GRAPHITTI NEWS collates national and
international highlights from late-breaking news, up-coming events and the
stories that will be talked about Sunday:
 |
AP Afghanistan's presidential election
candidates Abdullah Abdullah (left), and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai shake hands
after signing a power-sharing deal at the presidential palace in Kabul,
Afghanistan on Sunday.
|
1.
WHY NIGERIA, SOUTH AFRICA FLEX MUSCLES
Prevailing
underlying issues between Nigeria and South Africa may have influenced the
decision of the South African government to take the hard stance on the recent US$9.3m
cash for weapons scandal allegedly involving some Nigerian security agencies,
according to diplomats and informed U.S. sources.
A
top African official with connections to issues of global finance who has
arrived in New York ahead of next week opening of the United Nations General
Assembly said over the weekend that the South African government are persuaded
that the arms deal was simply a money laundering deal gone back for which the
South Africans could use to embarrass the Nigerian government.
Another
diplomatic source said since the Nigerian rebasing of her GDP, which put the
country ahead as the biggest African economy ahead of South Africa, some in the
South African government circles have been irked by what they consider to be
the “artificial claims” about the Nigerian economy compared to South Africa.
In
the battle to curry foreign investors to Africa, some western economic analysts
had warned that the rebasing of the Nigerian GDP which clearly raised the
profile of the country would certainly deepen the cold war relationship between
Nigeria and South Africa.
While
Nigeria continues to deal with problems of insecurity and fears of political
woes expected with next year’s presidential elections, South Africa which seems
to fare better in those areas is also facing striking workers problems and
budget deficits.
In
the event, diplomatic sources said, the rivalry for economic space and
opportunities between both Nigeria and South Africa deepens and such an
occasion as the US$9.3m cash scandal tilts the balance in South Africa’s favour.
A
source said South Africa is taking advantage of the scandal to expose some of
Nigeria’s weak points, citing in addition the propensity of bad building
compliance issues, which has resulted into several collapses in Lagos including
that of the Synagogue Church building which reportedly killed 67 South
Africans.
Diplomats
say it is well known that a frosty relationship has been subsisting between
Nigeria and South Africa for a long time, and the Nigerian government may have
played directly into the hands of the South Africans with the cash scandal.
Unlike the expectation of the Nigerian official that the South Africans
would play down the US$9.3m cash scandal, the South Africans pressed the issue
and actually was the source that confirmed the involvement of the Nigerian
government to the shock of some Nigerian government officials.
The
Guardian on Sunday learnt that while Nigerian officials were trying to
establish some justification for the movement of such a large amount of cash,
their South African counterparts clearly retorted back that their suspicions
were that the whole deal is about money-laundering rather than weapons’
purchase.
US
sources over the weekend said expectations from the Nigerian government that
the South Africans will overlook the development and give Nigeria a pass, is
“both unrealistic and naive,” at a time both countries are in intense
competition as to where is the best destination for foreign investment.
“If
South Africa gets the opportunity to expose Nigeria’s underbelly as corrupt
just after the Nigerian government made a big deal that it is now the biggest
economy in Africa, why would they not knock Nigeria on the head?, queries an
international finance expert who works with several African leaders and
government on development issues.
2.
WREATHS TO MARK WESTGATE MALL ATTACK ONE YEAR ON
Kenya
is marking a year since the attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre, in
which at least 67 people were killed.
A
memorial plaque will be unveiled and a candle-lit vigil held.
Rupal
Shah explained that the families of victims have been laying wreaths at a
garden in the forest where 67 trees were planted after the attack.
3.
POLICE IG, SULEIMAN ABBA, ORDERS DISMANTLING OF ALL POLICE ROADBLOCKS
NATIONWIDE
The
order banning the setting up of Police roadblocks nationwide is still strictly
in force, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has said.
In
a statement Sunday, Force Spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the police boss
has sent a directive to all commands and formations of the Force nationwide
asking them to immediately dismantle “all semblances of Police roadblocks and
permanent checkpoints reportedly re-emerging in some parts of the country,
especially in the South-East, South-South and South-West geo-political zones of
Nigeria”.
Mr.
Ojukwu further quoted Mr. Abba as describing the reemergence of roadblocks as a
serious violation of subsisting order on the matter and threatened severe
sanctions on any police commands, formations and personnel who violate the
order.
While
charging the state Commissioners of Police and Heads of Formations to ensure
total compliance with the order, the IGP further ordered extensive visibility
patrol and effective surveillance on Nigerian roads.
Meanwhile, as Nigeria joins
the rest of the world in marking World Peace Day on September 21, 2014, the
Nigeria Police Force has restated its resolve to work assiduously for the
enthronement of genuine peace in the nation.
 |
|
South African survivor, Lindiwe Ndwandwe "It's like a
dream to me that really, it's me that came out from here," the South
African told AFP on Saturday as she surveyed the remains of the church in the
Nigerian city of Lagos. Photo credit: Sunday Alamba / AP
|
No comments :
Post a Comment