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Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Solid Minerals, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately cease the “wicked prosecution” of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests and return them to their parents and guardians.

Ezekwesili, an Economic and Public Policy Expert and Senior Economic Adviser to the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, also demanded compensation for the minors who have been detained for several months. She warned President Tinubu that “no ruler has ever won against their people.”

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Reacting to the arraignment of minors who have been held for about three months for exercising their constitutional right to protest, she described Nigerian leaders as cruel.

“When those children came out to protest, asking you to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, they were telling you the ‘Truth and nothing but the Truth,’” she stated, emphasizing that denial of problems cannot lead to their resolution.

In a message directed at President Tinubu on her X handle, she remarked, “Here is the sordid evidence of the @NigeriaGov punishing your citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by your administration. No one can ever solve a Problem they deny and refuse to own. No one.”

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Ezekwesili questioned the government’s legal approach, asking how many citizens it could possibly detain.

“How many of your Citizens can you detain and deprive of their freedoms like done to these minors? Hear me. No ruler has ever won against their people forever. Check history. Note that I wrote ruler and not leader.”

She criticized Nigerian politicians, stating, “The repressive class of politicians in Nigeria are not leaders. You all have serially failed the ‘test of leadership’ because you act as wicked rulers who feel entitled to the ‘publicly-funded luxurious life’ while repressing and pauperizing the citizens.”

Ezekwesili further noted, “The evident corrupted capture of our Judiciary by the @NigeriaGov is playing out daily on Candid Camera before the eyes of the world. The trial of these minors is one of many examples these days. Stop the wicked prosecution of these minors immediately and send the children back to their parents and guardians.”

She also insisted on compensating the minors for the “physical, mental, emotional and overall psychological damage” they suffered due to the state’s abuse of power and violation of their constitutional rights.

“I hope you start listening to what the majority of your Citizens, especially these children, are telling you daily: ‘Ebi npawa’, ‘we are hungry.’ Nothing lasts forever. Today is not Forever,” she concluded.

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In preparation for tomorrow’s local government elections on Saturday, the Abia State Government has announced a ban on the movement of people and vehicles.

The restrictions will take effect at midnight on Friday and remain in place until 4 PM on Saturday.

Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information, communicated the directive.

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Under this order, only individuals engaged in essential services will be permitted to move around, provided they can present valid identification cards.

The government has urged all residents, including those operating markets, motor parks, and other business establishments, to comply with the movement ban.

It warned that security personnel are ready to enforce the order, and any violators will face consequences.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has launched a fierce critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the arrest and treatment of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Atiku condemned the federal government’s actions, stating that even underage children have not been spared from what he describes as Tinubu’s “wickedness,” referring to the president as “T Pain.”

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A particularly troubling incident occurred when a minor collapsed in the courtroom during proceedings, a situation that critics attribute to malnourishment and inadequate medical care.

In a statement shared on his X platform (formerly Twitter), Atiku expressed his outrage: “A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has come to my attention. The horrible scene, reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp, once again reflects the low value this government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.”

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He underscored the importance of safeguarding children’s rights, citing Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, which guarantees the dignity of every child.

He stated, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be subjected to physical, mental, or emotional injury, abuse, neglect, or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; nor shall any child be subjected to torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.”

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Atiku criticized the delay in the arraignment of the children, remarking, “The children are being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests that occurred between August 1 and August 10, 2024. If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the dehumanizing conditions they have endured during their detention.”

He expressed disappointment that a leader who once championed Nigeria’s democracy is now persecuting those who peacefully protest against the consequences of his harsh policies.

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“Children, who are among the most affected by these policies, have every right to protest peacefully, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act. A nation can be assessed by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain,”

“The disturbing conditions under which the accused children were brought to court only reinforce the justification for their participation in the protests in the first place.” he concluded

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The House of Representatives has successfully passed a bill during its second reading that requires the President and Governors to specify portfolios when nominating ministers and commissioners for legislative screening.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999,” the legislation aims to amend the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that nominees are presented with defined roles before being reviewed by the legislature.

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Spearheaded by Rep. Dibiagwu Okechukwu, who represents the Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, the bill seeks to enhance transparency and governance preparedness.

In a plenary session in Abuja, Okechukwu noted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly have held the responsibility to screen and confirm executive nominees.

He pointed out a critical gap in the current process: nominees are frequently submitted without the portfolios they are expected to fill, a practice he labeled “outdated” and harmful to effective governance.

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Okechukwu asserted that providing portfolios at the outset would facilitate a more comprehensive review process, allowing legislators to better evaluate the qualifications of each nominee for their specific roles.

“This would not only allow for a more scrutinized vetting process but also boost public confidence in the appointments,” he stated.

Key Proposed Amendments

Section 147(7):
The bill mandates that nominations for ministerial positions by the President must include specific portfolios. The amended text states:

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“Any nomination of a person or persons to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall be accompanied by the proposed portfolio(s) to be occupied by such nominated person(s).”

Section 192(6):
Similarly, for state commissioner appointments, a corresponding requirement will be enforced. The proposed amendment reads:
“Any nomination of a person or persons to the Office of Commissioner of the Government of a State shall be accompanied by proposed portfolio(s) to be occupied by such nominated person(s).”

The use of “shall” in these amendments emphasizes the necessity of including portfolios with nominations, ensuring it becomes a standard requirement for both federal and state executive appointments.

Okechukwu highlighted that this amendment would enhance legislative engagement, enabling members to ensure that nominees are well-suited for the demands of their respective portfolios.

By mandating this requirement, the bill aims to modernize the nomination process, align it with best practices, and contribute to a more effective and transparent government at both federal and state levels.

The bill will now move on to further legislative processes for potential enactment.

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The Rivers State Government has refuted claims circulating on social media that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has ordered the shutdown of oil operations in the state.

A viral post alleged that Governor Fubara issued a directive to close the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other oil companies in Rivers State following a recent court ruling.

The post claimed, “Breaking News: Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara Shuts Down NNPC and All Oil Companies in Rivers State, Declares No Allocation for Rivers State, No Oil for Nigeria.”

The post further asserted, “In a bold move, Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara has ordered the shutdown of NNPC and all oil companies operating in Rivers State, declaring that without federal allocation for Rivers State, there will be no oil for Nigeria. Within minutes of the shutdown, Nigeria dropped in the global oil production ranking from 4th to 24th. Governor Fubara has openly challenged Minister Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu to take action against this stance and see Nigeria boil.”

The backdrop to these claims involves a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria from disbursing financial allocations to the Rivers State government.

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued this verdict on Wednesday, determining that funds from the federation account should not be released to the state until a lawful appropriation act is passed by a validly constituted House of Assembly.

The Rivers State government has appealed this judgment, expressing confidence that the Appeal Court will overturn the decision.

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In response to the viral claims, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, issued a statement on Thursday, characterizing the report as false and a product of propaganda.

He emphasized that Fubara is dedicated to the rule of law and does not resort to unconventional methods to address governance issues.

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The statement reads, “The attention of Rivers State Government has been drawn to a spurious news item circulating on social media on ‘Gov. Siminalayi Fubara shutting down NNPCL and all oil companies in Rivers State.’ The report was not only false but concocted propaganda from the imagination of the author and enemies of the State. The story was also circulated by an inconsequential and unverified medium.”

Johnson concluded, “Governor Siminalayi Fubara is committed to the rule of law and does not rely on unconventional and crude approaches to respond to matters of governance. We, therefore, enjoin Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the spurious and fake report as Governor Fubara at no time contemplated and/or directed such needless order of shutting down the economy for any reason.”