International
EU Parliament Observers Advocate Prosecution of Election Offenders
EU Parliament Observers Advocate Prosecution of Election Offenders
By: Michael Mike
The European Union (EU) Parliament Observation delegation to Nigeria have advocated for punishment to be melted out on election offenders, insisting that
perpetuators of violent acts during the election must be brought to justice.
Ms. Evin Incir, Head of the EU Parliament Observation Mission to Nigeria made the call on Thursday when she led the team of the EU Parliament on a visit to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja.
Incir, while responding to questions from Journalist on her take on pockets of pre-election violence in the country few hours after the signing of the Peace Accord by Political parties and their candidates. There can never be impunity wherever violence takes place. So that is something that we continue stressing. And we hope that this will not take place more.”
On the EU Parliament’s Observation Mission, She said that the European Union is eager to support in all ways possible for Nigeria to achieve free, fair and credible elections.
She said: “Nigeria is a close friend. partner, ally to the European Union and this is also a commitment of many years back.
“We have been sending and will continue sending Observation mission. EU Parliament Observation Mission conduct together with the EU Commission.
“We are eager to help out in the way we can and live up to our expectation in the way we can to ensure that on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“We are happy to hear of the ambition you have of free secure elections that are taking place.
“And we look forward to our cooperation with Nigeria and the member States on a lot of issues, political, economic , environmental, climate change and mostly security.”
Onyeama thanked the EU Parliament Observer Mission for its support to Nigeria’s election, adding that Nigeria will not fail the global community in delivering peaceful and credible polls.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari wants a free, fair and transparent elections to be a legacy that he is leaving for the country.
“We have done quite a lot to have the electronic part of the process, the President really prioritizes support for the national electoral commission to ensure that the elections represent the will of the people.
“The President has invested everything in maintaining democracy not just in Nigeria but in the West African Sub-region.
“And it has been a real disappointment for us as a government that there has been some backsliding on the democracy in our sub-region, about three or so countries that have gone through coup de tat.
“So we appreciate that Africa, West Africa in particular looking to Nigeria as a beacon of democracy and so we really want be strengthened.
“And we appreciate partners like the EU sending out a team to observe and so for us, we are going to do everything to make your tax a success.
“This is one of the largest team of election observers in the world so we have no reason not to have credible elections.
“Of course, security is also very important, we had a meeting yesterday, the President Chaired of the Security Council and all the Chiefs of Staff were there and all the precautions and measures have been taken with all the precautions have been taken.
“To ensure elections are taken in a peaceful and secured environment. That is one aspect we are concerned about but hopefully we will be able to deliver on the security aspect of it,” Onyeama said.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Ms Samuela Issopi, while also responding to journalists said that the EU strongly condemns all forms of violence, be it during elections or not.
She said that the EU is proud of the commitment made by the candidates and the political parties and she also urged that the remain committed to the Peace Pact that they signed.
She said: “We stand by all the Nigerians. Thirty-six hours to the voting, we are impressed by the commitments taken by the political parties and candidate, and by President Buhari to leave peaceful and credible and inclusive elections as his legacies.
“It was a very important moment and this is the image we want to keep in our mind, the Nigeria that stands together for democracy for a better future.
“All forms of violence need to be condemned either during election times or whenever.
“This is the only thing we have to say, and we hope justice follows its course. that and the perpetuators will be brought to justice.”
EU Parliament Observers Advocate Prosecution of Election Offenders
Gaza: 155,000 Pregnant Women Struggling to Survive- Says Palestine Envoy
By: Michael Mike
Ambassador of Palestine to Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh has drawn global attention to emerging humanitarian crisis in war torn Gaza, stating that around 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers are struggling to survive.
He said: “They are suffering from hunger and the diseases that stalk it, amid life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care …. Only three maternity hospitals remain in the Gaza Strip, and they are overwhelmed with patients.
“Doctors and midwives … are struggling to provide adequate care to newborns.”
Addressing a press conference at the weekend on the situation in Gaza, Shawesh lamented that mass graves continued to be discovered on Gaza Strip, with the war currently leaving an estimated 37 million tons of debris and unexploded ordnance.
He decried that as it stands, the war is projected could take 14 years to clear the unexploded ordnance and rubble.
Shawesh said: “As of May 1, the number of Palestinian martyrs has reached 34,535, with 77,704 wounded, in addition to thousands of others who are still missing under the rubble or subjected to enforced disappearance in Israeli occupation detention centers.”
