Couple Happily Arrive Wedding Venue in “Keke Napep” in Delta State (Photos)

Northern Elders To Adress Economic, Security Agenda With Fed Govt

Association of Arewa Communities in Igbo land has thrown its weight behind the clamour for the emergence of a president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2023.

At a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital by the association, the national president, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado Umaru solicited the support of Nigerians in general for the clamour.

He said, “The unity of this country should be paramount in our hearts. This we can achieve by allowing an Igbo man to emerge as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.

“This is the time, we should give our consent for an Igbo executive president. Our people should give them the benefit of doubt to lead the country in the next political dispensation.”

He warned that if given the opportunity, they should speak with one voice to avoid a repeat of what happened to them during the 1999 primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jos, Plateau State capital.

“They went to the primary so divided that it took a little effort by Chief Olusegen Obasanjo, who later won the presidential election to pick the party’s ticket even though he was not the favourite,” he said.

According to him, much of the crisis in the South East is caused by the marginalisation of the people in many areas by both the present and previous administrations, saying the time to end it had come.

Nigeria Won’t Have Peace Until Igbo Become President – Northern Communities

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November 15, 2021

Nigeria - map and flag Detailed Vector Illustration — Nigeria map and flag - High Detailed Vector Illustration

Northern Communities residents in the South-East geopolitical zone have declared that peace would remain elusive to Nigeria until an Igbo man or woman is allowed to become President.

The Northern communities under the aegis of AREWA communities in Igbo land who addressed a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, said that Igbo should be allowed to succeed President Muhamnadu Buhari in 2023 in the spirit of equity and justice, and fairness.

According to them, it is now time for power to shift to South East as that will help to engender peace and national cohesion.

“The unity of this country should be paramount in our hearts. This, we can achieve by allowing an Igbo man to emerge as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023″, they said.

They, however, advised the Igbo political elite to reconcile their differences and produce a competent and popular detribalized Nigerian to contest for the 2023 presidency, assuring them of full Northern support.

National President of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado Umaru who spoke on behalf of the AREWA communities, urged other geopolitical zones not to contest for the office of the President but leave it for South-East in the spirit of brotherhood.

“We are sure that the North, West, South-South, and others will support this noble agenda”, they added.

Alhaji Umaru expressed concern over the lopsidedness of Nigeria’s leadership against Igbo and called for the correction of the anomaly in 2023 for Nigeria’s continuity.

“We, the Northern people living in Igbo land are highly in support of an Igbo Executive President in 2023. We live and earn our living in Igbo Land and will continue to live together as an indivisible entity.

“Igbo are accommodating and pan Nigeria. What will be required from them is to harmonize themselves and produce a detribalised person that will be contesting the 2023 Presidential election.

“Late Sarduana of Sokoto, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Awolowo did not envisage disunity and war when they fought our colonial masters to secure our political and economic independence.

“Our experience today centres on tribalism, nepotism, marginalization, religious sentiment, bribery and corruption which has eaten deep into our hearts.

“If we can tell ourselves the truth, the leadership in the country has been lopsided as sensitive positions are denied a particular ethnic group.

“President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Director General of DSS are all occupied by an ethnic group, leaving the Igbos to feel marginalized.

“We should not fan embers of crisis because where there is war, nothing is secured, let us give peace a chance like our founding fathers”.

Nigeria Inflation Rate Drops to 15.99% in October as Food Prices Ease

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November 15, 2021

Nigerian inflation slowed to a 10th-month low in October, giving the central bank scope to leave interest rates on hold next week.

Consumer prices increased 15.99% from a year earlier, compared with 16.63% in September, Statistician-General Simon Harry told reporters Monday in Abuja, the capital. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of seven economists was 16.2%.

While inflation has exceeded the 9% ceiling of the central bank’s target band for more than six years, the sustained slowdown in price growth may give the monetary policy committee room to hold rates and aid the economy’s rebound from last year’s coronavirus-induced contraction. Economic output in Africa’s biggest oil producer has lagged the pace of population expansion of about 2.6% every year since crude prices fell in 2015.

Central bank Governor Godwin Emefiele has previously said the MPC will only make policy adjustments once the economy’s recovery is on a sustainable path. The median estimate of 11 economists in a Bloomberg survey is for interest rates to start rising in the first quarter of next year.

The central bank will announce its interest-rate decision on Nov. 23.

The deceleration in inflation was largely helped by annual food-price growth, which slowed to 18.3% from 19.6% in September. Core inflation, which excludes farm produce, eased to 13.3%, compared with 13.7% in the previous month.

The slowdown is expected to continue unless there’s a shock in the system, Harry said.

