News
UN seeks end to human rights violations in Central African Republic
Factual Pursuit of Truth for Progress
The United Nations has frowned at the violations of human rights in the Central African Republic.
The human rights chief of the UN, Michelle Bachelet, said, “After well over a decade of intense conflicts that have inflicted great suffering on millions of people, there is a pressing need for work to advance human rights, justice, and genuine reconciliation for the people of the Central African Republic.”
Bachelet delivered her statement on Wednesday at the High-level dialogue on the human rights situation in the Central African Republic, during the 49th session of the Human Rights Council.
Despite the unilateral ceasefire that was declared by the President on 15 October 2021, the country’s conflicts continue to generate severe violations and abuses of human rights by all parties.
According to OCHA, as a direct result, over 1.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and 3.1 million people – 63 per cent of the population – need humanitarian protection and assistance.
The High Commissioner said, “Never in the past five years have there been so many people in acute need in the Central African Republic.
Multiple armed groups have continued to perpetrate serious human rights abuses.
Military operations against these groups by the Government’s security forces, supported by various armed elements and foreign private contractors, have also reportedly resulted in serious human rights violations.
Killings, conflict-related sexual violence, and grave violations and abuses against children have been alleged against all parties.”
During the last three months of 2021, the Human Rights Division of MINUSCA documented 363 incidents of human rights violations, abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law many extremely severe with 848 victims were recorded.
Some 59 per cent of these incidents were attributed to armed groups that were signatories to the Peace Agreement of February 2020. National security forces and their allies were responsible for 40 per cent of incidents a sharp increase from 23 per cent in January 2021.
Bachelet also said, “In Boyo village in the Ouaka Prefecture, a newly formed pro-government militia, made up of former Anti-Balaka and other recruited youth, allegedly killed 20 people, raped five women and girls, and burned and looted 547 houses in December 2021.
Most of the victims were Muslim, and the village appears to have been targeted as a punishment for perceived support for the UPC armed group.”
OHCHR will be issuing a public report on this incident.
News
Court remands three suspects for stealing transformer cables in Osun monarch’s palace
An Osun State Magistrate court sitting in Ilesa, on Monday remanded three suspected thieves in police custody for stealing transformer cables valued at N700,000 in Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran’s palace.
The suspects, Owolabi Abimbola,33, Sulaiman Mutiu,25, Samson Oluwafemi,25, and others now at large are facing four-count charges on the committed offence.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Adigun Kehinde, the stolen transformer cables were the property of IBEDC Ilesa branch.
He told the court that the defendants on May 11, 2022, conspired, stole and diverted to their own personal use a transformer cable at the Owa Obokun Palace.
Adigun argued that the offence committed by the defendants was contrary to sections 516, 400, 451(6), 383(2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol ll Law of Osun State 2002, which saw the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, A.O Awodele fixed further hearing on the case till May 18th and ordered that the defendants should be kept in Police custody.
News
Rio Ferdinand reacts after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make Premier League Player of the Year shortlist
Rio Ferdinand has reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s omission from the Premier League Player of the Year shortlist, saying it’s ‘laughable’ while insisting he will ‘100 per cent’ stay at Manchester United next season.
Ronaldo’s return to the club from Juventus hasn’t gone as planned after enduring a frustrating first season at United, who have missed out on Champions League qualification. Though, he has 18 Premier League goals to his name.
Despite his individual performance, there was no room for the Portuguese star on this season’s Premier League Player of the Year shortlist, which consists of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min, James Ward-Prowse, and Bukayo Saka.
Now, Ferdinand has questioned how Saka, who has registered six goals and 11 assists for Arsenal, has earned a nomination ahead of his old team-mate.
‘Saka’s in the in the Player of the Year nominees?’ the former United defender asked on the Vibe with Five podcast. ‘I wouldn’t have had Saka in there yet, as well as he’s done.
‘I wouldn’t have had him over Ronaldo, no, not this season. Ronaldo should be in ahead of three of four of those guys in there.
‘He probably doesn’t win it but in terms of nominees, it’s laughable. He’ll take it as a disrespect but these are the things that fuel him, he’ll be thinking, “how dare you?”.
‘If it’s based on stats, he’s like, “I’ve banged in more goals than most of them on that list other than Salah, so what are you talking about?”‘
News
2023: Why Kwankwaso will emerge next president – Orji Kalu
Factual Pursuit of Truth for Progress
The Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, has explained why former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPC) have a chance if winning in next year’s presidential election.
Kanu, who had earlier endorsed Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, believes the former Kano State Governor could shock the odds.
Kalu, who featured in a Television programme on Monday evening, said his understanding of the power shift to the Southern part of the country was that all regions in the zone – South-South, South-West and South-East would allow the latter to produce the country’s next president.
He added that since South-West and South-South-South are not willing to surrender the presidential ticket to the South-East, he would not mind if the presidency remained in the North.
In his words, “We agreed that it is the turn of the South-East to produce the president. Later we started seeing candidates from other zones – South-West and South-South.
“I know the two zones that have not produced the country’s president are South-East and North-East. I know I don’t have the number but I have other things to win the election.
“Since our southern brothers refuse to leave it to the South-East, if it is not South-East then it should be North-East. The South-West and South-South are not fair.
“If we have to do anything rational, Ahmed Lawal will have my vote because he is from the North-East. Anything except South-East, it should go back to the North. We are wiser now. This is the position of most Igbos. If they vote it back to the South-East, I’ll reactivate my aspiration.”
Kalu added: “The problem we have now is Kwankwanso. If they give me the ticket, I’ll lose to Kwankwanso. If APC pick southerner, Kwankwanso is already the president.”
The former Abia State governor, who dismissed insinuations on his interest in the running mate ticket, insisted that nine presidential aspirants would step down for the Senate President before the APC primary election.
“I am not a politician but an entrepreneur. I talk straight and not like a politician. I employ 35 percent of journalists in Nigeria.
“I have already purchased my Senate form. I have known Lawal for 41 years. We were roommate in the university,” he concluded.
