'' It would be dangerous, reckless and counterproductive for Buhari to arrest or kill Sunday Igboho''- FFK

Femi Fani-Kayode has said it would be dangerous, reckless and counterproductive of the Buhari-led government to arrest Yoruba activist, Sunda Igboho, who gave a quit notice to Fulani herders in the state.

 

Reports online claim the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, ordered the Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Ngozi Onadeko, to arrest Igboho.

 

Reacting to this development via his Twitter handle, FFK wrote

''It would be dangerous, reckless & counter productive for Buhari to ARREST or KILL Sunday Igboho. When the Northern youths demanded that Igbos should leave the north no-one was arrested. Why should Sunday be arrested or killed for asking KILLER Fulani herdsmen to leave SW?

I advise the FG to tread softly because Sunday has the full support of the Yoruba nation because he has spoken for the people. Kill him & you make him a martyr for Oduduwa, arrest him & you make him the greatest hero of the Yoruba since independence. Whichever way he wins.

The way to solve the problem is to arrest the herdsmen that kill & kidnap our people in the SW & not to arrest or kill those that are standing up & speaking for their victims. Sunday did not ask for ALL Fulanis to leave SW. He asked for the killers, terrorists& kidnappers amongst them to leave Ibarapa & the Yoruba people LOVE him for it. Is that a crime?

As long as he maintains the peace & does not indulge in or encourage any violence I do not see what he has done wrong? In 1999 when Gani Adams was rising up I identified him as a young man to watch. I wrote an essay about him and I said his courage would take him far. I was proved right. Today I identify Sunday Igboho who has stood up against wickedness, injustice & apartheied in our land when other Yoruba leaders were too timid to stand. I commend his courage.''

Fulani: You can’t threaten us with war- Afenifere fires back at ACF

 

Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has reacted to the statement released by the Area Consultative Forum, in which they warned the SouthWest governors to stop the attacks on Fulanis in their states as it can lead to reprisal attacks in the North which in the long run can lead to a repeat of the 1966 civil war.

 

In a statement released by its publicity secretary, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said its attention was drawn to the hypocritical tears of the AFCF over clashes in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State occasioned by the ''inimical activities of Fulani herdsmen against indigenous Yoruba people''.

 

The group frown at ACF's comment warning against a repeat of the 1966 civil war, insisting that the group shouldn't use war to threaten the Yorubas. The statement in part reads

“While we have gone to a great length to sue for peace and have appealed to our pained people to be law-abiding even with the daily provocations of the Fulani and harassment of our people, we frown at the very arrogant and insulting ACF statement, especially their reference to the event of 1966.

We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.

We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people.

We advise them to call their criminals to order and not expect our people to sheepishly wait to be killed by those who value cow lives more than human beings.”

We do not want a repeat of 1966 event but if there are people plotting such event again, the rain will be over their heads.”
 

Capitol rioter denied bail after admitting dragging cop down the stairs

 

Jeffrey Sabol, a geophysicist from Colorado who admitted assaulting an officer during the insurrection which took place at the US Capitol has been denied bail. 

 

Sabol was denied bail after it was uncovered that he tried to flee to Switzerland after the day of the siege and then in what authorities called a different type of flight effort, attempted suicide. 

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Gianforti who spoke during a hearing conducted over video conference and phone in U.S. District Court in White Plains, New York on Friday January 22,  said authorities have reason to believe that Sabol may “have assaulted another police officer” with a baton that he is seen wielding during the riot.

 

 

Describing the case as “very disturbing,” a federal magistrate Andrew Krause denied bail to the 51-year-old divorced geophysicist with three children.

 

Krause ordered that Sabol be held without bond on a criminal complaint filed against him in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., calling him a danger to the community and a risk of flight.

 

 

The defendant was ordered removed from the Southern District of New York and will be extradited to the District of Columbia for continued prosecution. This transfer will not be immediate because the U.S. Marshals Service is currently unaware of when safe transfer will be possible due to the ongoing public health crisis surrounding the still-raging coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

Saabol’s first appearance in front of the D.C. District Court will occur digitally on February 5.

 

 

Mongolian Prime Minister resigns after protest over heavy-handed treatment of a Coronavirus-infected mother and her newborn baby

 

Mongolian Prime Minister, Khuresukh Ukhnaa has submitted his resignation to parliament after protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar about the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

His resignation came a day after thousands protested in the capital over what they said was the heavy-handed treatment of a coronavirus-infected mother and her newborn baby. It was gathered that the woman was transferred from a maternity hospital to a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients together with the newborn baby on Tuesday night. 

 

The protest was triggered by the woman wearing only slippers and no outerwear in the freezing weather during the transfer. 

 

The state news agency Montsame reported that Ukhnna's resignation is to be discussed at a parliamentary faction of the ruling Mongolian People's Party. After that, it will be addressed at a session of the parliament. 

 

After earning praise for its handling of Coronavirus in the early stages, Mongolia has recently been battling an outbreak caused by an infected driver entering from Russia.

 

Farmers and forest guards in Ondo stage protest in support of Gov Akeredolu's ultimatum to unregistered herdsmen (photos)

 

Farmers, forest guards, and drivers in Ondo state on Thursday, January 21, staged a peaceful protest in support of the seven-day ultimatum the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, gave to unregistered herders to vacate forest reserves in Ondo.

