Farmers and forest guards in Ondo stage protest in support of Gov Akeredolu's ultimatum to unregistered herdsmen (photos)

 

Farmers, forest guards, and drivers in Ondo state on Thursday, January 21, staged a peaceful protest in support of the seven-day ultimatum the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, gave to unregistered herders to vacate forest reserves in Ondo.

 

This directive by the governor has caused a debate with the Presidency saying it is unconstitutional for the governor to order people out of his state. The state government maintains that the directive is for unregistered herdsmen grazing their cattle in its forest reserves. The state government insists that it is important for the herders to be registered as part of measures to contain the increasing level of insecurity witnessed in the state.

 

The protesters carried different placards with different inscriptions like ''Bandits are killing our members''

 

See more photos below

 

US-based Nigerian professor and Political columnist, Okey Ndibe allegedly detained by DSS before being allowed to board his flight

 

US-based Nigerian professor and Political columnist, Okey Ndibe was allegedly detained by the DSS before being allowed to board his flight yesterday January 20. 

 

Nigerian-born former Chief of Staff to the Board of Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland, (MCPS) USA, Ikhide Roland Ikheloa made the disclosure via a tweet he shared. 

 

Ikhide first tweeted; 

 

I understand that Professor Okey Ndibe has been prevented from boarding his flight to his family in the US, by Nigeria’s secret police. In a democracy. How is Okey even a threat to Nigeria’s security?

 

 

Serving an update on this, he wrote; 

 

Update: “After detaining me for a bit, they handed back my passport and said, No vex(!). I’ve now boarded my flight. Thanks, Brother Ikhide.”

 

US Surgeon general, Jerome Adam resigns at Joe Biden's request

 

U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams has resigned from his position at the request of President Joe Biden.

 

Adams, 46,  was nominated by former President Donald Trump and sworn into the job in September 2017.

 

In a lengthy post on Facebook, Adams wrote:

Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honor of my life. Three years and five months ago, I was confirmed as just the 20th United States Surgeon General - and only the second ever African American male to serve in that role.

 

My tenure started with three category 5 hurricanes barreling down on our citizens. I immediately deployed to witness the devastation first hand, and to lead our Public Health Service Officers as we helped with the response. I saw the best of our Nation coming together in the worse of times, to help those who’d lost everything.

 

I then turned my attention to the opioid epidemic, encouraging more people to carry Naloxone by issuing the first Surgeon General’s advisory in over a decade. Working across government and with amazing advocacy organizations on the ground- many led by parents who had lost their own children to opioid overdose- we were able to increase Naloxone availability nationwide by over 400%, and save countless lives. This is perhaps my proudest achievement, as my family has been personally impacted my substance misuse, and I firmly believe stigma remains one of our biggest killers and barriers to health.

Being a parent of school-age children myself, I saw the need to issue subsequent advisories warning of the dangers of youth e-cigarette and youth marijuana use- a combination which merged into the deadly EVALI outbreak our Nation faced. Despite any opinions about adult use of these products, I hope Americans can agree that we must all work together to prevent youth initiation and use.

In 2019, I issued the first Surgeon Generals report in over 30 years on smoking cessation, highlighting the groups still most impacted by smoking, and the science behind what we know works to help them quit. We have made tremendous progress, but far too many- including those with mental health issues, our tribal citizens, and the LGBTQ community, haven’t shared equally in cessation successes.

And of course, there was COVID19. In the face of a once in a century pandemic, I sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary, and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe. I wasn’t always right- because no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of us- but I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to everyday Americans, and address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed.

My team also put out historic Surgeon General’s Calls to Action on Hypertension Control, Maternal Health, and Suicide Prevention. We did this because even in midst of a deadly pandemic, hundreds of thousands of people are killed by these other health risks every year. For example, more people died from uncontrolled high blood pressure in 2020 than from Covid-19. We mustn’t forget about all the other harms Americans face every day, or the many opportunities we have to improve health, and build more resilient communities. And we mustn’t forget that diseases and health risks rarely impact all communities equally. That's why these Calls to Action specifically mention the groups disparately impacted, and talk about the need to study and address aggravating factors like bias.

Finally, I released a completely novel type of Surgeon Generals report- a report on Community Health and Economic Prosperity. It emphasizes the links between the health of our communities and the health of our economies. It is unique in that it makes the business case for why we all should care about and invest in the vital conditions that create opportunities and healthier communities.

During my tenure, I have visited with people from all across America. And despite all that you may read on social media or see on tv, I can assure you that from Alaska to Alabama, from Maine to Montana, and from California to the Carolinas, Americans mostly want the same thing. They want a fair shot at being their best and healthiest self, and to be able to support the health and well being of their families.

And speaking of families, I want to thank those of you who supported me and my family- my wife who is undergoing cancer treatment, my brother who is struggling to overcome addiction, my mother who suffered a stroke earlier this year, and my kids who sacrificed time with their dad so that he could serve this Nation. And thanks to those of you who have become part of my family- the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, my dedicated support staff in the Office of the Surgeon General, the amazing colleagues and friends I’ve met across government, and the many people across this great Nation who constantly pray for my wife and kids, and ask about my dog Bella.

I hope in 2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us. Because Americans working together can overcome any obstacle or adversary. I stand at the ready to help in our mutual quest for recovery, resilience, and health, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to serve.

