General
President Tinubu Urges Dialogue and Unity Amid Nationwide Protests
In a nationwide address on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the protests that have gripped Nigeria since Thursday, urging dialogue and unity to address the concerns raised by the demonstrators. The President assured the nation that his administration is committed to listening to the voices of the protesters, stating that he had heard their calls “loud and clear.”
President Tinubu expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during clashes with security forces and to those who suffered property loss due to looting. He emphasized the importance of suspending further protests to allow for dialogue and reaffirmed his readiness to engage in discussions at any opportunity.
“I hereby enjoin protesters and the organizers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity,” he said.
He stressed the need for all citizens, regardless of age, party, tribe, or religion, to work together in reshaping Nigeria’s future. Amid the unrest, some groups on social media called for Igbos to leave Lagos State, threatening protests from August 20-30, 2024. They also urged South-West indigenes in the South-East to return home.
In response, President Tinubu warned against such divisive actions, stating, “To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected.”
The President addressed the nation with a sense of responsibility, acknowledging the turmoil and violence in several states. He expressed particular sorrow over the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, and other regions, as well as the destruction of public facilities and looting of businesses, which contradicted the organizers’ promise of peaceful protests.
“I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organizers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.”
To the protesters, he said, “I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.”
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned following a disagreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the country’s economic strategy. The announcement came just hours before she was scheduled to deliver the government’s annual fiscal update on Monday.
In her resignation letter, Freeland revealed a growing rift with Trudeau, stating they were “at odds about the best path forward for Canada.” The resignation follows Trudeau’s decision last week to remove Freeland as his government’s top economic advisor.
At the center of their dispute was a proposed policy to provide a C$250 ($175; £139) cheque to eligible Canadians, which Freeland opposed, calling it a “costly political gimmick” that Canada could not afford. She emphasized in her letter that Canada must “keep its fiscal powder dry” in light of economic challenges, including the looming threat of tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump has vowed to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, a move economists warn could severely impact Canada’s economy. Freeland described this as “a grave challenge” and urged the government to prepare for its potential fallout.
Freeland, a long-time ally of Trudeau within the Liberal Party, has been Canada’s finance minister since 2020, steering the nation through the economic turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Her resignation marks the second time a finance minister has departed during Trudeau’s tenure due to policy disagreements; her predecessor, Bill Morneau, stepped down in 2020 amid a clash over spending policies and ethics concerns.
Freeland’s departure signals a major shift in Trudeau’s cabinet as the government faces mounting economic pressures.
On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing the need to eliminate “anti-state” forces and protect the nation’s constitutional order. This unprecedented move, reminiscent of South Korea’s authoritarian past, was met with swift opposition. The National Assembly convened promptly, with 190 out of 300 members present, and voted unanimously to lift the martial law declaration.
Following the parliamentary vote, President Yoon announced his intention to honor the legislature’s decision and lift martial law. He indicated that he attempted to assemble the cabinet to formalize this action but faced delays due to the early morning hours. President Yoon assured the public that he would proceed with lifting martial law as soon as the minimum required number of cabinet members could be gathered.
This series of events has intensified political tensions in South Korea, drawing criticism from both opposition parties and members of President Yoon’s conservative People Power Party.
Special counsel Jack Smith has formally requested a federal judge to dismiss the election interference case against Donald Trump following his victory in the 2024 presidential election. In court documents filed Monday, Smith argued that the Justice Department’s longstanding policy prohibits the prosecution of a sitting president, citing constitutional immunity.
Trump, who was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and other offenses related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, pleaded not guilty earlier this year.
Smith’s filing states:
“As a result of the election held on November 5, 2024, the defendant, Donald J. Trump, will be inaugurated as President on January 20, 2025. It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President.”
He clarified that the dismissal request is not a reflection on the merits of the case:
“This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant.”
Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung hailed the request as a “major victory for the rule of law.”
“The American People re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate to Make America Great Again,” said Cheung. “The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.”
The dismissal request adds to the legal complexities surrounding Trump’s return to the White House. Sentencing in Trump’s New York criminal case has been delayed indefinitely, and another federal case involving classified documents is also expected to face dismissal under the same immunity principles.
Smith’s decision to seek dismissal underscores the constitutional challenges of prosecuting a sitting president. It also raises questions about the future of federal cases involving Trump and the broader implications of presidential immunity on accountability and the justice system.
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