Protesters storm Abuja
Indigenes of Borno State, in their numbers stormed the Unity Fountain, Abuja protesting against the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Senate Whip by the Senate.
The aggrieved protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like, “We reject removal of Senator Ndume as Whip of the Senate”; “Ndume’s utterances are for the good of the country”; “Senate should correct injustice meted to Senator Ndume,” amongst others.
The Senate had last week Tuesday on the strength of a request from the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, through a jointly signed letter by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, removed Ndume as Chief.
Ndume, a member of the APC representing Borno South in the Senate, was immediately replaced with Senator Mohammed Monguno, also an APC senator representing Borno North. The action followed Ndume’s series of criticisms of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government.
The APC warned Ndume against further attack on the President, advising him to consider leaving the party if he would not repent.
But Ndume’s supporters, under the aegis of the Southern Borno Development Association, led by one Muhammad Biu, insisted that his removal as the Chief Whip was unjust, calling for his reinstatement.
The group wrote to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, a letter titled: “Appeal over the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate Whip for expressing views on burning national issues.”
SOURCE: Punch
Nationwide protest: Lagos govt cautions against violence, destruction
Ahead of the August 1, planned nationwide protests being coordinated faceless groups, the Lagos State Government has cautioned the intending protesters to be wary that the protest does not turn violent and destructive.
The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barrister Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, stated this while meeting with the Secretaries to the Local Governments, SLGs. Salu-Hundeyin, worried about the lives and property of citizens in the state, declared that such demonstrations are within the rights of citizens, saying “there is nothing wrong in it.”
According to her, “Though, protests are the citizens’ legitimate right, there is no need to protest in Lagos the State has done well for its citizens. “However, people should be wary that it does not turn violent and destructive.
“Lagos State has done so much for its citizens that nobody in the state should stand up and say they are going to break anything. “Sincerely, and I mean it; it is not because I am the Secretary of the State Government; I speak from my heart and God knows; there is no reason for anybody to cause any protests or riots or violence in Lagos State.”
SOURCE: Vanguard
