News

BREAKFAST NEWS 08-07-2021

1 year ago Editor

HIGHLIGHTS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS 7-DAY ULTIMATUM TO RELEASE IGBOHO’S ARRESTED AIDES.
ON FOREIGN SCENE, WORLD LEADERS BERATE ASSASINATION OF HAITI’S PRESIDENT.
ON SPORTS, ENGLAND THRASH DENMARK, TO BATTLE ITALY IN EURO 2020 FINAL.

BUHARI YAHAYA

President Muhammadu Buhari has promoted the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Faruk Yahaya, to the rank of lieutenant-general.

In a post released on his facebook account, Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said Yahaya was promoted from the rank of major-general to lieutenant-general during his decoration ceremony at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Reacting, the newly promoted army boss thanked the president for the gesture, assuring that the force will do all within its powers to nip insurgency raging across the country in the bud.

On his part, the Minister for Defence, Bashir Magashi, reiterated President Buhari’s resolve to rid the country of any form of crimes and criminality.

Yahaya’s decoration comes a week after the House of Representatives confirmed his appointment as the army boss, following the demise of Ibrahim Attahiru in a plane crash in Kaduna on May 21.

IGBOHO/LOYALISTS

Loyalists and supporters of Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Igboho, have issued a 7-day ultimatum to the federal government to release those arrested at the residence of the Yoruba activist.

The protesters, who were dressed in black, made the call during their demonstrations to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

While addressing the monarch, the protesters also demanded the sum of five hundred million naira as compensation for Igboho’s ordeal from the federal government and the Department of State Services, DSS.

Family members of Igboho’s arrested loyalists had on Wednesday, July 7, thronged major streets in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, to demand their release.

GLOBE/COVID-19

The World Health Organization, W.H.O, has confirmed that the global covid-19 deaths toll has now exceeded four million.

W.H.O’S chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, made the confirmation while speaking at a press conference at the W.H.O headquarters in Geneva, stressing that the world passed the tragic milestone of four million recorded covid-19 deaths on Wednesday, July 7.

Ghebreyesus who pointed out that the world is at a perilous point in this pandemic, warned that the true covid-19 death toll was likely higher.

The U.N health agency’s Director-General however lamented that some countries with high vaccination coverage were now relaxing as though the pandemic is already over, thereby, dropping public health measures and planning to roll out booster shots.

U.S/TRUMP

Former United State president, Donald Trump, has announced plans to sue tech giants Google, Twitter and Facebook, claiming that he is the victim of censorship.

Trump, who announced this in a news conference held from his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, railed against social media companies and democrats, who he accused of espousing misinformation.

Reacting to the class action lawsuit which also targets the three companies’ Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, Trump described it as a very beautiful development for the country’s freedom of speech.

The former U.S president was suspended from his social accounts in January over public safety concerns in the wake of the capitol riots, led by his supporters.

HAITI/REACTIONS

World leaders have expressed shock and repulsion over the assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moise, who was slain in his home in an attack that wounded his wife, Martine Moise.

In a statement released to reporters, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the brazen attack, calling on all Haitians to preserve the constitutional order, remain united and reject all forms of violence.

Also, the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, pointed out that the crime carries a risk of instability and a spiral of violence, while British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and French Foreign Minister, Jean-yves Le Drian, urged all those in Haitian politics to act with calm and restraint.

Similarly, United States President, Joe Biden, condemned the heinous act, assuring of America’s readiness to assist in restoring safety and security in Haiti as Taiwanese president, Tsai ing-wen, wished the first lady a prompt recovery.

On their part, Colombian President, Iván Duque, urged the Organization of American States, OAS, to send an urgent mission to Haiti to protect the democratic order, while his Dominican Republic counterpart, Luis Abinader, ordered immediate closure of the country’s border with Haiti.

HURIWA/NASS

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has warned members of the national assembly to desist from continuing with their plans to amend the criminal code and make provision for sanctions against protests.

HURIWA gave the warning in a statement issued to journalists by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, cautioning that the lawmakers would end up creating a dictator at the president seat of power if they go ahead with the plan.

The rights advocacy group argued that the police ought to provide security to protesters to check any infiltration from violent hoodlums.

The group’s reaction is sequel to the House of Representatives presentation of a bill seeking to jail unlawful protesters in Nigeria for consideration.

SPORTS

England is set to play in their first tournament final for 55 years after coming from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 at Wembley in Wednesday’s Euro 2020 semifinal.

Mikkel Damsgaard gave Denmark a 1-0 lead in the 30^th minute with a direct free kick goal, while England equalized in the 39^th minute.

Harry Kane scored from a penalty kick at extra time to make it 2-1 in favour of English team.

The English team will now attempt to win the European championship for the first time when they surface Italy back at Wembley in Sunday’s final.