President Muhammadu Buhari has announced DIG Usman Alkali Baba as acting Inspector General of Police.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi who disclosed this to statehouse correspondesaid the appointment is with immediate effect.
Buhari had on February 4th extended the tenure of Mohammed Adamu as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for three months.
Adamu has spent two months and three days.
Idriss Déby, speaks in a soft mumble, wears spectacles and an immaculate white robe, and is to be found in the quiet inner recesses of a gilt-edged, marble presidential palace — under crystal chandeliers and vaulted arches that seem part Renaissance, part Vegas — at the dusty center of his country’s capital.Yet he is undeniably one of Africa’s most formidable strongmen. His men once whipped Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s fighters in a desert battle, and he has survived numerous rebel assaults and coup attempts. More recently, his forces have successfully battled the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram and Al Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, shoring up his credentials as the West’s favorite African autocrat.Still, in discussing his military’s victory in the Boko Haram stronghold of Damasak, in Nigeria, Mr. Déby showed no hint of triumphalism. Instead, he was frustrated, impatient: His men were stuck, still awaiting any sign of Nigerian forces who could come take over. He does not want to be holding Nigerian territory, he said. He wants to be on the move.Source : New York Times
Comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan said he would prefer to vote for President Donald Trump in November rather than Joe Biden.
Speaking with Thiel Capital managing director Eric Weinstein on Friday’s edition of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Rogan didn’t mince words when the topic turned to politics. After Weinstein said that Americans have “no choice at all” of a “viable” presidential candidate, Rogan went off on Biden:
This is the real issue with the Democratic Party,” Rogan said. “They’ve essentially made us all morons with this Joe Biden thing.”
“Can you imagine?” asked Weinstein.
“I can’t vote for that guy,” said Rogan.
Source: Daily Caller
This is a very peculiar Palm Sunday for me as a Catholic. Born and raised a Catholic, at no other time of the year do I observe the beauty of my Catholic faith as at Easter.
Holy week starts with Palm Sunday and Climaxes on Easter Sunday with the Mass for me.
Low in spirit because all this was to be interrupted by social distancing necessitated by the Coronavirus, my first ray of hope came with information that they would be blessed palms to pick up at my Parish by 6 pm.
Joining the Pontifico College at mass however, and listening to Cardinal Luis Antonio express the same sentiments, I felt like we are all in this together. He said in his 48 years as a priest, this palm Sunday will remain with him forever.
Speaking about those dying alone because of quarantine and relatives who would be grieving because they could not keep their loved ones company in their last hours asking ” What have I done to deserve this?” , he took us back to Jesus and his experience.
Jesus loved Peter and called him the rock on which he would build his church, yet Peter denied him. When Pilate asked if he should free Jesus or Barnabas, The same crowd he fed and performed miracles shouted “Crucify him”. Jesus, Cardinal Luis Antonio said deserved better. Yet he didn’t question God’s will.
It dawned on me that even today, Jesus deserves better from this sinful generation of which I am a part.
The Cardinal asked how we are preparing to die? He said ” prepare to die by living your mission on earth “. I was forced to think,’am I living my mission?.
He admonished against waiting to die in misery and discouragement and helplessness. Jesus deserves better, live your mission till death comes.
When we ask what he have done to deserve the hardship we are experiencing from the Covid-19 experience, it is the wrong question. We should rather ask, how am I preparing to die? Am I living my Life to fulfil my mission.
As palms were waved for Jesus today, His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal asked us to wave the palms for those afflicted and suffering in this difficult times. In fact to be the palm and cloak waving for them in prayer and supplication.
Happy palm Sunday
President Trump has fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community who alerted Congress to concerns about a Trump phone call with the president of Ukraine – a matter that led to the president’s impeachment last year.
Trump formally notified the intelligence committees of both the Senate and House in a letter dated Friday. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., posted the letter online.
This is to advise that I am exercising my power as President to remove from office the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, effective 30 days from today,” the president wrote.
Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community, leaves the Capitol after closed doors interview about the whistleblower complaint that exposed a July phone call the president had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which Trump pressed for an investigation of Democratic political rival Joe Biden and his family, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. (Associated Press)
Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community, leaves the Capitol after closed doors interview about the whistleblower complaint that exposed a July phone call the president had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which Trump pressed for an investigation of Democratic political rival Joe Biden and his family, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. (Associated Press)
“It is extremely important that we promote the economy, efficiency, and the effectiveness of Federal programs and activities. The Inspectors General have a critical role in the achievement of these goals,” the president continued. “As is the case with regard to other positions where I, as President, have the power of appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, it is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspectors General. That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General.”