He alleged that “Palestinian detainees are subjected to harsh measures, receiving minimal sustenance such as a single slice of bread and a small amount of food to merely sustain their lives and prevent death, resulting in substantial weight loss and serious health consequences.”
“Around 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers are struggling to survive. They are suffering from hunger and the diseases that stalk it, amid life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care …. Only three maternity hospitals remain in the Gaza Strip, and they are overwhelmed with patients.
He noted that: “The Palestinian Minister of Transport, Tariq Zourub, declared that the losses of the transportation sector in the Gaza Strip exceeded 3 billion dollars. The occupation destroyed about 945 km of roads and 55,000 vehicles, which is equivalent to 65% of the road network and 60% of the vehicles licensed in the strip.
Day after day, Israeli crimes in Gaza are revealed, and every day we witness a new chapter of genocidal crimes.”
He added that: “Recently, many mass graves were discovered in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex and the Nasser Medical Complex in the Gaza Strip, which contain hundreds of dead bodies.”
Gaza: 155,000 Pregnant Women Struggling to Survive- Says Palestine Envoy
Rwanda Warns that Allowing Hatred, Disunity to Fester Could Lead to Genocide
By: Michael Mike
Rwanda has warned of the dangers of allowing hatred and disunity to fester, insisting that this could lead to genocide like it witnessed over 30 years ago where a million people were killed in the spate of 100 days.
The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, stated this at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Abuja.
The commemoration is observed under the multi-year theme, “Remember – Unite – Renew”.
Bazivamo stated that the path to lasting peace demands constant vigilance, adding that “As we renew, we restate our unbreakable pledge to fight intolerance, discrimination, ethnic hatred, hate speeches, genocide revisionism, and denial in all their forms.
“Unfortunately, this is happening today just beyond Rwanda’s borders in the Great Lakes region. We should never allow the embers of hatred to reignite.”
The High Commissioner further said: stated: “On this Kwibuka 30, together, we can ensure that the memory of the victims becomes a powerful force for good, inspiring future generations to choose peace over hate, unity over division, and hope over despair.
“This can be achieved in different ways including putting course lessons about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in schools and the establishment of memory symbols in remembrance of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to educate the young and the next generation on the need to fight hate ideologies and stand against any form of discrimination and divisionism. Let us work together to build a world where such atrocities never happen again.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar conveyed the condolences of the Nigerian government to the survivors of the genocide.
Tuggar represented by a former ambassador to Sudan, Safiu Olaniyan said: “Genocide should not be allowed to raise its head ever again.”
The Secretary General, United Nations, Antonio Guterres urged the world to stand as one against all forms of hatred and discrimination.
Guterres whose speech was read at the occasion by the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall noted that: “To those who would seek to divide us, we must deliver a clear, unequivocal and urgent message: never again.
“We can draw a straight line between the senseless slaughter of one million Tutsi — as well as some Hutu and others who opposed the genocide — and the decades of hate speech that preceded it, enflamed by ethnic tensions and the long shadow of colonialism.
“Today, around the world, the darkest impulses of humanity are being awakened once more by the voices of extremism, division and hate.
“On this solemn day of remembrance, let’s pledge to stand as one against all forms of hatred and discrimination.
In his remarks, a retired Nigerian Navy admiral, Samuel Alade who witnessed the genocide while in Rwanda said, “I commend the tenacity of purpose and the commitment of the Rwandans to make their nation an example of relevance.”
Rwanda Warns that Allowing Hatred, Disunity to Fester Could Lead to Genocide
Earthquake: Emergency agency warns about aftershocks in New York
New York State Emergency Management has warned that residents might experience aftershocks of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake, which occurred in the city and New Jersey on Friday.
The North American correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the earthquake, which occurred at 10:23a.m. local time ,eight miles northwest of Bridgewater, New Jersey ,affected some areas in New York.
It rattled skyscrapers and buildings across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
The emergency agency, in a safety alert issued , urged the public to call 911 if they were experiencing an emergency.
“ An earthquake occurred in New Jersey. The earthquake has been felt throughout New York State. Aftershocks may occur. Call 9-1-1 only if you or others are injured or have an emergency’’
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 is generally considered moderate, though it appears to be among the biggest earthquakes to ever affect New York City.
In addition to New York and New Jersey, the quake was felt in parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts .
New York governor Kathy Hochul said that the impact of the earthquake was being assessed.
“My team is assessing impacts and any damage that may have occurred, and we will update the public throughout the day.” she wrote on X .
Earthquake: Emergency agency warns about aftershocks in New York
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