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Protesters invade Kenyan parliament as lawmakers escape through underground tunnel

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Protests against a controversial finance bill in Kenya escalated on Tuesday after police fired live rounds at demonstrators in Nairobi.

The bill has sparked widespread protests in Kenya since last week.

CNN reports that two bodies were lying motionless outside the parliament building on Tuesday.

Protesters forced their way into the assembly by breaking the fence. Once inside, they tore up flags, upturned chairs and tables, and stole the ceremonial mace.

The mace is the symbol of authority of parliament.

A section of the parliament fence was still on fire at the time of reporting.

Lawmakers who were at the parliament building escaped through an underground tunnel, according to NTV Kenya.

Earlier, Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, who joined the protests, was teargassed by police during a live interview with CNN.

“I can’t even see anymore, we’re being teargassed,” Obama said.

On Sunday, President William Ruto said he is ready to dialogue with youths who have sustained the protests.

However, security forces have been accused of abducting prominent Kenyans, especially those with huge social media following.

Amnesty International Kenya says it is investigating the whereabouts of up to 12 people who were “abducted in the middle of the night” ahead of Tuesday’s demonstrations.

“We are horrified by some of the testimonies we have heard over the last 24 hours,” Irũngũ Houghton, Amnesty Kenya executive director, said.

“We have about 12 people unaccounted for who have been picked up, in many cases, by people who are uniformed or not uniformed.”

In the wake of the protests, some parts of the bill have been expunged, including a 16 percent value-added tax (VAT) on bread, taxes on foreign exchange transactions and financial services, and a 2.5 percent car tax.

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Fire guts LAUTECH teaching hospital

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Property worth millions of naira were on Saturday destroyed at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, as a result of a fire incident.

The incident, which happened around 5 am in a paediatric consultant’s office, affected electronic gadgets, engines, books, office equipment, roofs, and others worth millions of naira.

A credible source told our correspondent that the fire incident was suspected to have started from an electric spark.

It was learnt that about 16 patients had to be quickly rushed out of the ward.

However, in a statement sent to PUNCH Online in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ogunleye Omotayo, said no life was lost in the fire incident.

The statement read, “The management of the institution wishes to state that the fire incident that occurred early this morning (Saturday), as carried by some news media, was put out without any remarkable damage to the hospital.

“Noting that no human damage was recorded in the incident, the management wishes to state that Investigation is still ongoing with regard to the cause of the incident.

“At the moment, light has been restored, and work activities have resumed in the section where the fire incident took place.

“The management wishes to thank all staff, the state Fire Service, and all other well-wishers for their concerns and prompt response. The fire incident raised no cause for alarm. Everyone is advised to go about their normal daily activities without fear.”

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Nothing wrong having a Christian as Alaafin of Oyo, says Oladigbolu

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Rahman Oladigbolu, a Nigerian filmmaker, says he sees no reason why the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian.

Two years ago, Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, died at the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, after battling an undisclosed illness.

He was 83 years old and had been on the throne for 52 years — the longest-reigning Nigerian monarch at the time.

Since his death, the throne has been vacant.

Speaking in an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo, Oladigbolu, a prince in the Oyo kingdom, said religion should not be a factor in the selection of the next Alaafin.

“In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king. It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim,” he said.

“Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of course, if you can have a Muslim Alaafin, I see no reason you can’t have a Christian Alaafin.

“The whole point should be to ensure that people would not be talking about religion in issues like this, but it is difficult because of the agenda of people wanting to impose their religion on others.

“So these are where all the problems still lie, and until we’re able to understand it, I don’t see how we can move forward.”

Oladigbolu said education and enlightenment are necessary to solve division caused by religion.

“It is only enlightenment that can carry people to the point where religious considerations no longer matter in societal affairs,” he said.

“When people are enlightened to the point where it doesn’t, then it won’t.

“But today, they still see each other from their religious prism because even the behavior of people that occupy positions in society gets influenced by religion.”

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Tinubu writes senate, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation as COAS

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President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the senate seeking confirmation of Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).

Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of the late Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.

On November 5, Lagbaja died of an undisclosed illness.

Onanuga said Tinubu is “confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience” of Oluyede for the leadership of the army.

Before his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th commander of the infantry corps of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and rose to the position of major general in September 2020.

Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th regular course.

Recently, Oluyede was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

He has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and operation Hadin Kai in the north-east theatre of operations.

He was also the commander of the 27 task force brigade.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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