 

This directive by the governor has caused a debate with the Presidency saying it is unconstitutional for the governor to order people out of his state. The state government maintains that the directive is for unregistered herdsmen grazing their cattle in its forest reserves. The state government insists that it is important for the herders to be registered as part of measures to contain the increasing level of insecurity witnessed in the state.

 

The protesters carried different placards with different inscriptions like ''Bandits are killing our members''

 

See more photos below

 

US-based Nigerian professor and Political columnist, Okey Ndibe allegedly detained by DSS before being allowed to board his flight

 

US-based Nigerian professor and Political columnist, Okey Ndibe was allegedly detained by the DSS before being allowed to board his flight yesterday January 20. 

 

Nigerian-born former Chief of Staff to the Board of Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland, (MCPS) USA, Ikhide Roland Ikheloa made the disclosure via a tweet he shared. 

 

Ikhide first tweeted; 

 

I understand that Professor Okey Ndibe has been prevented from boarding his flight to his family in the US, by Nigeria’s secret police. In a democracy. How is Okey even a threat to Nigeria’s security?

 

 

Serving an update on this, he wrote; 

 

Update: “After detaining me for a bit, they handed back my passport and said, No vex(!). I’ve now boarded my flight. Thanks, Brother Ikhide.”

 

US Surgeon general, Jerome Adam resigns at Joe Biden's request

 

U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams has resigned from his position at the request of President Joe Biden.

 

Adams, 46,  was nominated by former President Donald Trump and sworn into the job in September 2017.

 

In a lengthy post on Facebook, Adams wrote:

Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honor of my life. Three years and five months ago, I was confirmed as just the 20th United States Surgeon General - and only the second ever African American male to serve in that role.

 

My tenure started with three category 5 hurricanes barreling down on our citizens. I immediately deployed to witness the devastation first hand, and to lead our Public Health Service Officers as we helped with the response. I saw the best of our Nation coming together in the worse of times, to help those who’d lost everything.

 

I then turned my attention to the opioid epidemic, encouraging more people to carry Naloxone by issuing the first Surgeon General’s advisory in over a decade. Working across government and with amazing advocacy organizations on the ground- many led by parents who had lost their own children to opioid overdose- we were able to increase Naloxone availability nationwide by over 400%, and save countless lives. This is perhaps my proudest achievement, as my family has been personally impacted my substance misuse, and I firmly believe stigma remains one of our biggest killers and barriers to health.

Being a parent of school-age children myself, I saw the need to issue subsequent advisories warning of the dangers of youth e-cigarette and youth marijuana use- a combination which merged into the deadly EVALI outbreak our Nation faced. Despite any opinions about adult use of these products, I hope Americans can agree that we must all work together to prevent youth initiation and use.

In 2019, I issued the first Surgeon Generals report in over 30 years on smoking cessation, highlighting the groups still most impacted by smoking, and the science behind what we know works to help them quit. We have made tremendous progress, but far too many- including those with mental health issues, our tribal citizens, and the LGBTQ community, haven’t shared equally in cessation successes.

And of course, there was COVID19. In the face of a once in a century pandemic, I sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary, and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe. I wasn’t always right- because no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of us- but I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to everyday Americans, and address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed.

My team also put out historic Surgeon General’s Calls to Action on Hypertension Control, Maternal Health, and Suicide Prevention. We did this because even in midst of a deadly pandemic, hundreds of thousands of people are killed by these other health risks every year. For example, more people died from uncontrolled high blood pressure in 2020 than from Covid-19. We mustn’t forget about all the other harms Americans face every day, or the many opportunities we have to improve health, and build more resilient communities. And we mustn’t forget that diseases and health risks rarely impact all communities equally. That's why these Calls to Action specifically mention the groups disparately impacted, and talk about the need to study and address aggravating factors like bias.

Finally, I released a completely novel type of Surgeon Generals report- a report on Community Health and Economic Prosperity. It emphasizes the links between the health of our communities and the health of our economies. It is unique in that it makes the business case for why we all should care about and invest in the vital conditions that create opportunities and healthier communities.

During my tenure, I have visited with people from all across America. And despite all that you may read on social media or see on tv, I can assure you that from Alaska to Alabama, from Maine to Montana, and from California to the Carolinas, Americans mostly want the same thing. They want a fair shot at being their best and healthiest self, and to be able to support the health and well being of their families.

And speaking of families, I want to thank those of you who supported me and my family- my wife who is undergoing cancer treatment, my brother who is struggling to overcome addiction, my mother who suffered a stroke earlier this year, and my kids who sacrificed time with their dad so that he could serve this Nation. And thanks to those of you who have become part of my family- the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, my dedicated support staff in the Office of the Surgeon General, the amazing colleagues and friends I’ve met across government, and the many people across this great Nation who constantly pray for my wife and kids, and ask about my dog Bella.

I hope in 2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us. Because Americans working together can overcome any obstacle or adversary. I stand at the ready to help in our mutual quest for recovery, resilience, and health, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to serve.

 

Adams’ resignation came shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office.

 

Back in December, the Biden administration announced its nominee, Vivek Murthy for the role of the surgeon general. He previously served in the position under former President Barack Obama and he’s a close adviser to Biden.

 

 

When his nomination was revealed, Murthy said in a statement: "In this moment of crisis, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help end this pandemic, be a voice for science, and support our nation on its path to rebuilding and healing.”

 

Murthy's nomination will still need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before he can begin work.