Connect with us

latest

Senator Natasha Demands Immediate Release Of 52 Detained AAU Students.

Published

on

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly criticised the arrest and alleged detention of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as an attack on democratic principles and youth participation in governance.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Nivo News, the senator, in a solidarity statement issued on Tuesday, warned that suppressing student voices through arrests and detention poses a serious threat to democracy, stressing that peaceful protest and civic engagement must never be treated as criminal acts. She maintained that dialogue remains the only sustainable means of resolving grievances, especially when young people raise concerns about issues affecting their future.

Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the detained students should be released immediately, noting that criminalising youth activism only deepens mistrust between the government and the governed. She faulted the handling of the incident by authorities in Edo State, urging them to redirect their focus to addressing the worsening insecurity confronting residents, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping and violent crimes.

The lawmaker emphasised that peaceful protest is a constitutionally protected right and an essential instrument for accountability, especially for students whose lives and prospects are directly shaped by governance outcomes. She added that silencing students through force undermines public confidence and widens the gap between leaders and citizens, calling instead for sincere engagement and open dialogue.

Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her solidarity with the affected students and their families, stating that her intervention aligns with her longstanding commitment to justice, democratic freedoms and youth empowerment.

The development followed the arrest of no fewer than 52 AAU students during a late-night operation by security operatives in Ekpoma, after a protest over the deteriorating security situation in the state. The students were subsequently arraigned in court for their alleged involvement in the demonstration.

The arrests have also drawn condemnation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which described the continued detention of the students as unacceptable and disturbing, insisting that citizens exercising their constitutional rights should not be subjected to intimidation or harassment.

However, security authorities in Edo State have defended the arrests, claiming the protest was infiltrated by hoodlums who allegedly attacked traders, set tyres ablaze and vandalised the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma during the unrest.

Advertisement

latest

Fresh Leadership Change At LAWMA As Sanwo-Olu Names New MD, Redeploys Officers.

Published

on

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Olajuwon Akinyemi as the acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The appointment comes amid growing concerns over the poor management of refuse across the state, with heaps of waste reportedly littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels.

Akinyemi replaces Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was asked to resign following the concerns over the worsening waste situation in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu also approved the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as the acting Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi will retain his position as the Executive Director of Finance.

As part of efforts to reform the authority, the state government has also approved the redeployment of several senior LAWMA officials to other departments and agencies within the Lagos State public service.

Under the arrangement, officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 will be transferred to the mainstream Lagos State Civil Service, local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

However, officials in the Legal Department have been exempted from the exercise to avoid disruptions to ongoing court cases and concession agreements being handled by the agency.

The heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations have also been temporarily exempted from the transfers for an initial period of 90 days.

Akinyemi, who hails from Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, is an experienced administrator.

Before his latest appointment, President Bola Tinubu appointed him Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2025.

He had also served in the Lagos State public service, where he held the position of Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) for UBEC.

Akinyemi previously worked as Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure.

Continue Reading

latest

2027 Presidency: Donald Duke Declares Readiness To Step Down For Consensus Candidate.

Published

on

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has declared his willingness to support any candidate who emerges as the consensus choice of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Duke made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during the PRP strategic retreat, where he also condemned what he described as deliberate efforts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties ahead of the polls.

The former Cross River State governor accused the ruling party of using state institutions to frustrate opposition activities.

He lamented that opposition parties were allegedly being denied access to campaign venues while political violence was allowed to persist.

“Indeed, right now in this country, the only party able to campaign is the APC. They’ve locked out every person,” he said.

Duke warned that the growing political hostility could trigger a national crisis. He drew comparisons between the current political atmosphere and developments that preceded the 1966 crisis and the Nigerian Civil War.

He also expressed hope that the 375 judges recently inaugurated to handle election-related cases would uphold integrity and dispense justice without fear or favour.

Meanwhile, the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, warned that Nigeria could face serious instability if the rising cases of political violence and intimidation against opposition parties were not urgently addressed.

Baba-Ahmed said attacks on opposition politicians and restrictions on their campaigns could undermine the electoral process, deny Nigerians the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights and plunge the country into deeper political uncertainty.

“We are not scared for the PRP, we are scared for the country,” Baba-Ahmed said when asked about concerns over possible attacks on the party during its campaigns.

Continue Reading

latest

Super Eagles Begin Tanzania Clash Preparations As 17 Players Arrive In Uyo.

Published

on

Nigeria have commenced preparations for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Tanzania, with 17 players reporting for the Super Eagles’ first training session in Uyo on Tuesday, November 10.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The team’s preparations encountered an early setback after flight scheduling issues at Victor Attah International Airport delayed the arrival of several players on Monday.

However, 10 players arrived on Tuesday morning. They included goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo; Fulham duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi; Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Benjamin Fredrick and Alhassan Yusuf.

Seven other players also joined the squad, bringing the total number of available players to 17. They are Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tolu Arokodare, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Samson Tijani, Tochukwu Nnadi, Francis Uzoho and Ademola Lookman.

The remaining seven invited players expected to join the camp are Bruno Onyemaechi, Abdullahi Bewene, Wilfred Ndidi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moses Usor and first-time invitee Mubarak Suleiman.

Nigeria will welcome Tanzania to Uyo on Friday before travelling to Dar es Salaam for the return fixture four days later.

The Super Eagles have accumulated three points from their opening two matches in Group L. They started their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but subsequently suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau away from home.

Nigeria currently sit second in the group, behind Guinea-Bissau, and will need positive results in both encounters to improve their chances of qualifying for the tournament.

Tanzania, meanwhile, have already secured their place at the 2027 AFCON as one of the co-hosts, leaving just one additional qualification spot available in the group.

Continue Reading

Trending