TRANSVIEW MAGAZINE: 2018-06-24

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Woman in India killed after false rumour of child abductors shared on WhatsApp

Around 100 people attacked the victim and three other women in Ahmedabad, a city in the state of Gujarat.

The violence comes after increasing concern about the consequences of fake news on Facebook and other platforms.

Police spokesman JA Rathwa said: "Half a dozen people surrounded the women as they were about to board an autorickshaw and started questioning them.

"Soon the crowd swelled and pulled Shantadevi Nath and her companions out of the rickshaw and started thrashing them.

"People in the crowd rained punches and kicked the four women. Some even hit them with sticks and pulled them by their hair."

Local traffic police intervened and the women were rescued and taken to hospital but Ms Nath, 45, was declared dead on arrival.

Six people were injured in two separate incidents about 120 miles (190km) away in Rajkot, including a family of five who were visiting relatives.

In two assaults in Surat, in the south of Gujarat, five women were attacked and a 45-year-old woman was assaulted after it was suspected she had kidnapped her own toddler.

A police officer said: "It was a mostly male crowd which took away her daughter as they suspected her to be a kidnapper."Both of them were brought to the police station where it became clear that she was indeed the child's mother."

In another incident in Nagpur, Satish Bhaykre, 21, was beaten by a mob.

The false message, which went viral, said: "Guys please be on high alert. Three kids were kidnapped from my friend's area this morning. There were 10 guys giving biscuits... Parents pls be on high alert."

Attacks have been filmed and posted on social media and some have been aired on India's many rolling TV channels.

Police are so concerned they have issued an official warning urging people not to "get carried away by fake social media messages".

Nikhil Pahwa, the editor of news and analysis website Medianama, said police must raise their game by tracking social media and responding quickly to false rumours.

But he said responsibility also lay with WhatsApp, in the Facebook-owned company's biggest market, to ensure that the original sender of a message can be identified.

Mr Pahwa said: "We have all kinds of messages circulating on the social media. Misinformation today is a global issue and there is no one way to address it. Multiple things need to be done."

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Volkswagen opens Rwanda’s first automobile plant

Volkswagen will launch a car assembly facility in Rwanda on Wednesday, the first such factory in the East African nation as Europe’s biggest car maker expands its presence in the region.

Car ownership remains low in the nation of 12 million people with just over 200,000 private cars registered since 1997, according to the country’s tax collection body.

But Volkswagen, which already builds vehicles in nearby Kenya, hopes not just to sell vehicles but for them to also be used in an Uber-like car-sharing system where people will use their smartphones to book rides.

The German automaker said in January that it initially plans to build up to 5,000 cars per year, beginning with the Polo and Passat models.

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the vice governor of Rwanda’s central bank, welcomed the move as an example of much needed investment in the nation, which receives over $1 billion in foreign aid and development assistance but has made business-friendly reforms in recent years.

“It is a vote of confidence for Rwanda,” she told Reuters. “It is good for job creation in Rwanda and making Rwanda a trusted location for services and in this case, manufacturing.”

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Algeria's powerful police chief Gen Abdelghani Hamel sacked

General Abdelghani Hamel in 2013 — Image captionAbdelghani Hamel used to head the Republican Guard, responsible for the president's security

Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika has sacked his powerful police chief, who was seen as a possible successor to the 81-year-old head of state.

Gen Abdelghani Hamel had led the police since 2010.

No reason was given for the 62-year-old's dismissal but it comes amid a drug-trafficking scandal that has shaken the establishment.

The police have denied media reports that the general's personal chauffeur was involved in smuggling cocaine

However, the force admitted that one of its fleet of drivers had been arrested in connection with the case involving the seizure of more than 700kg (1,540lb) of cocaine from a container ship in May.

The shipment, destined for a prominent businessman, came from Brazil and the drugs were found in boxes marked "halal meat".

Gen Hamel's sacking comes as a surprise as he is close to the president and has survived other difficult situations in his eight years as police chief.

In 2014, the police went on strike demanding more support - which was a major embarrassment for the general, who became the butt of many jokes.

Algerian police are seen in front of president's headquarters during their strike - 15 October 2014 — Image captionThe police strike in 2014 was unprecedented

Trained as a computer engineer, he began his career in the army, rising through the ranks to head the Republican Guard, which is responsible for the security of the president.

His downfall appears to be his public remarks about the drug-trafficking case - as only the justice minister is allowed to comment on an ongoing investigation.

In a media interview, Gen Hamel reiterated that the driver arrested was not his chauffer, implicitly criticising the investigation.

Mr Bouteflika has named Mustapha El Habiri, a former army colonel and head of the fire fighters, as the new police chief.

The ruling FLN party has urged Mr Bouteflika, who has been in power for 19 years, to run for a fifth term in office.

He won elections in 2014 despite doing no personal campaigning and rarely appearing in public after having suffered a stroke in 2013.