 

Adams’ resignation came shortly after Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office.

 

Back in December, the Biden administration announced its nominee, Vivek Murthy for the role of the surgeon general. He previously served in the position under former President Barack Obama and he’s a close adviser to Biden.

 

 

When his nomination was revealed, Murthy said in a statement: "In this moment of crisis, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help end this pandemic, be a voice for science, and support our nation on its path to rebuilding and healing.”

 

Murthy's nomination will still need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before he can begin work.

 

A tyrant's era has come to an end' - Iran's president Hassan Rouhani celebrates Trump's exit from the White House

 

Islamic Republic of Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani has dubbed outgoing US President, Donald Trump as a tyrant, after Trump released a farewell speech hours before Joe Biden takes over as president of the United States.

 

Rouhani, whose regime with Supreme leader Ayotallah Khamenei is one of the most repressive and dictatorial in the Islamic Nation's history, called on United States President-elect, Joe Biden, to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift sanctions imposed on Tehran by Donald Trump's administration.

Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting Wednesday, January 20, Rouhani said the ball was "in the US court now."

"If Washington returns to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact," he said, adding in reference to Trump that "a tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign."

Tensions between the two countries were at an all time high during Trump's time in office as he castigated the Iran Nuclear deal saying it was a cover up for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb.

Tensions also increased after the US assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last January using a military drone.

Recently Trump ordered Nuclear capable jets to fly over the Middle East as political observers feared Trump could start a war with Iran by bombing an Iranian nuclear site.

Biden -- a member of the Obama administration which negotiated the original Iran Nuclear deal -- entering office on Wednesday noon, hopes are high for diplomacy between both countries.

At the meeting Wednesday, Rouhani castigated Trump, saying his four years in office "bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world."

 

Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Iranian government agreed to three key things: reducing the number of centrifuges in the country by two-thirds, slashing its stockpile of enriched uranium, and capping ongoing enrichment at 3.67%, an amount sufficient for energy provision but not enough to build a nuclear bomb.

In addition, Iran was required to limit uranium research and development, and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certain access to its nuclear facilities.

In return for its compliance, all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted and the economy grew.

But Trump ended the deal in 2018, sending the nation into economic hardship and blocking the Islamic Nation's ability to conduct business with other nations.

 
Biden has expressed a desire to return to the 2015 agreement, telling CNN last year that Trump had "recklessly tossed away a policy that was working to keep America safe and replaced it with one that has worsened the threat."

"I will offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy," the then-candidate wrote in September. "If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations."

 

Golf legend, Tiger Woods undergoes back surgery for the fifth time, puts his season on hold

 

American Golf legend, Tiger Woods has put his season on hold after undergoing back surgery for the fifth time in his career.

 

The 15-time major winner, last played at the PNC Championship in December, where he felt "discomfort" in his back.

 

A statement on his social media channels said he has had a "procedure known as a microdiscectomy to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching his nerve".

 

Doctors said the surgery was successful but Woods, 45, will miss a number of PGA Tour events.

 

"I look forward to begin training and am focused on getting back out on Tour," he said.

pic.twitter.com/YD0IQbF2K4

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) January 19, 2021

 

Woods, 45, is expected to be out for around two months, missing the upcoming Farmers Insurance Open from 28-31 January and Genesis Invitational from 18-21 February.

 

Check out Tiger Woods' long line of injury problems below.

 

 

Herdsmen: 'Your statement is very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria'- Ondo state govt hits back at Garba Shehu

 

The Ondo State Government has reacted to the statement issued by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in which he condemned the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, for giving a seven-day ultimatum to herdsmen to leave forest reserves in the state.

 

Garba in a statement released on Tuesday, January 19, kicked against the ultimatum and stated that the governor being a senior lawyer should know better than unilaterally expelling thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state. Read here.

 

In a swift reaction, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, in a statement released, said Nigeria’s unity is under threat because the President Buhari-led administration is emotionally attached to Fulani herdsmen. The state government clarified that its directive was for the herdsmen who are not registered to vacate the forest reserves and not for them to leave the state as stated by Garba Shehu.

 

The state government averred that Shehu’s comment was inimical to the existence of Nigeria and that it stated “unambiguously, the position of the Federal Government.

 

The statement from the state government reads in part

“The Ondo State Government did not ask Fulani to leave the state. The governor said herdsmen who are unregistered should leave our forests. The statement from Garba Shehu is brazen display of emotional attachments and it’s very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria. 

We need clearly defined actions on the part of the Federal Government to decimate the erroneous impression that the inspiration of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen is that of power. Our unity is threatened, no doubt.

Shehu's statement states in a breath that the governor fights crime with passion while it is prevaricating on the atrocities. The question is, are the herdsmen who are perpetrating murder, kidnapping and robbery more important than government and even the Federal Government in this case?

Ethnic nationality and activism on the part of anyone hiding under the Presidency or federal government is an ill wind.”

Unusual animal that looks like a cross between a tortoise and a frog leaves Nigerians confused

A Facebook user took to the platform to share photos of an animal he claims he found.

 

"I found this outside! Is it safe to eat?" He asked.

 

 

 

Facebook users commented, saying it looks like a cross between a frog and a tortoise and worried it may not be safe for consumption, considering the number of viruses animals now spread.