The president added he would nominate a replacement “who has my full confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications,” at a later time.
Tom Monheim, a career intelligence professional, will be named acting inspector general for the intelligence community, an intelligence official who requested anonymity told The Associated Press. Monheim is currently general counsel of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Democrats react
Leading Democrats quickly criticized the president’s action.
In a statement, Schiff claimed the move puts the country “at even greater risk.”
“Trump’s dead of night decision to fire ICIG Michael Atkinson is another blatant attempt to gut the independence of the Intelligence Community and retaliate against those who dare to expose presidential wrongdoing,” he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., blasted the president’s move as “a brazen act against a patriotic public servant who has honorably performed his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security, as required by the law and by his oath.
Source: Fox News
The World Health Organisations (WHO) has cautioned against lifting lockdown policies implemented to forestall the coronavirus pandemic.
The WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said this at a COVID-19 media briefing on Friday.
He warned that if countries rush to lift restrictions, “the virus could resurge and the economic impact could be even more severe and prolonged.”
“Financing the health response is, therefore, an essential investment not just in saving lives, but in the longer-term social and economic recovery,” he added.
Ghebreyesus advised countries to focus on three key areas – the implementation of core public health measures, the strengthening of health workers’ welfare and the removal of financial barriers to healthcare for all citizens.
“If people delay or forego care because they can’t afford it, they not only harm themselves, they make the pandemic harder to control and put society at risk,” Ghebreyesus said.
He advised governments to “consider using cash transfers to the most vulnerable households to overcome barriers to access.
“This may be particularly important for refugees, internally displaced persons, migrants and the homeless.”
It is often claimed by some African leaders that young people in Africa are lazy. I have never seen any meaningful evidence of this. To me, it is the attempts of an entrenched old guard trying desperately to disparage that which makes them uncomfortable. Additionally, these accusations are false by most measurements of merit and standards. It is the younger generations that will provide the positive disruption and the follow-on opportunities that will change Africa for the better. Better equipped young people will lead to a better and prosperous Africa.
In this age of rapid global socio-economic changes, safeguarding a sustainable future for the African continent should be of paramount importance for all her constituent nations. This is especially vital as Africa is once again becoming the new investment frontier and focal point for a geo-political power game between the world’s major players – the Americans, Chinese, Russians, UK and the EU.
The negative policies and opinions towards our young people have been a true reflection of the leadership deficit and bankruptcy that Africa has endured for several decades. This is because through political decision making and actions; young people have been used as disposable tools by political leaders to cause harm, disruption and violence to other citizens especially those who oppose them politically, which currently is the case across Africa; specifically Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and the Gambia to name a few.
At this critical time when the continent is set to play a crucial role in the socio-economic and geo-political landscape, it would be very foolish for Africans to be unprepared and unable to take advantage. This opportunity could allow Africa nations to set the benchmark as key players and set their terms from a position of strength and rather than as client states to anyone. A failure to strategize could lead to a wave of quasi-colonialization with unintended consequences that will cause our leaders to never be forgiven.
Who are the people needed to accomplish this objective? The answer is certainly amongst the youth. We know the current efforts of some governments and international organisations to set the stage for young folk to have their voices heard and to contribute positively to their communities and the wider society. However, these ideas have not penetrated into Africa where things need to move much more quickly, strategically, structurally and methodically to push for well-tailored and defined economic policies which should focus on how to expand and advance “the knowledge based economy” with the young of the continent at the centre of it all.
The facts are very clear; firstly, the younger age groups population is set to double by 2030, which should charge the consumer demand for new products and services; a sure way of transforming Africa’s economy. Additionally, one third of Africans are between the ages of 15-29, and we also know that approximately 40% of those are unemployed – this should drive us to an ambitious strategy of embracing knowledge based economic models with the youth both being the focus of this shift as well as the target. This would serve the continent and unite it in a common purpose by expanding our intellectual capacity and creating a market surge to match the expected economic demands of an expanding population and the need for increased employment opportunities.
Secondly, it also provides a unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness of ongoing reforms aimed at addressing the skills gap in Africa and developing that entrepreneurial capacities that, by consensus, Africa desperately needs at this point.
Thirdly, entrepreneurship remains a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment. Contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurship is alive and well across Africa. We have great potential for entrepreneurship with rates as high as 56% which dwarfs that of Asia, 21%, and the Middle East, 31%.
