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Nationwide Protest: The Killer Is Afraid Of Death [OPINION]

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By Icon-James Tam

I read from the nation’s newspaper where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke through Information Minister Mohammad Idris, urging Nigerian youth to halt the proposed August 1-10th protest tagged “Protest Days of Rage”. The President appealed to Nigerians that their concerns would be addressed but emphasized the need for more time to do so.

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He cited the recently launched student loan scheme and the new minimum wage bill signed into law as swift interventions on his part to justify caution amidst the hardships facing Nigerians.

I almost made this opinion immediately, but I was delayed because I was hungry and had to settle my stomach first. This is the daily plight of every average Nigerian, going to bed with barely half a meal.

READ ALSO: OPINION: Why Aiyedatiwa Should Not Appeal Court Judgment On Creation Of LCDA In Ondo State

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While I searched for food and considered sharing my opinion, I listened to some persons who believed the protest was unnecessary. They argued that the Nigerian state is too fragile and feared the protest might escalate or be hijacked, potentially leading to anarchy. Some referred to the 2020 EndSARS protests which turned bloody a few days after commencing.

Although I respect their concerns for the country’s well-being, I am troubled not only by their call to stop the protest but also by President Tinubu’s claim of addressing Nigeria’s concerns.

With our memories intact, he vociferously led a nationwide protest against Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 over fuel subsidy removal, even parading an artificial casket labeled with the former president’s name as if for a funeral. No protest could be more intense than that. In every legitimate cause, there may be elements seeking to distort it, often sponsored by the state. The 2012 protest saw property damage and loss of lives across the country, which I condemn. Yet, the message was loud, and there was some level of consideration from the federal government at the time, just as the EndSARS movement achieved a landmark victory against unruly SARS operatives.

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READ ALSO: OPINION: If Tinubu Were Today’s Opposition Leader

President Tinubu’s plea for time did not address the reasons for the proposed protest. His claim that the recently enacted minimum wage could alleviate the suffering of Nigerians has had little meaningful impact, as the prices of basic necessities continue to rise. Insecurity worsens daily, and fuel prices vary widely from one filling station to another within the same community or state.

Here is a president who, as an opposition leader even during military rule, staged protests against purported bad governance, now seeming afraid of protests. As a historical irony, it’s akin to “a one-time killer afraid of death as tables turn”.

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Protest is our fundamental right and must be protected at all costs. The world must hear us narrate our ordeals under President Tinubu’s leadership. Therefore, I urge security agencies to act professionally and provide necessary coverage as we carry out the protest from August 1-10 to voice the hardships we endure.

Icon-James Tam
Writes from the creeks of Ogidigba 2, Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State, Nigeria
08106294449

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JUST IN: Kenya Airways Pays NCAA Sanction Fee For Passenger’s Rights Violations

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Kenya Airways has paid the sanction fee imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority over passenger rights violations, including the case involving Nigerian traveller Gloria Omisore.

According to a post by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on his official X account on Thursday, the airline settled the penalty on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, following a series of meetings that included the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, airline representatives, and officials from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

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Kenya Airways has, on Wednesday 17/09/2025, paid the sanction fee as a penalty for the Gloria Omisore and other consumer protection-related infractions,” Achimugu confirmed.

READ ALSO:NCAA Slams Penalty On Kenya Airways Over Gloria Omisore, Others

He stressed that NCAA sanctions are not designed to punish operators but to strengthen compliance with safety and passenger-handling standards.

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As always, NCAA sanctions are not to punish operators, but to help improve their flight operations, especially with regard to safety and passenger handling protocols,” he said.

While commending Kenya Airways for complying, Achimugu noted that payment of fines does not conclude the matter, as the timeframe for resolving the cases has already elapsed. “The payment of sanction fines does not conclude the issues. The NCAA will follow through and is assuring both passengers and airlines of its commitment to protecting their rights and responsibilities,” he added.

Achimugu also emphasised the airline’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria, noting that the penalty was case-specific and does not diminish the positive aspects of its operations.

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The NCAA said it would continue to enforce regulations to safeguard passenger rights and ensure airlines adhere to international aviation standards.

