By Emmanuel Nduka and Esther Adesulu
Heritage Times takes a look at major stories from the past week, both locally and on the foreign scene.
Here are top quotes that shaped the world last week, and topics that may form talking points in the coming days:
1. Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Sen. Bola Tinubu, met with President Muhammadu Buhari inside the Presidential Villa. During the meeting, Tinubu informed Buhari of his intention to vie for the presidential ticket under the platform of the APC.
“I answer that with categorical yes. I’ve informed the President of my intention but I have not informed Nigerians yet. I’m still consulting. And I have no problem consulting. And I’ve noticed that a parameter of limitation to the extent of how many people will I consult.
“You will soon hear, all you want to hear is the categorical declaration. You’ve gotten that truth from me that I have informed Mr. President of my ambition, I did not expect more answers than that,” he said.
2. ECOWAS slams Mali’s military junta with sanctions. Junta kicks back, says it strongly condemns the sanctions, including border closures and a trade embargo, introduced in response to delays to a return to civilian rule.
A proposal by Mali’s military rulers to hold elections in December 2026 “simply means that an illegitimate military transition government will take the Malian people hostage during the next five years,” ECOWAS said.
3. Governors of Zamfara and Borno states, raised alarm that armed groups have overrun their states. Concerned by this, the United Nations told the Nigerian Government to deal decisively with these groups.
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres condemned the unending attacks by bandits in Zamfara State, northern Nigeria, and urged the Nigerian Government to deal with perpetrators of the recent killings.
“If nothing is done to check and tackle the growing presence of ISWAP fighters who are better armed, better equipped, more deadly, more sophisticated and receive more funds than Boko Haram, it will be disastrous not only to Borno State but the country in general,” one of the governors said.
4. President Muhammadu Buhari lifted the suspension on Twitter after seven months.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12 am tonight, January 13, 2022. The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami,” a statement from the Presidency said.
5. Former Nigerian Head of State, Ernest Shonekan, dies at 85. Until his death, he was the third oldest surviving Nigerian Head of State by age after Queen Elizabeth 11 and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.
He was also the Chairman of the Interim National Government between 26 August and 17 November 1993. He was ousted in a palace coup led by late General Sani Abacha who was Secretary of Defence.
6. Boko Haram abducts mobile police officers from Police Mobile Training School in Limankara, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The insurgents attacked the facility which is situated in the hometown of Senator Ali Ndume, the Chairman of Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Army, around 8:22pm on Thursday, January 13, with gun trucks and shot sporadically into the air, before kidnapping the mobile Police instructors.
7. Mali Ex-President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76
Keita who led the West African country from 2013 until he was ousted in a coup in 2020, died in the capital Bamako on Sunday, his family said.
While the cause of his death was not clear, the former ruler had suffered a mini-stroke after ceding power in 2020 and was sent to the United Arab Emirates for treatment before his death.