He first took office when Algeria was still caught up in a brutal civil war with Islamist insurgents, and is credited with curbing the conflict and restoring economic stability.

He amended the constitution in 2008 to remove the two-term limit on the presidency, effectively giving himself the option of remaining head of state for life.

Nigeria ranked 9th most dangerous country to be a woman - Report

Nigeria has been named the ninth most dangerous country for women in the latest report released by Thomson Reuters Foundation on Tuesday, June 26.

Nigeria made the list alongside India, which tops the list, DR Congo, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

“NIGERIA - Ranked as ninth, with human rights groups accusing the country’s military of torture, rape and killing civilians during a nine-year fight against Boko Haram militants. Nigeria was named fourth most dangerous country along with Russia when it came to human trafficking. It listed sixth worst on the risks women face from traditional practices,” the report stated.

Other countries polled to have bad records in the treatment of women included the United States, which came last on the list, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen.

Between March 26 and May 4, 2018, the Thomson Reuters Foundation said it surveyed 548 experts on women’s issues across the globe, including academics, health workers, policy-makers, and NGO workers.

The respondents were reportedly asked to consider the following parameters: health care, cultural practices, discrimination, sexual violence, non-sexual violence, and human trafficking.

While Nigeria didn’t rank in health care, discrimination, and non-sexual violence, Nigeria ranked sixth for (cultural) practices that were harmful to women, like acid attacks, female genital mutilation, child marriage, forced marriage, stoning, physical abuse or mutilation as a form of punishment/retribution and female infanticide.

In cases of sexual violence, Nigeria is ranked fourth on the poll, with examples of rape as a weapon of war, domestic rape, rape by a stranger, the lack of access to justice in rape cases, sexual harassment and coercion into sex as a form of corruption cited.

Nigeria is also ranked fourth position on the poll in matters of human trafficking.

Meanwhile, a report by Brookings Institution has shown that Nigeria has taken over from India as the nation with the highest number of extremely poor people.

India previously held the position with a population of 1.324 billion as against Nigeria's 200 million.

The report indicated that the number of Nigerians in extreme poverty increases by six people every minute.

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Ogun State Guber Race - Ex-Nigerian footballer Odegbami declares

Segun Odegbami, a former Nigerian footballer and sports administrator, has declared his interest to slug it out with other political contenders for the governorship seat in Ogun state ahead of 2019. He did not reveal the political platform through which he wants to achieve this.

Odegbami, stated this in a post on Facebook.

“I am going to stay around for a little while longer, still watch and report any interesting events around here, and properly think through my next project.

“Now more than ever before I know for sure why I want to contest for the office of governor of my state. The thought of a footballer in government house excites many who have heard the rumour here. It will surely attract all manner of reactions back in my state,” he said in the post.

The football administrator added: “Politics in the most sophisticated environment in Nigeria, for all things progressive, may never be the same again. I am looking forward to the challenge in faith and with hope.”

Earlier.Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state on Tuesday, April 10, declared that his successor would be a woman and a whiz kid.

It was reported that his disclosure apparently shocked members of his cabinet who were with him at the world press conference venue to herald the 3rd African drum festival at Mitos suites and residences, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta.

The governor who was responding to newsmen question on the sustainability of the drum festival after his tenure ends next year, assured that his choice of replacement would be "a whiz kid, who will surpass him in all ramifications.

"Let me say this. A woman is going to be next governor of Ogun state. She is a whiz kid that will key into what we have been doing in the last eight years."

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Oyo pensioners sue Governor Ajimobi over N42bn arrears

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Oyo state on Tuesday, June 26, dragged Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state and five others before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over the unpaid N42.3 billion gratuities and pensions arrears owed primary school teachers and local government pensioners.

Joined in the suit were the Oyo state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, commissioner for finance as well as the accountant-general and the state’s head of service.

At the sitting before Justice Moruf Adegbola, the union’s counsel, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), urged the court to direct the Oyo state government to pay the arrears of the concerned pensioners, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Sanusi said the primary school teachers and local government pensioners were dying almost on daily basis due to difficulty in getting medications for their various health challenges.

The counsel also told the court that an agreement was reached between the state government and the pensioners that the arrears would be paid in instalments, praying that this be made a consent judgment.

He said since the state government was not denying that it was its responsibility to pay the said money, his clients were urging the court to give its judgment.

The counsel also said that other respondents in the suit had been served except Ajimobi, urging the court to grant his ex-parte motion seeking its leave to serve the governor by substituted means.

The counsel suggested that the governor be served through the state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, being the chief law officer of the state.

Adegbola consequently granted the ex-parte motion and ordered that the processes be served on the governor through the attorney-general and commissioner for justice.

The judge said that the processes and other documents to be filed in the matter be taken to the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

He adjourned the case till July 11 for hearing.

