personnel have fallen victims as casualties of the dastardly acts of these violent agitators.
“The youth being used to perpetrate these heinous maiming, killings and destructions are ignorant, and not wary of their unpatriotic sponsors, whose actions in most cases are borne out of hatred, and attempts to settle business or political scores.
“The wicked money bags usually exploit the high unemployment and appalling socio-economic status of the unsuspecting youth, who are full of vigour, vibrancy and energy, to be lured into violent.
The Moderator/Lead Facilitator,
Theophilus Ekpon said the workshop on Preventing and countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) is designed to strengthen resilience in communities and among youths with the aim of forging responsive actions.
“We wish to understand what the youths are doing on PCVE in terms of early warming and response, multi-stateholders engagementand social cohesion and countering terrorists narratives and ideologies.
“We are hopeful that information on what the youths are doing on PCVE will help the government and stakeholders to support them technically and financially to ensure peace and security in Nigeria.
He said the workshop is also part of the implementation of UN Secretary General ‘Plan of action to prevent violent extremism’
He said it is worrisome that Nigeria continued to face profound terrorism challenges, the third highest in the world according to the Global Terrorism Index 2020.
“From the advent of Boko Haram in 2009 to the infamous kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 and the growth of the Boko Haram splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Nigeria-based terrorist groups have risen to international prominence.
“Moreover, the terrorist threat originating in Nigeria has evolved into a transnational terrorist challenge threatening the security of civilian populations in Nigeria and its neighboring countries, especially Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
“In May 2014, Boko Haram was added to the Security Council’s Al-Qaida Sanctions list and, in 2015, Boko Haram pledged alliance to ISIS/ISIL.
“Since Boko Haram rose to prominence, the Government of Nigeria has been working to address the challenges posed by the terrorist threat through counter-terrorism legislation and related action plans.
“In 2011, the Terrorism Prevention Act was passed, followed in 2013 by its Amendment Act.
“In addition, the Nigerian government has also developed a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) which was adopted in 2014 and revised in 2016, and a National Countering Violent Extremism Programme in 2016, with a Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism launched in 2017.
“Both documents address a broad range of areas which are important to countering terrorism and addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism.”
According to him the Ministry of Youth and sports Development is a member of the Steering committee on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, “Thus the onus is on us to contribute our quota through ensuring the implementation of the National Action Plan for PCVE through well thought-out programmes which will promote youth inclusiveness in affairs that affect them, most especially in maintenance of peace and security.”
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Group demands Coordinated security surveillance at Hajj Camps, Embarkation points
A faith-based Civil Society Organization, (CSO), that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities Independent Hajj Reporters, (IHR) has called on the Federal and state governments to make adequate security arrangements for pilgrims at embarkation points across the country.
This is coming as the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday this week.
In a statement on Monday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed the IHR indicated that over 65, 000 intending pilgrims from Nigeria will be leaving their homes to various Hajj camps for screening and onward transportation to about 15 airports within the next 30 days.
The Statement observed that such mass movement of people from one point to another creates serious security challenges that need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy by the various security agencies in the country.
“While we appreciate the efforts made by security agencies in previous operations, we call on the federal government to order and activate a high-level security surveillance system to monitor and protect the movement of pilgrims throughout the outbound and inbound airlift operations.
“We also urge State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to advise intending pilgrims against coming to hajj camps with large escorts usually made up of family members as such increases the likelihood of security breaches especially
when airlift operations demand that pilgrims can be invited to hajj camps at any time of the day or night.
State governments should complement the federal security architecture by mobilizing local vigilantes and other volunteers to form a hajj security team and provide them with internal communication equipment with state hajj officials, airliners and other airlift stakeholders.
“As journalists who worked closely with security agencies during hajj operations, IHR had in the last few years honour security institutions during its annual hajj lectures and awards to appreciate and encourage them to improve on their daunting tasks of maintaining security of lives and properties across the country.”
IHR further appealed to Security forces to take necessary “measures to prevent evil-minded groups from exploiting the Hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage.
“Anticipating and preparing for potential security threats before they materialize will help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of time”. The statement said.
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Lucky Aiyedatiwa clinches APC ticket for Ondo gubernatorial election
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket as the candidate of the party for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state by sefeating fifteen other aspirants in a landslide victory
The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, made the declaration on Monday morning in Akure, the state capital.