Africa’s largest economy has struggled to overcome a more than decade-long Islamist insurgency in the northeast and bandit attacks in the northwest that have disrupted farming and displaced millions.

“Security challenges in key food-growing regions will keep a floor on further price declines,” said Ikemesit Effiong, head of research at SBM Intelligence, ahead of the release.

S’East Leaders Worried Over Difficulties Faced By Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team

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November 15, 2021

Traditional and religious leaders from the South-East zone have expressed worry over what they described as differences encountered by the legal team of the Leader of the Indigenous; People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on his ongoing trial.

The leaders urged the Court to affirm Kanu’s fundamental rights, including that of his Lawyers and other stakeholders, stressing that failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial against the IPOB leader.

Spokesmen of the traditional and religious leaders; Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, His Grace Chibuzo Okpoko, among others, warned that the difficulties will neutralize all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South-East zone.

They commended IPOB for listening to their appeal to call off the sit-at-home order.

“This Joint Body is relieved that the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election was conducted without any major incidents or breach of the peace. It also commends the people of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Forces, the National Peace Committee, and all the other actors who contributed to the successful conduct of the election.

“We are highly disturbed by the persistent complaints by the IPOB legal team about the difficulties it encounters in dealing with the Department of State Services (DSS) and, especially, the sad events which occurred during Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10.

“This Joint Body acknowledges the statement by the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice,

Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, in which he affirmed that the Federal Government was open to a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case. This statement is in line with the proposal earlier made by this.

“Joint body and by other well-meaning persons and groups in Nigeria. This Body therefore eagerly awaits the concrete steps that would be taken in this regard.”

The group acknowledged the roles played by various other Igbo organizations and groups in fostering peace in the southeast zone and calls on all to sustain the current effort until true peace, based on justice and equity, is achieved in our land.

Gumi Opens School For Herdsmen In Kaduna To Curb Banditry

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November 15, 2021

Renowned Muslim preacher, Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmad Gumi has established a school for herdsmen inside a Kaduna forest, insisting that the provision of infrastructures to herdsmen in their remote locations could help in curbing their violent ideologies.

The Sheikh denied saying there will be no Nigeria if bandits are declared terrorists, adding that he was quoted out of context.

He said insecurity in Nigeria, particularly banditry can become a thing of the past, as bandits are ready to drop their arms if education opportunities and other basic amenities are provided for them at the grassroots.

He named the school Sheikh Uthman Bin Fodio Centre, located at Kagarko Grazing Reserve near Kohoto Village in Kaduna state.

The school was built by Sheikh Gumi funded Mosque Foundation Limited, Kaduna.

“If the centre which is designed to educate the herdsmen is replicated everywhere in the Country, Nigerians will live in peace,” he said.

“Instead of spending billions on military hardware to fight the bandits, Nigeria should spend such money on schools and teachers.I have spoken with the bandits and they have expressed willingness to drop their arms and embrace peace, if their children can be given education and other social amenities,” he said.

“What motivated me to start this project was to solve the insecurity problem we have from the root because every crime has its perpetrators and perpetrators are drawn from a pool so we want to go there and dry the pool and we found out that education is the best cure.”

“If they are educated, they will not be doing what they are doing.

“So, we say we must take education to the grassroots and we embarked on the project to also be an example for others, local government, state and federal and rich individuals even cooperative societies to come together and make sure that we are directed across the forest to know what we can do to carter for nomads; it does not cost much, very little and it will help to educate them and we will live peacefully with them.”

“What we have here is a centre containing six classrooms that can be used for primary, secondary schools and at various times you can teach all categories at all times and the place will be engaged for 24 hours because the herdsmen usually take their cattle out by 10 am and bring them back by dawn or sunset so they have 2 hours before they take their cattle away and we have 2 to 3 hours because we like to put some solar light so that they can read 8, 9, 10 in the night so that the herder can go and come back.”

“We have schools, we have hospital and also showing them how to grind the foliage which they can use to feed their animals, some of them don’t need to go out because those things are so cheap and farmers are throwing those things away, soon farmers will start charging for it. If we can duplicate this everywhere Nigerians will live in peace.”

While he denied saying Nigeria will seize to exist if bandits are declared as terrorists, he said, “It is a quotation out of context, I didn’t say there will be no Nigeria, I said if banditry now has turned into terrorism, fanatical religious terrorism which is there because Islam recognises religious terrorism so if we allow the herdsmen to turn into a religious fanatic and extremist it will not be good for us as a nation.”