NAN reports that none of the respondents was in court.

NAN also reports that the pensioners, who had trooped to the court, called on the state government to urgently pay their pension arrears and gratuities.

Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state also attended the court sitting.

Meanwhile, Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, June 27, said President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a reorganisation of the nation’s security architecture to address ongoing security challenges in parts of the country.

Dogara said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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Be Peace Lover - Ven.Ayo Banmosun Tasks Religious Faithful Worldwide

Venerable Ayo Omisope Banmosun (JP) General Overseer Cherubim and Seraphim ldapo Alaafia.lle Ife.Osun State of Nigeria has stressed the need for love and peaceful coexistence among Christian and other religion faithful in the country.
This was contains in the cleric sermons at a year remembrance memorial service in
honour of late Madam Abigail Ebunlomo Abeni Odeyele double Chairperson of Egbe Akorin and lmole Jesu-ntan of the church worldwide.
Speaking further Ven. Ayo Banmosun noted that there can only be peace, socio-economic and political cohesion among ethnic groups if they exhibit God's consciousness in them with transparency to amicably resolve the various challenges currently confronting various nation worldwide.
He therefore challenge religious leaders in the country to be agents of peace, unity and religious harmony among their followers rather than engaging in beating war
drum in their various community.
Speaking on behalf of Odeyale family Alhaja Yetunde Muritala. Yeye Asiwaju Aden
Musulumi of Apapa and environ Muslim community commended the church for its
moral supports, adding that her family will not let loss the vacuum created by the deceased and pledges that Odeyale family will not relent in their moral, materials and financial supports for the house of God.

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Monday, 25 June 2018

Soyinka berated Obasanjo,describes him as one of the greatest hypocritical leaders Nigeria ever had

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being the most hypocritical former leader of the country, following his attempt to hijack the movement for political change.

Soyinka stated this in Abuja on Friday, June 22, at a dinner organised by the International Press Institute.

“Obasanjo has crossed the red line and I will launch a publication to expose him on July 3 at Freedom Park in Lagos," Soyinka stated.

“He is trying to hijack a recovery process he is least worthy to lead.”

He further said that Obasanjo is not the right person to lead any movement for reform on change of leadership in the country in 2019, adding that Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigerian Movement should not be glorified.

According to Soyinka, Obasanjo and other geriatric leaders of his generation should step aside and allow a new generation to lead the nation.

Responding to a question that he has not been critical of Obasanjo as he had been of other past leaders, especially late General Sani Abacha, Soyinka said: “As for Obasanjo, I have news for him. And it has been a progressive thing.

“I believe Obasanjo has really crossed the red line because he is trying to put himself as the head of a recovery process. He is trying to hijack the recovery process in this nation and I say that he is one of the least worthy of one of the former heads of states to lead that kind of movement.

“I have brought out a publication about that, the title is in Latin but it means; who watches the watchmen. That publication is coming out simply because I will like to see new blood in governance in this nation and I think these corrupt and hypocritical geriatrics should stop recycling themselves and they should stop trying to co-opt their former cronies to take over the reins of governance in this nation.”

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Saudi women hit the road as female driving ban ends

The decades-long ban ended at midnight in the kingdom (10pm UK time) and thousands of women were expected to get behind the wheel for the first time.

Tahani Desmani, a mother of five, had to be driven by her husband to meet Sky's Lisa Holland before taking the wheel herself and driving through the busy streets of the country's capital, Riyadh.

She said "I'm really feeling so excited, super happy, overwhelmed with positive feelings and overjoyed.

"This means a lot for us as Saudi women."

Driving was not new to Tahani, as she studied in the US and drove cars there.

When asked if it had been frustrating having to return to the Saudi Arabian driving ban after finishing her study, she said: "We trust our government and we know the decision was postponed for our own sake.

"There are lots of protection measures taking effect now, for example anti-harassment.

"Driving our own cars gives us even more freedom, and a sense of independence and empowerment."

In September, King Salman announced by royal decree that the ban would be ending and the strict Muslim country issued the first driving licences to women earlier this month.

Special driving schools have been set up, car showrooms are heaving with prospective female buyers, and events are being held in Riyadh to encourage new drivers.

While axing the female driving ban is part of a liberalisation drive by the king's son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, there are also economic reasons behind it.

Since oil was discovered in the Arabian desert in 1938, Saudi Arabia's economy has relied on it.

The oil wealth funds heavy subsidies for Saudis on things like food without leaders imposing income or corporate tax, although a 5% VAT was brought in earlier this year.

As other countries begin to look away from oil and its price falters, however, the crown prince knows he has to look elsewhere to make sure his country can survive in the long-term future.

Part of his plan is to increase female workforce participation from 22% to 30% by 2030 and allowing them to drive will be a vital part of that.

Campaigners saying that the next move should be to end Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system, under which a woman must have a male guardian to make critical decisions on her behalf.

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