Ododo said Aiyedatiwa clinched the APC ticket with a total of 48,569 votes followed by his closest rival, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who trailed behind with 15,343 votes, while Chief Olusola Oke secured the third position with 14,865 votes.
Below is a breakdown of the final results of the election.
Total number of voters – 117922
Total number of accredited voters – 95,178
Total votes cast – 95178
Invalid – Nil
Jimi Odimayo – 490
Omogoroye Judith – 115
Lucky Aiyedatiwa – 48,569
Isaacs Kekemeke – 1045
Soji Ehinlanwo – 492
Olugbenga Edema – 395
Jimoh lbrahim – 9456
Adekojo Funmilayo – 529
Akinfolarin Samuel – – 15343
Wale Akinterinwa – 1952
Olusola Oke – 14,915
Olamide Ohunyeye – 424
Morayo Lebi – 290
Diran lyantan – 348
Prof Dayo Faduyile – 353
Ife Oyedele – 462
1: Ilaje LG
Lucky Aiyedatiwa 2,485
Wale Akinterinwa. 26
Olusola Oke. 2,511
Jimoh Ibrahim 589
2: Ile Oluji/Okeigbo
Jimoh Ibrahim: 282
AIYEDATIWA: 1225
WA: 474
3: Ondo West LG
Jimoh Ibrahim: 2668
Aiyedatiwa: 10610
4: Ese Odo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 298
Akinterinwa – 0
Oke – 147
Jimoh Ibrahim – 174
5: Owo LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2,123
Akinterinwa – 345
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 192
6: Idanre LG
Aiyedatiwa – 1, 579
Akinterinwa – 119
Oke – 225
Jimoh Ibrahim – 120
7: AKOKO NORTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 664
Akinterinwa 135
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 505
8: AKOKO NORTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa 5, 430
Akinterinwa 198
Oke 2, 721
Jimoh Ibrahim 728
9: AKOKO SOUTH EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 533
Akinterinwa 43
Oke 391
Jimoh Ibrahim 67
10: AKOKO SOUTH WEST LG
Aiyedatiwa – 2, 747
Akinterinwa – 272
Oke – 415
Jimoh Ibrahim – 466
11: No results for IFEDORE LGA due to alleged violence
12: OSE LGA
Aiyedatiwa 1, 091
Akinterinwa 39
Oke 800
Jimoh Ibrahim 267
13: IRELE LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 203
Akinterinwa 15
Oke 93
Jimoh Ibrahim 139
14: ODIGBO LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 631
Akinterinwa 114
Oke 138
Jimoh Ibrahim 845
15: AKURE NORTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 2, 860
Akinterinwa 177
Oke 1, 239
Jimoh Ibrahim 1, 606
16: AKURE SOUTH LG
Aiyedatiwa 3, 265
Akinterinwa 86
Oke 328
Jimoh Ibrahim 294
17 OKITIPUPA LG
Aiyedatiwa 1, 622
Akinterinwa 27
Oke 1, 571
Jimoh Ibrahim 109
18: ONDO EAST LG
Aiyedatiwa 4, 803
Akinterinwa 141
Oke 1, 171
Jimoh Ibrahim 406
News
Massive turnout for Ondo Primaries excites Gov Ododo, Commends stakeholders, others
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and chairman of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election committee has applauded stakeholders and members of the party in the state for their orderly conduct and massive turnout during the direct primary election in the state.
Special Adviser on Media to the Governor Ismaila Isah in a statement quoted the Governor to have given the commendation while receiving reports from members of the APC Governorship Primary Election committee, security agencies and other stakeholders who monitored the conduct of the election in different parts of the 18 local government areas in the state.
According to the Governor
“I have received reports from our committee members and security agencies as well as NGOs monitoring the election including video footages and I can say that the process has been transparent and we are going to produce a candidate that will unify the APC ahead of the November, 2024 governorship election in the state.”
Responding to questions over delay in arrival of materials in some wards and local government areas, Governor Ododo said he was certain that the delay has no adverse effect on the conduct of the primary election.
The Kogi State Governor also expressed confidence that concerns noticed in the revalidated membership list would not have any major impact on the outcome of the primary election, stressing that the committee is well guided by the APC guidelines for the nomination of candidates for general elections and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Governor Ododo called on the aspirants and their supporters to see the primary election as a contest among brothers and sisters in one family seeking to make the family better as candidate of the party in the November, 2024 Governorship election in Ondo State.
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