READ ALSO:NCAA Petitions IGP Over KWAM 1’s Unruly Conduct In Abuja Airport

In February, Nigerian passenger Gloria Omisore accused Kenya Airways of mishandling her during a disrupted trip that left her stranded at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Omisore, who had been denied boarding on her connecting flight to Paris due to a missing Schengen transit visa, claimed the airline had earlier assured her she was eligible to travel. The visa issue resulted in a 17-hour layover, followed by an additional 10-hour delay for an alternative London route offered by the airline.

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During the long wait, Omisore requested accommodation and care, citing exhaustion and health concerns, but Kenya Airways declined, arguing that such provisions do not apply in visa-related denied boardings. The situation escalated into a confrontation, captured on video, where Omisore allegedly threw used sanitary pads at staff.

In response, the NCAA launched an investigation, finding Kenya Airways guilty of breaching consumer protection regulations and misleading the public in its initial statements.

On May 7, 2025, the NCAA sanctioned the airline, ordering compensation of 1,000 Special Drawing Rights for each of the three affected passengers, including Omisore, and demanding a public apology.

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Flood: Residents Chide Edo Govt Over Failure To Show Concern

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Residents of Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State have lambasted the Governor Monday Okpehbolo-led state government over failure to show concern on the tragic incident where a cocoa merchant, Frank Omoruyi, was swept away by flood.

Recall that it was reported on Tuesday that flood swept away a man earlier identified as motorcyclist.

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The residents, while expressing displeasure over the state government’s failure to send any rescue team to help recover the corpse, said they paid what they termed ‘good money’ to divers from Benue State to recover Omoruyi’s corpse from a burrow pit at Uwenbo area after two days of intense search.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo Warns Companies Against Fuelling Edo–Delta Boundary Dispute

The residents who lamented that no state government or local government official joined in the rescue operation, threatened to protest and stop further construction work of the Benin-Auchi highway.

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A resident, Samuel Osarenkhoe said: “Two Benue boys were hired to get the body out. We paid them handsomely. He was a cocoa merchant. He was our member and a good friend.

Another resident, Luis Ebabulu, said: “They were saddened that no government official visited the community two days after the incident occurred.

READ ALSO:Edo PDP Knocks Okpebholo Over ₦2.5b Donation To UBTH

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No government official has been here since the incident occurred. We have been contributing money to pay people to search for the body. We are coming out tomorrow to protest to stop the project. They cannot be doing roads and be killing us.

“Flooding and erosion problems have been worsened by the construction of the Benin-Auchi highway. The contractor channeled flood water to the borrowed pit.”

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, said Governor l has desilted drainages across the state.

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Police Disown Viral Recruitment Notice, Warn Against Fraud

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The Nigeria Police Force has disowned a recruitment notice circulating on social media, describing it as fake and warning Nigerians not to fall victim to fraudulent schemes.

The document, titled “Nigeria Police Force Recruitment Exercise 2025”, had invited applications from SSCE, OND, HND, and B.Sc. holders, listing requirements such as age limits, fitness standards, and academic qualifications. It also outlined an alleged application process through a supposed police recruitment portal scheduled to open on September 23, 2025.

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The notice claimed that candidates were expected to be Nigerian citizens by birth, hold a valid National Identification Number, and meet minimum height and academic criteria. It also warned against membership of secret societies and directed applicants to submit various documents, including birth certificates and guarantor declarations.

READ ALSO:Police Vows To Arrest Killers of NSCDC Officers In Edo

In a post on its verified X handle on Thursday, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed the claims and stamped the document “FAKE” to alert the public.

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) had earlier issued a similar warning. On August 30, PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani clarified that no recruitment exercise had been announced for 2025.

The advertorial currently in circulation is fictitious and diversionary,” Ani said. “The Commission has repeatedly urged young Nigerians eager to join the police to be patient and await the official process.”

READ ALSO:Police Vows To Arrest Killers of NSCDC Officers In Edo

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He added that the forged documents being circulated bear no resemblance to the Commission’s official communication.

The police authorities reiterated that any official recruitment exercise would be publicly announced through verified government platforms.

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