At the 2019 African Economic Conference, which focused on “Jobs, Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development for Africa’s Youth”, the United Nations Development Programme’s Chief Economist, Raymond Gilpin highlighted that the African youth “represent Africa’s bright future” who will push forward innovation and entrepreneurship, but only if the necessary resources are mobilized to allow them to realize their full potential.
Fourthly, another fundamental way to create sustainable improvements to skills and capital, is the need to make mentorship a key norm in the process of training, financial support and other services. To ensure that we create a culture of innovation and continuous learning that will ensure success and credibility, any initiatives must have backing from those who are already successful as well as those who are on their way up.
Therefore, it is a moral imperative for African nations to deliver on this opportunity and to position themselves effectively for the new role that they will be able to take in geo-politics. If we, as a continent, can bring together Africa’s best young brains to push forward with this strategy through collaboration and innovation then we can inform better policy and practice across all sectors. A network of young thinkers and entrepreneurs will drive innovative and positive disruption and empower the future of Africa.
Few things can bring a person to his knees like being stripped of freewill. Ask the prisoners what they miss most and they will tell you that it is the ability to go and come as they please. Nobody would have imagined that a time will come when people would be holed up in their house, not because they are I’ll but because of the fear of getting I’ll. Over the past few days, I must have seen at least a dozen varieties of sanitisers and face masks.Even those who ordinarily couldn’t care less about hygiene have been forced to become meticulous overnight, thanks to the Coronavirus. It however has opened my eyes to a lot of things. It has demystified the world giants and brought them to their knees. I would never have imagined the panic that has been seen in the western world could happen. As an individual though, the reality that so much depends on my actions and inactions is a heavy weight. For each unnecessary social gathering I attend at least 5000 persons will be put at risk. A case in point is South Koreas Patient 31. A little soap and running water that I decide to use for just twenty minutes could protect my family friends and colleagues from contracting the dreaded Coronavirus. The realization that the fact that I am not a habitual alcohol consumer or a smoker could help my cause in the eventuality that the virus does come near me is a welcome relief. The joy of knowing that my choice of fresh fruits and vegetables over junk and over processed food will make a huge difference in my body’s immunity and ability to fight and withstand the disease is cheering news. Choices, will ultimately save the day for individuals. The simple choice to stay at home could be a life saver. The individual, me ,myself and I can be a force to reckon with in the fight against Coronavirus.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, responding to the warning of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker that his state is in dire need of protective equipment including masks, sent his team jet to China to transport 1.7 million masks from China, donating $2 million, half of the cost of securing them.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Kraft’s actions were triggered by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who believed had secured over one million masks from Chinese manufacturers, but didn’t know how to transport them, given the situation with flights in and out of China. He spoke to Robert Kraft’s son, the president of the Patriots and also chairman of the board at Massachusetts General Hospital. The Journal continued, “Gov. Baker, the U.S. State Department, Robert Kraft and others sent letters to China’s consul general in New York requesting the special permits. The letters, dated March 24 to 30, ask for waivers to allow the humanitarian mission and state that no member of the crew would leave the aircraft.”
As Politico reported, “Gov. Charlie Baker will greet the National Football League team’s plane when it arrives at Logan Airport with Patriots owner Bob Kraft and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. From there, the state’s National Guard will transport the equipment to a strategic stockpile in Marlboro, Mass., according to the person familiar with the plans.”
Kraft told The Wall Street Journal, “I’ve never seen so much red tape in so many ways and obstacles that we had to overcome. In today’s world, those of us who are fortunate to make a difference have a significant responsibility to do so with all the assets we have available to us.”
As of Wednesday, more than 7,700 cases of coronaviruses had been confirmed in Massachusetts; over one thousand additional cases were reported on Wednesday, and 122 people have died. Politico noted, “The state converted an arena in Worcester, Mass., into a 250-bed field hospital Wednesday as it prepares for an influx in patients, and is eyeing a Boston convention center as another possible hospital site.”
Source: Daily Wire
The appeal court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the former chairman of Daar Communications PLC, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi of corruption allegations .
Recall that Dokpesi, his company, DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd, were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust.
He allegedly received N2.1 billion from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) between October 2014 and March 2015, during the tenure of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, for services not rendered.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called 13 witnesses in the course of trail n November 21, 2018, and John Tsoho, trial judge, struck out Dokpesi’s no-case submission and ordered him to open his defence.
Dokpesi thereafter approched the court of appeal seeking to upturn the trial court’s decision.
While delivering judgment on the appeal on Thursday, Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, justice of the appellate court, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the appellants.
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