Biden emerges winner and 46th President of the United States
77-year old Joseph Robinette Biden Jr was officially announced as the 46th President of the United States on Saturday, November 7, 2020. This was met with mixed reactions from people as Biden surpassed his rival, Donald Trump with about 4.26 million votes in addition to raking in 290 electoral college votes while Trump only gathered 214 where 270 electoral college votes was required to win the Presidency. While many persons fear that Biden’s win might signal bad news for the relevance of Nigeria’s crude oil, others believe that inter-country relations will be more democratic under his tenure. Nonetheless, Biden will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021. As a member of the Democratic party, Biden has served as the 47th vice president from 2009-2017 under Barrack Obama’s presidential regime, and as a U.S Senator for Delaware from 1973 to 2009.
Kamala Harris becomes the first woman with Black and Asian origin to be elected vice president of USA
Kamala Devi Harris, an American politician and attorney was recently declared the vice president-elect of U.S alongside president-elect Joe Biden. This makes her not only the first female V.P and highest-ranking female elected official in U.S history, but also the first Asian and African American V.P as well as the first non-white V.P. in U.S. almost 9 decades since Charles Curtis in 1933.
Canada Grants Asylum to #EndSARS protester, DJ Switch
Strong indications suggest that Canada has granted asylum to Obianuju Catherine Udeh, popularly known as DJ Switch, the #EndSARS protester who streamed the shooting at the Lekki Toll gate through her Instagram live. This comes after DJ Switch has been on the move as she fled many attempts on her life since the Black Tuesday, beginning from the call she received to leave the vicinity of the hospital as military men arrived there. While speaking with the Sub-Committee on international Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian parliament, she recounted her experience of the incidence that led to the deaths of several persons. In her words, “I had to abandon my home, I moved from people’s home, and then just to get out of Nigeria. I am still travelling and I am not done with my trip.”
Read also: New Finance Bill seeks to domicile unclaimed dividends with FG
Delta State University students outshine 100 South African and Nigerian engineers in car building competition
Students from the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Delta, defeated 100 engineers from south Africa and Nigeria to emerge the overall best in Johannesburg for building the most energy-efficient race car and designing the best Anti-theft device in African competition.
Nigerian Air Force joins forces with China and UAE to gain technological edge over bandits
The Nigerian Air Force is posed to have a huge technological advantage over bandits as Nigeria collaborates with China and UAE to be the only three countries globally to operate the WingLoong II Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The UCAV has the capacity to stay airborne for 31 hours while mapping out bandits.
NANS determined to engage mass protest in favour of nationwide reopening of Universities
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has resolved to organise a nationwide mass protest to drive home its demand for the immediate reopening of all universities across the country. This decision was agreed upon on Wednesday in Enugu after their virtual meeting on November 9 2020 as they attested that the continued strike was an organised crime again the educational and career pursuits of students. This is in a bid to counter the non-prioritisation of education by government and efforts to avert mass drop out-rates amidst youth crime levels in Nigeria. NANS proceeded to give a 14-day ultimatum to both parties – the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government to meet their demands as the #EndASUUStrike will have economic shutdown as its major target
PENGASSAN declares nationwide strike, heightens fears of fuel scarcity
On November 10 2020, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declared a nationwide strike, heightening fears of fuel scarcity in the country. According to the PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, this industrial action was because the Federal Government is yet to address the many issues raised by the oil and gas workers. The union has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the government. One of the issues related to a private oil company which was accused of destroying PENGASSAN workforce structure as the company’s management “sacked literally all union executive members” and proceeded to lock members out for a very long time.
Other issues involved the government’s fallout of salary payment in implementing the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). This has affected the staff of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) whose allowances and arrears were seized sometime in the year. Regardless, a looming fuel scarcity implies greater pressure on the already rising transportation cost and overall inflation level upwards.
Petrol Price takes a hike to N168/Litre
The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has increased the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, to N155.17 from N147.67 per litre to be effected from Friday, November 13 2020. Meanwhile, Marketers are to Sell at N168/Litre but going by previous adjustments given that the marketers are allowed to sell at a margin after taking into consideration several in-built costs, it is likely that the marketers will sell patrol at a marginally higher price. For instance, when the ex-depot price was N147.67, marketers sold at between N154 and N161/litre. The National Operation Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Mike Osatuyi noted that “We are expecting the pump price to range from N168 to N170 per litre.”
CBN receives order to freeze bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS sponsors
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been given the go ahead by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the federal high court in Abuja to freeze bank accounts of 19 individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests for 180 days till January pending the outcome of investigations by CBN. The court order was addressed to the head offices of Access, Fidelity, First Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa and Zenith Bank. This is amidst alleged claims that a member of the Feminist Coalition had her international passport seized for being at the forefront of the #EndSARS protest through offering legal aid as a lawyer to persons arrested during the protest. However, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) insists that the passport of Modupe Odele, an #EndSARS advocate was not seized because of the campaign but as part of a routine border assignment. Although the federal government has been accused of generating a ‘no fly list’ of #EndSARS promoters, it has denied this claim.
Nigerian Celebrities charged to court over #EndSARS protests
This week, 38 celebrities have been arrayed with court documents by a self-acclaimed Human rights lawyer by the name of Kenechukwu Okeke for promoting the #EndSARS protest. This list includes Aisha Yesufu, Sam Adeyemi, Peter & Paul Okoye, Kanu Nwankwo, Dr. Joe Abah, Bankole Wellington (or Banky W), Kiki Mordi, Uche Jombo Rodrigues, Tiwa Savage, Folarin Falana, David Adeleke, Innocent Idibia, Yul Edochie, among many others.
Actress Rahama Sadau dragged online for blasphemy linked to her racy photos
Actress Rahama Sadau was recently dragged on social media for blasphemy incited by some of her followers against Prophet Muhammad for wearing a back-revealing dress, and many have expressed their concerns over possible death sentence by the Sharia Court in Kaduna. However, after taking down the photo, Rahama has responded by expressly stating her displeasure over the extent to which an innocent picture was bashed.
This is not the first time that we have heard of people being taken to court, imprisoned and sentenced to death for their beliefs. Individuals like Yahaya Aminu Sharif was sentenced to death by the Sharia Court in Kano for sharing a song on WhatsApp that praised an Imam allegedly above the Prophet Muhammad. Also, a 10-year old Omar Farouq was sentenced to 10-years imprisonment with menial labour for blasphemy at the expense of violating the African Charter of Rights and Welfare of a Child, and the Nigerian constitution
The highly anticipated ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’ is out as Falz releases new video ‘Johnny’ in support of #EndSARS
The highly anticipated movie, “Rattlesnake: the Ahanna Story” featuring Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha, Real Warri Pikin, Nengi Hampson, and Temi Otedola among several other superstars finally premiered on November 11, 2020 as its blockbuster has been on everyone’s lips for the past few weeks.
This is happening almost simultaneously with the official video release of ‘Johnny’, a song from the 2019 album “Moral Instruction” by Folarin Falana, widely known as Falz. This move by the popular lawyer, rapper and activist is an indication that Falz is not backing out from the fight against police brutality, this time through his music.
