1.NOBODY WINS WHEN THE FAMILY FEUDS.

In a cycle that comes around every couple of years, South Africa is making headlines for xenophobic attacks against its African migrant population once again.

Between 2000 and 2008, at least 67 people died in attacks related to xenophobia.

In 2008 the country witnessed its bloodiest violence on immigrants when over 60 people were killed. By 2015, continued xenophobic unrest led to the creation of a makeshift refugee camp for Africans and the death of 7 immigrants. 2017 saw a widely attended anti-immigration protest, 2018 more loss of life and now in 2019, at least 5 have been killed in the attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.

What sparked the 2019 attacks? 

Two reasons have been cited for the recent attacks. The first — economic.

South Africa currently has a worrying 1 in 3 person unemployment ratio, leading many citizens to surmise that its over 2.2 million immigrants, 75% of which are Africans, are responsible for overrunning the job market.

The recent attacks came one day after South African truckers began a nationwide protest against employing foreign drivers.

Secondly, the attacks are believed to be reprisals for the death of a taxi driver who was allegedly shot by a Nigerian for confronting him against under-age dealing. There are accounts that the shooter may have been Tanzanian.

The aftermath of the attacks.

The spread of fake videos.

In the wake of the attacks, a number of reports and videos have made rounds to increase tensions. This graphic video of a man, touted to be Nigerian, being burnt alive is one. He is in fact South African, inhumanely set ablaze for stealing a handbag. There’s also this video of suspected Nigerians about to be deported. While its origins are yet to be verified, it has been on social media for over a year, making it unrelated to recent attacks.

There’s also this video of a man fleeing a burning building thought to be a xenophobic arson attack. It was actually shot in India.

Even this video of the South African Deputy Minister of Police, Bongani Mkongi, decrying immigrants taking up 80% of SA cities is actually from 2017.

These unrelated videos have been watched over 500,000 times and have sparked tensions and offensive moves.

Reprisal attacks.

In response to the attacks against Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in South Africa, Nigerians in home territory have begun misguided attacks against suspected South African businesses in the country which are in fact franchises owned by Nigerians. Shoprite and MTN most notably faced the brunt of attacks, leading MTN to shut its offices nationwide. The strikes devolved into a mindless free-for-all where looters began attacking Nigerian and suspected South African businesses alike.

Condemnations and the Nigerian government’s reaction.

The xenophobic attacks have been widely condemned from all parts of the world. Countries including Nigeria have pulled out of the World Economic Forum, which was to take place in South Africa. The South African president spoke against it, and the African Union described the attacks as ‘despicable’. Celebrities are also lending their voices against the attacks, some choosing to dishonour previously booked South African appearances.

While Nigeria’s president originally gaffed by sending a special envoy instead of visiting directly, it has since recalled the Ambassador to South Africa — Kabiru Bala, a clear sign of worsening tensions between both countries.

2.HOW TO BE A GOVERNOR IN 100 DAYS.

Don’t move too quickly Nigerians, we might be observing a creature previously thought extinct in his habitat — an actual governor blowing it out of the park with his 100-day achievements.

We knew there was something different about the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde when he declared his ₦48 billion assets unprovoked, unlike some people. Now, he’s distinguishing himself further with achievements made in his first 100 days in office.

What did he do baybee?

He seems to be the only Nigerian politician to actually understand the meaning of youth. He nominated 27-year-old Seun Fakorede as commissioner.

Then he banned the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers and declared their activities illegal for the violence the group wreaked in Oyo State. Topping himself, he declared primary and secondary schooling free in the state.

He’s done so much more, so here’s a quick rundown: partnering with FarmCrowdy to connect 50,000 farmers with agricultural solutions. His government is making moves to criminalise open grazing. Oyo state will pay a ₦500,000 bursary to its students in law school, a bump from the previously inconsistent ₦100,000 (Ogun State, run me my bursary money!) He signed a downward review of the state budget, from the previous administration’s ₦285bn, which he considered unrealistic, to a more appropriate ₦182 billion, a Nigerian miracle if I ever saw one. This budget is expected to have a whopping 10% allocated to education alone.

He has sponsored an executive bill for the creation of an Oyo State Financial Crimes Commission, for which he is prepared to waive his immunity as governor, should any issues of his corruption come before it.

BIG INTEGRITY ENERGY! Full list of achievements here.

But not everyone’s happy.

While groups like the teacher’s union of Oyo State have praised the governor’s prompt payment of salaries and pensions to serving and retired teachers, the Oyo State APC claims the state is in a “downward slide”, claiming the governor is “a man who still campaigns for an election after he has been sworn in as governor”. I’m sorry, do you stop wooing the girl after you’ve gotten her? 2011 Tumblr didn’t die for this. Bye haterz.

Click the link and watch what happens.

3. IT’S PRIMARIES SEASON.

On September 4th, political parties in Kogi and Bayelsa states selected their candidates to contest the off-cycle gubernatorial elections holding on November 16th. This will be the first time both state elections will hold on the same date.

Bayelsa State.

Following a tedious amount of back and forth, the front running political parties in the state — the APC and PDP finally decided on direct and indirect modes of primary selections respectively.

Quick refresher: Direct primaries require every card-carrying member of a political party to vote for a preferred candidate to contest a political role. While indirect primaries place the selection of a candidate in the hands of a select few members of the party called ‘delegates’.

The APC elections produced David Lyon as candidate, a suspected favourite of former governor, Timipre Silva. He went up against 6 people — a number that ideally should have been 7, if it wasn’t for pesky rules that make sure our electoral process makes sense.

Briyai Frankland resigned his role as the resident electoral commissioner of Cross River state to contest the APC primaries but was disqualified for not being a card-carrying member of the APC for at least a year. Must have hurt.

Senator Douye Diri won the PDP primaries against 19 other candidates. He is believed to be the preferred candidate of Governor Seriake Dickson.

Kogi State.

Bruh, a lot of people wanted to be governor in Kogi State. The PDP had 21 candidates contesting its primary elections, a list of which included: Gov. Yahaya Bello, Senator Dino Melaye, Wada Idris, Grace Adejoh, the least liked Teletuby (Dipsy 🖕) and two of Buhari’s favourite ghost workers.

Eventually, Governor Bello came out victorious, we await Dino’s diss track.

4. ELISHA ABBO WON SOMETHING? UNIVERSE, TF?!

Another week, another opportunity to refer to Elisha Abbo as “Inmate 120005” missed. The Adamawa State senator who in May 2019, assaulted a woman in Abuja, is once again in the news, not because he was dragged kicking and screaming to jail like I would have liked — but because he was declared the authentic winner of the Adamawa senatorial elections by the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal on August 29th

His victory was challenged by Binta Garba of the APC who occupied the position between 2015 and 2019. She plans to contest the tribunal’s decision at the Court of Appeal. We wait.

DID YOU MISS THIS?

1.“I’m a bad b, you can’t remove me.” — The removed national chairman of Action Alliance.

2.Some family affair: Okorocha, his wife and daughter to forfeit assets to EFCC

3.Great, just what we need, another political party. Yoruba group OPC might be looking to produce your next governor.

4.The government wants to probe that $9.6bn fine. Aaand,

5. Buhari still won’t speak on minister of defence, Bashir Magashi’s $550,000 theft.

NOT.THE.NEWS.

Spent my week listening to Mali music, check out Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate when you can. This one’s my fave.

Haven’t read this, but it looks like spicy political gist so I’m sold. Check out How Viktor Orban Hollowed Out Hungary’s Democracy.

Ministry is moving