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Deadline for Mugabe to resign or face impeachment approaches

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Zimbabwe’s ex-president Robert Mugabe dies in Singapore

…As 4 die in Ngor-Okpala after Ogogoro consumption***

After defying calls to step down, Zimbabwe’s leader, Robert Mugabe, now faces a noon deadline on Monday to resign or be impeached.

In a live televised address to the nation on Sunday night, Mugabe, who has been under house arrest since a military coup last week expected to resign but instead promised to lead a conference of the ruling Zanu-PF party in December.

With the generals responsible seated next to him, he gave a lengthy speech acknowledging some problems with the economy and the Zanu-PF party – from which he was ousted earlier in the day – but making no mention of leaving office.

Shocked Zimbabweans have taken to Twitter to express outrage, and on Monday the powerful war veterans’ association held a news conference calling for mass protests on Wednesday.

“I hope that 37 years into his rule, he doesn’t want another 37 seconds of rule,’’ said war veterans’ leader Chris Mutsvangwa.

On Sunday, Mugabe, 93, the president of almost four decades, was sacked as ZANU- PF party leader and replaced by one-time comrade now arch-rival Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The party gave him an ultimatum of Monday midday (1000 GMT) to resign or face impeachment proceedings in parliament.

“Arrogant Mugabe disregards Zanu-PF,” screamed Monday’s headline in local newspaper The Daily News.

On Saturday, in an unprecedented outpouring, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans had taken to the streets to express support for the military and call on Mugabe to leave power immediately.

In the meantime, no fewer than four persons, were said to have died after the consumption of a locally-made alcohol, known as Ogogoro, in Imo State. Vanguard gathered, yesterday, that the incident occurred at a popular drinking joint of one Uwadiegwu Eze, in Imerienwe community, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

A community leader, Agbara Emma, said the victims started complaining of stomach pain few minutes after taking the drink and that the story changed by Saturday. He gave the names of those who died as Chibuzor Nwosu, Ifeanyi Nkwocha, Ada Danganer and Friday Osuji.

The community leader added that Chinonso Amadi, Nnadi Ike, Udoka Ukaegbu, Fineboy Ekeocha, Chiaka Ukaegbu, Onyemauche Igbo, Aboy Amadi, among others, survived after taking the gin. An indigene, who did not want his name mentioned, said the owner of the bar, where the incident happened, had absconded.

He said the survivors are in an intensive care unit of a hospital along Egbu Road, Owerri, while the remains of the dead ones have been deposited in a mortuary in Nguru, Ngor Okpala.

However, while some were of the view that the locally-made gin was poisoned, others blamed the deceased for being in the habit of excessive consumption of Ogogoro.

The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who could not confirm the incident, said: “We have called the DPO of Imereinwe; he said no such incident was reported.”

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Bandit Leader, Bello Turji, Denies Being Sponsored By Matawalle

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Bandit Leader, Bello Turji, Denies Being Sponsored By Matawalle

The Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, has denied that his group is being sponsored by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

 He however maintained that his group’s operations were divinely ordained.

Turji’s declaration comes amidst a public dispute between Matawalle and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, as the two traded accusations of who supports terrorism in Zamfara State.

A situation watcher opined that Turji’s assertion clearly exonerated the minister even a cross-section of Nigerians believe the two politicians’ exchange of accusation and counter-accusations was politically motivated.

It would be recalled that some politicians have exchanged accusations, with Matawalle recently daring Lawal to swear on the Quran that he is not connected to the state’s banditry crisis.

In response, Turji denied any involvement of  Matawalle in the ongoing banditry, rejecting claims that his group is receiving political backing from the former governor.

In his latest video, Turji stated that “Governor Dauda Lawal accusing Bello Matawalle of being a terrorist sponsor won’t solve anything.

“When Matawalle was governor, who was sponsoring us? Likewise, when Abdulaziz Yari was governor, who was sponsoring us? No one is supporting us except God,” he said.

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#EndBadGovernance: Court Admits 10 Protesters to N10m Bail Each 

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Ex-OAU Murder: Appeal Court Adjourns For Judgment

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday admitted 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters charged with treason to a N10 million bail each with one surety each like sum.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on their bail applications, agreed with the submissions of the counsel for the defendants.

Justice Nwite ordered that each of the defendants’ sureties must own a landed property in Abuja and submit the property documents to the court’s registrar.

The press reported that the Federal Government had, on Sept. 2, arraigned the protesters on counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024 on Aug. 30 against the defendants.

10 of the 124 persons arraigned included Michael Adaramoye also known as Lenin; Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khakis and Abdusalam Zubairu.

It was also reported that some youths staged a nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country between Aug. 1 and Aug. 10.

The demonstration turned violent in some parts of the country, with looting and vandalism recorded in some states.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

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Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

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Gov. Makinde Begins Annual Leave Aug. 5; APC Begs Nigerians To Shun Protest

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has written to the State House of Assembly to inform it of his intention to embark on his annual leave.

The governor’s letter was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, during Thursday’s valedictory plenary held in honour of Mrs Yetunde Awe, the House Clerk.

The governor also indicated in his message his desire to transfer executive powers to his Deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal.

Lawal is to serve in an acting capacity in Makinde’s absence, and Makinde’s leave will begin on Aug. 5 and end on Sept. 6.

“Based on Section 190 sub-section 1, I hereby transmit that during the period indicated above, Deputy Governor Lawal shall be the acting Governor.

“I shall be back from the vacation on Sept. 7,” Makinde said in the letter.

Similarly, the House also swore in Mrs. Taiwo Muraina-Akinola, who was formerly the Deputy Clerk, as the Substantive Clerk of the House to replace Awe who is retiring from the state civil service. Her swearing-in followed her recommendation by the House of Assembly Commission.

In another development, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun,  Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to Nigerians, especially the youths, to shun the planned nationwide protest.

Oyintiloye urged Nigerians to continue to keep faith in President Bola Tinubu-led administration in its ability to revamp the economy.

The APC chieftain, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), appealed while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo.

He urged Nigerians to see a promising future in the government’s framework capable of pulling the country out of the current economic quagmire inherited from the past administrations.

He said that Nigerians’ expectation to get dividends of democracy was high owing to their trust in the president’s pedigree as an astute manager of men and resources.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the government was working tirelessly to meet the expectations and yearning of Nigerians.

He said that the intention of the president by removing the fuel subsidy and merging the foreign exchange rates, among other policies was to improve the economy and not to inflict pain on Nigerians.

The APC chieftain said that Nigerians should give more time for the president to fully develop the economy, which is going through the recovery process.

“With all sense of humility and modesty, we must appreciate the people of this country for their endurance, perseverance and unflinching support as we are passing through the dark tunnel.

“But one certain thing is that after these temporary pains, we shall all live in abundance.

“Although the task is herculean, but we are gradually navigating through the storm and challenges the country is passing through.

“In the real sense of it, this present government is working tirelessly on how to stabilise the economy, foreign exchange rates, inflation, and price control.

“With the initiatives and programme designed for good governance by the president, we are getting to the coast of self-sufficiency and economic stability.

“Our people should believe in the leadership of the president and the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, in due course, we shall laugh last.

“I strongly believe that with a little patience from Nigerians, we shall soon live in abundance. Let’s exercise a little patience, he said.

Oyintiloye, who noted that the president felt the pains Nigerians were passing through, said that was why he pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with him. 

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