News
Jubilation as court order opposes El-Rufai on market demolition
There was pandemonium in Kaduna at the weekend as policemen dispersed traders who trooped the streets in jubilating a court order against Governor Nasir El-Rufai to pay compensation for demolishing shops and markets in the city.
The tension escalated on Sunday evening when armed Police stormed Kasuwan Barci, Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis shooting tear gas and life bullets in the air, as shop owners trooped to the street, demanding Governor El-rufai to obey court order by paying them compensation over their demolished shops and markets.
The protest followed an order by Kaduna State High Court to the state government that each of the shop owners in Kasuwan Barci be reinstated into the market.
The affected shop owners called on the government to respect the rule of law by obeying the court order.
While traders were set to embark on a peaceful protest, armed policemen stormed the venue, saying “there is an order from above to stop the protest”.
Consequently, some officers and men of the Police force who were at the scene of the protest immediately dispersed the shop owners from addressing their members and journalists.
The police were also seen pulling down all the canopies arranged for the event along Kasuwan Barci axis of Dutsima road, Tudun Wada.
This later led to serious confrontation with the sister security agency; the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVIS), who had earlier given security cover to the traders at the venue.
The armed policemen resorted to teargassing the crowd and firing bullets in the air to disperse the traders. But a few hours later, the shop owners regrouped at another location and addressed the Journalists.
It would be recalled that the court had on the 28 of September 2022 ruled in favour of the plaintiffs (shop owners), instructing the Kaduna state government that the shop owners be adequately compensated.
The state government had taken over the market and subsequently demolished the old structure of the market sometime in March 2020, while about 4,600 shop owners were affected. All the market locations in the State were also affected by the demolition.
The traders of the Kasuwan Barci and Raga markets all within the Kaduna metropolis being dissatisfied by the action of the state government approached the court to interpret the extent of the powers of the state government over the markets.
However, the presiding judge, Justice A. Edward Andow, in his judgment on the above-mentioned date, pronounced that the Kaduna state government lacks the constitutional powers to unilaterally take over the Kasuwan Barci market in the way and the manner it did.
“The Kaduna State government is in breach of the constitutional provision vesting the creation and operation of markets in the local govts by usurping and arrogating to itself the clear powers and function of the local government,” the court ruling stated.
In jubilation of the court order, the shop owners flooded the street of Kaduna state at the weekend, urging the government not to deny them of their right as pronounced by the court.
The Chairman, Shop Owners, Abdullahi Maikano Kaya-kaya, while addressing Journalists, explained that after receiving the vacation notice, the shop owners sought an audience with the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai which was granted but, they could not reach any agreement.
He, however, explained that they pleaded with the Governor to either allow them to build the shops themselves by using the authorized government building plan or give them another space to relocate, pending when the government would rebuild the shops since the Governor promised to return the shops to the real owners.
The chairman added that the government refused the proposal of the shop owners, hence their decision to proceed to court.
“Our expectations of government was that, since she is aware that we built our shops ourselves on the land given to us by government, they should have either relocated the market or have adequately compensated us but instead, they ignored us and went ahead to demolish the shops,” Kaya-kaya said.
“It is our prayer that Kaduna state government will respect this judgement by reinstating us back into the market and compensate us accordingly especially because, many shop owners have died, some are sick, while a few have relocated to other towns due to the demolition.”
Mr Joshua Ibitomi, the Area Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC),
Ibeju-Lekki, Epe Division, Lagos State, has warned truck drivers against speeding and reckless driving.
He gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibeju-Lekki on Tuesday.
The FRSC official, who blamed speeding on the ghastly vehicle accident that occurred at Aiyetoro market in Epe
which claimed several lives and left some injured, said that with careful driving, such accident could be avoided.
He added that “the accident was as a result of speeding, reckless driving and loading of truck beyond its capacity.
“All these are factors responsible for accident when drivers are not conscious of the driving rules.
“Vehicle can develop technical fault at any time, therefore, speed limit and caution need to be applied while driving.”
He said FRSC had been sensitising drivers on the need to install speed limit device and be road conscious while driving, in line with the mandate to instill decent use of road.
Ibitomi also advised passers-by and the public to be safety conscious while walking on roadsides to avoid falling victim of accidents.
He attributed major road crashes on roads to speed limit violation, urging drivers to respect the sanctity of human life by obeying traffic rules.
He added that the FRSC had evolved measures to ensure accident-free yuletide and new year festivities in 2024
Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.
At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”
“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”
Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.
“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.
In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.
As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.
“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.
Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”
While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.
“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.
The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.
President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.
The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.
Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.
Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”
Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.
Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”
The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.
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