“99% of the herdsmen are not into banditry but if you turn it into religious struggle they will just go there committing a crime, so it is not good to label them as terrorist because it will profile all herdsmen as terrorists because you are attaching it to herdsmen, you are not attaching it to an organization and if you say herdsmen are terrorist Nigeria will have a problem, the whole course will be on fire, the north-south and east will be on fire and nothing will remain of Nigeria if everywhere is on fire”.

“There is a lot that can be done to improve insecurity in Nigeria such as having this kind of centre instead of spending billions on hardware, let’s spend it on schools and teachers even the bandits I have spoken with them as I’m speaking with you to drop down their weapons to study, so long their women and children will learn they are ready to drop their weapons, so why won’t we embrace peace?”

He said although the construction of the centre is still ongoing, the three tiers of government can come in and partner on training the herdsmen on how they can be economically viable.

“We want Nigerians to know that the herdsman is the most peaceful. For those that have used banditry and criminality to express their grievances, we want them to know that there is another way. We call on the three tiers of government, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to support in bringing development to the grassroots,” he said.

Buhari Mourns General, Three Other Soldiers Killed in Borno Attack

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November 15, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the senior officer and three other soldiers that were killed in a fierce encounter with ISWAP terrorists in Borno.

The Nigerian Army had on Saturday announced the death of Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu, the Commander of the 28 Task Force Brigade, and three soldiers in a fierce encounter with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state.

Barely 24 hours after the incident, President Buhari hailed the gallantry of the victims, saying they paid the supreme price in the insurgency war.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President expressed shock over the incident.

He said the loss has left the nation and the Nigerian Army in a sad state, especially as the nation battles terrorism in the North-East region.

“President Muhammadu Buhari says he is extremely saddened to hear about the demise of Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they tried to help their compatriots in the war against terrorists,” the statement read.

“Nigeria has lost brave soldiers. I salute their courage. May their souls rest in peace. General Zirkusu leaves us sad and devastated. The soldier in him will remain immortal.”

The President also commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Faruk Yahaya, and the Nigerian Army on the unfortunate incident.

He asked the Army chief to accept his heartfelt condolences and that of the nation, and convey same to the members of the families of those martyred.

“I pray to the Almighty to give you and the bereaved families the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss,” the President added.

SOurce

Buhari Meets AFREXIM Bank President in South Africa

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November 15, 2021

The President, Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday held a meeting with the President of the African Export-Import Bank, Benedict Oramah, in South Africa.

This was announced by the Personal Assistant on Broadcast Media to the President, Buhari Sallau, via his Facebook page.

Sharing pictures of the meeting, he said, “President Muhammadu Buhari holds Bilateral Meeting with President of AfREXIM Bank Prof. Benedict Oramah in Durban, South Africa on 14th November 2021.” (sic)

See photos below:

https://abntv.com.ng/2021/11/federer-unlikely-to-play-at-2022-australian-open-coach/

Federer Unlikely To Play At 2022 Australian Open – Coach

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November 15, 2021

Roger Federer is unlikely to play in next year’s Australian Open but is still determined to make a return to tournament tennis at some stage, according to his coach Ivan Ljubicic.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has been inactive since losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in July and undergoing another round of knee surgery.

Asked whether Federer would be back in action for the first major of the year in January, former world No 3 Ljubicic said the signs were not promising.

“I think there are very few chances, he is still recovering, and knowing him, he wants to be sure he can play to win the tournament and be at 100 percent,” the Croatian told Stats Perform.

“So I think the Australian Open is not a real possibility right now. But he will go step by step because he is 40 years old now and he needs to be patient. He cannot recover as quickly as he used to.”

Federer is tied with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the race to be the most successful men’s singles Grand Slam champion of all time and Australian Open organizers would have been hoping to have all three at Melbourne Park.

Nadal, who has had injury issues of his own, has said he will be there, but Djokovic has declined to confirm his presence until Tennis Australia reveals the health protocols for the tournament.

The Serbian world No 1 has not confirmed whether he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, a pre-requisite for entering Australia under current rules.

The Australian government has said it will admit unvaccinated players as long as they are prepared to undergo 14 days of quarantine and the state of Victoria requests an exemption.

Victoria’s Premier Dan Andrews has made it clear the state will not request exemptions for unvaccinated players. Tennis Australia has said repeatedly that negotiations with the government over the issue are ongoing.

Ljubicic said he was certain that Federer was not thinking about hanging up his racket just yet.

“We have spoken and I can guarantee he wants to return to playing tennis,” he added. “When he decides to stop he will retire, but I don’t think it’s going to happen all of a sudden.”

Abia Pensioners To Smile Home As Chikwe Udensi Obtains List To Roll Out Welfare Package

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ABN TV EDITOR

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November 15, 2021