A First Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi, has reacted angrily to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerian soldiers were soft on Igbo during the Civil War.
According to Amaechi, the statement by the President amounted to a challenge to God who made it possible for Igbo remnants to survive the planned war of genocide against them.
Speaking with reporters in reaction to the President’s assertion, Amaechi said, “Is Buhari God? Does he think that could have happened without the will of God? Is that that why he allowed the Fulani herdsmen to continue to unleash mayhem to accomplish what could have been accomplished during the civil war?”
He called on, “Igbo to use their tongues to count their teeth and realise that it has become quite imperative for them to unite to speak with one voice and pursue their common interest, knowing full well that they are endangered species in the Nigerian project.
The former Minister, whose son, Ikenna, is contesting for the Senate said he gave his son his blessings and his symbol of authority ‘ofo’ to go ahead and continue from where he stopped in serving Nigeria “and I want him to go there and be me.”
Shattered windows are seen on buildings in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024, one day after the city was hit by severe storms. Credit: Cécile Clocheret / AFP
The death toll from severe weather that lashed the Texas city of Houston has risen to seven, authorities said Friday.
The three additional deaths came after Houston, the fourth-largest US city, was hit Thursday by heavy rain and winds up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, leaving downtown streets covered in glass from blown-out windows.
Downed trees and power lines littered residential areas and the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in the suburb of Cypress.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the new victims included an 85-year-old woman who died after her mobile home was struck by lightning and caught fire.
A 60-year-old man was found unresponsive and pronounced dead after going to his truck to try and power his oxygen tank, after electricity was cut across wide swaths of the storm-hit area.
And a 57-year-old man collapsed and died after trying to move a downed power pole.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Thursday after the storm that four people died, though specifics were not immediately available.
Schools in Houston, home to 2.3 million people with an economy centered around oil and petrochemicals, were closed on Friday and non-essential workers urged to stay home.
An Israeli army battle tank moves in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP)
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that at least 35,173 people have been killed in the territory during more than seven months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants.
The toll includes at least 82 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 79,061 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.
In a devastating turn of events today, tragedy struck the streets of Oke- Owode in Ogbomoso as a fatal collision between a bus laden with mango fruits and a car occupied by suspected yahoo boys claimed the lives of two individuals, including the bus driver.
Eyewitness accounts at the scene painted a grim picture, alleging that the occupants of the car, believed to be involved in cybercrime activities, were driving recklessly, possibly impaired by alcohol.
Their vehicle collided with the mango-laden bus, resulting in the loss of lives.
Promptly responding to the distress call, law enforcement officials arrived at the scene to assess the situation.
Their efforts focused on clearing the obstruction caused by the bus and attending to the victims. The bodies of the deceased were carefully removed and transported for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the car driven by the suspected yahoo boys was impounded and taken to the Police Area Command for thorough examination.
Authorities are committed to unraveling the circumstances leading to the accident and holding those responsible accountable.
The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic in the Oke Owode area, prompting authorities to work tirelessly to restore normalcy.
Expressing shock and grief, local residents and community members emphasised the importance of adherence to traffic regulations and called for caution among drivers to avert such tragedies in the future.
As investigations unfold, the police remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, determined to establish the facts surrounding the accident and ensure that justice is served.