24092020 - BLACK WEDNESDAY: 30 killed in Kogi petrol tanker explosion

By Omeiza Ajayi &
Dirisu Yakubu
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews
UK lawmakers write Commonwealth
over insecurity in Nigeria
•No genocide, they should focus on their problems, APC tells UK MPs
•British security alert, vote of no confidence on PMB- PDP •Reiterates call
for sack of service chiefs
LAGOS — Some
members of the
United Kingdom’s
House of Lords, the
British upper legislative
chamber, have petitioned
the Commonwealth over
the persistence of
insurgency and farmer/
herder crisis in Nigeria.
The lawmakers in a letter
dated September 14,
addressed to Patricia
Scotland, Secretary-
General of the
Commonwealth, said
failure of the Federal
Government to protect
Nigerians was a breach of
its obligations under the
Commonwealth Charter.
This was, however,
challenged by the ruling
All Progressives
Congress, APC, which
asked the UK lawmakers,
led by Baroness Cox of
the House of Lords to
focus on the problems
facing their country and
allow Nigeria solve her
problems her own way.
But the opposition,
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, disagreed with the
ruling party, saying the
security alert in the
country raised by
members of the British
parliament is an
indication of a vote of no
confidence on President
Muhammadu Buhari’s
government.
Those who signed the
letter to the
Commonwealth scribe
include Baroness Cox,
Lord Alton of Liverpool,
Baroness Kennedy of the
Shaws QC, Jim Shannon,
MP, Lord Williams of
Oystermouth ( a former
Archbishop of
Canterbury) and Lord
Carey of Clifton, also a
former Archbishop of
Canterbury.
Others are Dr
Christopher Cocksworth,
Lord Bishop of Coventry;
Philip Mounstephen,
Lord Bishop of Truro; Lord
Stoddart of Swindon; Lord
Anderson of Swansea;
Lord Cormack; Sir
Geoffrey Nice, QC; Ayo
Adedoyin of International
Organization for Peace
and Social Justice and
Ewelina Ochab of
Coalition for Genocide
Response.
Mervyn Thomas, CSW;
Dr Khataza Gondwe,
CSW; Neville Kyrke-
Smith of Aid to the
Church in Need (UK); Dr
John Eibner of Christian
Solidarity International
and Ann Buwalda of
Jubilee Campaign also
signed the letter.
‘Elements of
govt complicit in
violence’
Referencing a report by
the UK All-Party
Parliamentary Group
(APPG) for International
Freedom of Religion or
Belief, the lawmakers
said thousands of
civilians have been killed
and that “elements of the
Nigerian government
may be complicit in
violence”.
The lawmakers asked
that a probe be carried out
into the killings and at the
least ensure “adequate
protection and aid for
those suffering the loss of
family members and the
destruction of their homes
and livelihoods.’’
The letter which said
some of the signatories
had met and spoken with
Nigeria’s former Chief of
Army Staff, Lt. General
Theophilus Danjuma,
retd, quoted news reports
attributed to him to the
effect that the armed
forces are not neutral and
that they collude in the
ethnic cleansing in
riverine states by Fulani
herders.
“He insists that villagers
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State (right) and his Rivers State
counterpart, Nyesom Wike, during a thank you visit by the Governor and
Governor-elect of Edo State to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday. Photo:
NAN.
Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
must defend themselves
because ‘depending on
the armed forces’ will
result in them dying ‘one
by one’. The ethnic
cleansing must stop,” it
quoted Danjuma as
saying.
It however conceded
that the signatories
“recognize the important
distinction between the
Fulani in general (a
diverse group of millions
of people with hundreds
of clans) and the subgroup
of well armed,
radicalized Fulani who
carry out attacks.”
The letter, titled
“Nigeria: Unfolding
Genocide?” read: “We
write to highlight urgent
concerns about escalating
violence in Nigeria,
where attacks, led by Boko
Haram, Fulani herders
and other Islamist militia
continue in northern and
central-belt states, with
reports of increasing
violence in the South-
East.
‘State’s failure’
“The state’s failure to
protect its citizens is a
clear breach of its
obligations under the
Commonwealth Charter
in respect of human
rights.
“There is now an urgent
need to ensure adequate
protection and aid for
On NARTO's withdrawal of trucks from roads (1)
those suffering the loss of
family members and the
destruction of their homes
and livelihoods, and to
end impunity by ensuring
that complaints related to
human rights violations
are promptly,
independently, and
impartially investigated
and those responsible are
held to account after fair
trials.”
The parliamentarians
further asked that the
issue be raised with the
Commonwealth
ministerial action group.
“We write, therefore, to
ask whether you are able
to respond on behalf of the
Commonwealth and to
raise these urgent
concerns with the
Commonwealth
Ministerial Action Group.
We would be very willing
to meet in person (or
perhaps more practically
online via zoom) to
discuss how we might
proceed,’’ the lawmakers
stated.
Face your
problems, leave
Nigeria alone
— APC
Reacting last night, the
All Progressives
Congress, APC, asked the
United Kingdom group,
led by Baroness Cox of
Continues on Page 35
By Bose Adelaja,
&
Olayinka Latona
In my opinion, I
t h i n k t h a t
government should be
more empathetic and
sensitive to the plight of
this association
considering the very harsh
economic situation of the
time by giving them ample
time to put things in order.
The association embarked
on strike because the time
frame given by the
government is very short.
—Temilola Harley,
Student
The action of
NARTO at this
particular time is not
ideal at all. It will result
into fuel scarcity hence
hike in the already high
cost of transportation
and foodstuffs. The
Federal Government
should please also give
this association some
time so that they can put
the necessary things in
order.
—Ifeoluwa Bankole,
Marketing Officer
I
don’t think NARTO
is in any way against
the decision of the FG to
ban trucks above 45,000-
litre capacity from our
roads. However, the
move will definitely be
counter-productive
considering the fact that
sudden withdrawal of
these trucks will impact
negatively on the drivers
and the masses.
—Titilola Quadri,
Caterer
How long are we
going to lament
incessant strike of tanker
drivers
Their grouse is usually
bad roads, extortion and
harassment among
others. What the
government should do is
look into their ights and
task relevant agencies to
provide somution and
ensure that their needs
are met.
—Dolapo Gbadebo,
Public Servant
ALL things being
equal, the
government should
dialogue with truck owners
and drivers because they
have been useful in their
own capacity afterall, they
are responsible for the
movement of petroleum
products to various depots.
Many Nigerians will suffer
it if the trucks go on strike.
— Mrs Abiola Julius,
Businewoman
IT is good and very
appropriate for the
Petrol tankers' owners to
withdraw their tankers from
the roads to tell the FG that
they should listen to the
complaints of the citizens.
—Otunba Adetokunbo,
Retiree