Gist Arena

T he Presidency has insisted that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu remains a terrorist organization despite the United States, and European Union, UN, holding a contrary view. Following the proscription of the pro-Biafra group by the Nigerian Government recently, the US, had declared that the group is not a terrorists organization. Reacting to the stance by the foreign nations, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, said the recognition of IPOB as a terrorist group by foreign nation is inconsequential. In a statement he issued, yesterday Obono-Obla, insisted that the activities of the pro-Biafra group qualified it as a terrorist group as defined by the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013. Obono-Obla said IPOB terrorized, harassed or intimidated, “those who do not subscribe it to its separatists ideology and ethnic bigotry before its proscription,” . The

D irector, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has observed that the ‘animalizing’ of those who are against the actualization of Biafra by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has led to the alienation of the group. Speaking in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the Unity Don maintained that the IPOB’s agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra as a misplacement of priorities. The University don while calling on agitators to embrace dialogue, likened IPOB agitation to cutting off one’s head to cure a headache. Adedimeji warned IPOB that there would be greater problems after secession, which they won’t be able to handle. According to Adedimeji, “There is an overarching message of the Peace Day that we need to internalize. “The message is the need to work together as one people regardless of our ethnic, religious, political or ideological differences. “We are united by a si

T he 8th Senate has highlighted some of its legislative priorities as its resumes from its annual recess. In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media & Public Affairs, Senator (Dr.) Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate stated that it would look to prioritize the passage of the three petroleum industry bills that are at Committee stage; social justice bills like the Jungle Justice Bill; employment-related bills like the Occupational Safety Bill and the Existing Vacancies Bill; and work to ensure that Senators present the views of their constituents after the recess meetings and consultations. “Over the last few weeks, legislators from the 8th Senate have been traveling around their constituencies and meeting with the stakeholders and citizens that they represent. When we resume on Tuesday, Nigerians can be rest assured that the views and voices of all Nigerians will be considered in all the Senate’s activities. “We have several noteworthy Bills t

P resident Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other big wigs of the party are expected to participate in the party’s mega rally in Abia State. The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson told newsmen on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital after the inauguration of the party’s Contact, Mobilization/Rally Committee that the event would hold in the state capital in October. Godson explain that planned mega rally was to present new members of the party including former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, immediate past President Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, CEO Masters Energy and former Abia PDP governorship aspirant in 2015 election, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, MD of defunct Bourdex telecommunication and Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, MD of defunct Hall

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria from New York city in the US after making a stopover in London. The Presidential jet touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday night Buhari had left the country on Sunday, September 17 to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Before commencing the trip, the Presidency had hinted that President Buhari would travel through London on his way back from New York. Although the reason for the stopover was not disclosed, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had said that the trip would not exceed Monday.