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Nigeria: Tinubu Govt Says "Divine Intervention" Can End Food Shortages Firstpost Africa
Nigeria: Tinubu Govt Says "Divine Intervention" Can End Food Shortages | Firstpost Africa | N18G Nigeria: Tinubu Govt Says "Divine Intervention" Can End Food Shortages | Firstpost Africa | N18G Nigeria's Ministry of Agriculture has stirred controversy by asking staff to fast and pray for food security. In an internal memo, employees were invited to join a three-day spiritual session, seeking divine intervention amid soaring food prices and widespread hunger. While the ministry insists this is a wellness initiative, not a national policy, critics say it reflects the government's failure to tackle the crisis with real solutions. The announcement coincided with Democracy Day protests across Nigeria, where citizens demanded action on inflation, insecurity, and poor governance. As public frustration grows, many see the prayer memo as symbolic of official helplessness and misplaced priorities. See More
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Nigerian President Tinubu's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' draws ethnic group's rejection
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu looks on as he meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, South Africa, December 3, Alexander/File Photo LAGOS - Nigeria's Ogoni activists on Friday rejected a posthumous pardon for nine members executed three decades ago by a military dictatorship, criticising President Bola Tinubu's move as inadequate and perpetuating injustice. To commemorate Nigeria's Democracy Day on June 12, Tinubu pardoned the men, known as the "Ogoni Nine", including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged after being tried by a military tribunal for their protests against Shell's pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta, which is home to the Ogoni ethnic group. The executions sparked international condemnation against Nigeria's then-military junta and continue to be a contentious issue in the nation's history. "You cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense; we are demanding total exoneration," said Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum. "To say 'pardon', I think it is insulting. If there is any group who needs pardon, it is the Nigerian government that has committed so much crime against the Ogoni people," he told Reuters. Tinubu's spokesperson rejected such criticism. "The president has done what is normal. They can make an argument for exoneration and the president will look into it," Bayo Onanuga told Reuters. Shell, which halted oil drilling in the area in the early 1990s and later sold its assets there, has denied any responsibility or wrongdoing. Tinubu's efforts to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland have drawn fresh criticism from environmental activists. Alagao Morris, deputy executive director of the Environmental Defenders Network, an interest group in the Niger Delta, said the pardon appeared to be an attempt to mollify the Ogoni people in the face of the region's continued environmental devastation. "The pollution that ought to be addressed has not been addressed," Morris said. He said the issue of oil drilling should be decided by the Ogoni people, but the complete exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and other executed activists should come first. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, relies on oil for more than 90% of export earnings and around two-thirds of government earnings, exposing its economy to global price shocks. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian President Tinubu's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' draws ethnic group's rejection
By Ope Adetayo LAGOS (Reuters) -Nigeria's Ogoni activists on Friday rejected a posthumous pardon for nine members executed three decades ago by a military dictatorship, criticising President Bola Tinubu's move as inadequate and perpetuating injustice. To commemorate Nigeria's Democracy Day on June 12, Tinubu pardoned the men, known as the "Ogoni Nine", including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged after being tried by a military tribunal for their protests against Shell's pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta, which is home to the Ogoni ethnic group. The executions sparked international condemnation against Nigeria's then-military junta and continue to be a contentious issue in the nation's history. "You cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense; we are demanding total exoneration," said Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum. "To say 'pardon', I think it is insulting. If there is any group who needs pardon, it is the Nigerian government that has committed so much crime against the Ogoni people," he told Reuters. Tinubu's spokesperson rejected such criticism. "The president has done what is normal. They can make an argument for exoneration and the president will look into it," Bayo Onanuga told Reuters. Shell, which halted oil drilling in the area in the early 1990s and later sold its assets there, has denied any responsibility or wrongdoing. Tinubu's efforts to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland have drawn fresh criticism from environmental activists. Alagao Morris, deputy executive director of the Environmental Defenders Network, an interest group in the Niger Delta, said the pardon appeared to be an attempt to mollify the Ogoni people in the face of the region's continued environmental devastation. "The pollution that ought to be addressed has not been addressed," Morris said. He said the issue of oil drilling should be decided by the Ogoni people, but the complete exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and other executed activists should come first. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, relies on oil for more than 90% of export earnings and around two-thirds of government earnings, exposing its economy to global price shocks.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Nigerian President Tinubu's pardon of 'Ogoni Nine' draws ethnic group's rejection
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu looks on as he meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, South Africa, December 3, Alexander/File Photo LAGOS (Reuters) -Nigeria's Ogoni activists on Friday rejected a posthumous pardon for nine members executed three decades ago by a military dictatorship, criticising President Bola Tinubu's move as inadequate and perpetuating injustice. To commemorate Nigeria's Democracy Day on June 12, Tinubu pardoned the men, known as the "Ogoni Nine", including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were hanged after being tried by a military tribunal for their protests against Shell's pollution in the oil-rich Niger Delta, which is home to the Ogoni ethnic group. The executions sparked international condemnation against Nigeria's then-military junta and continue to be a contentious issue in the nation's history. "You cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense; we are demanding total exoneration," said Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum. "To say 'pardon', I think it is insulting. If there is any group who needs pardon, it is the Nigerian government that has committed so much crime against the Ogoni people," he told Reuters. Tinubu's spokesperson rejected such criticism. "The president has done what is normal. They can make an argument for exoneration and the president will look into it," Bayo Onanuga told Reuters. Shell, which halted oil drilling in the area in the early 1990s and later sold its assets there, has denied any responsibility or wrongdoing. Tinubu's efforts to resume oil drilling in Ogoniland have drawn fresh criticism from environmental activists. Alagao Morris, deputy executive director of the Environmental Defenders Network, an interest group in the Niger Delta, said the pardon appeared to be an attempt to mollify the Ogoni people in the face of the region's continued environmental devastation. "The pollution that ought to be addressed has not been addressed," Morris said. He said the issue of oil drilling should be decided by the Ogoni people, but the complete exoneration of Saro-Wiwa and other executed activists should come first. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, relies on oil for more than 90% of export earnings and around two-thirds of government earnings, exposing its economy to global price shocks. (Reporting by Ope Adetayo; editing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Tomasz Janowski)
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
June 12: Tinubu serious about laying foundation for balanced Nigeria
The founder, One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji on Thursday, said that President Bola Tinubu is more serious about laying the critical administrative foundation for realistic, fair, and balanced economic growth in Nigeria. Maharaj Ji who made this known in a statement to mark this year's Democracy Day in Nigeria, noted that there is a need for some Nigerians to give Tinubu his due respect. He declared that Nigerians should rally around President Tinubu and equally ignore those bent on distracting the President from moving Nigeria forward. He frowned at the alleged series of comments on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by some Nigerians including Hakeem Baba Ahmed's. 'President Tinubu is not a saint, but he is certainly more serious than the entire ruling elites of the nation about laying critical administrative foundation for realistic, fair, and balanced economic growth in Nigeria. 'There is a very big difference between President Bola Tinubu and Bola Tinubu. The former is the current occupier of the highest office in Nigeria, while the latter is a regular citizen of Nigeria. 'If he has any axe to grind against the person of Bola Tinubu, he should wait till after Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's tenure as President of Nigeria expires. So long as Bola Ahmed Tinubu exists as President of Nigeria, Hakeem Baba Ahmed must give him his due respect as President, not as his political colleague or as his Muslim comrade. 'President Tinubu is the winner to save the race, whilst Atiku, El-Rufai, Kwankwaso, Aregbesola, Pat Utomi, Pastor Ayodele, Oyakhilome, are asked to cooperate with our President in the anti-corruption drive,' he stated. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
