International News
Tinubu Calls For Ceasefire In Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.”
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy explained that Tinubu gave the appeal while addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit.
It was convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States.
Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, President Tinubu affirmed the country’s support for a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can coexist in security and dignity.
He noted that this solution remained a viable part to lasting peace in the region.
”The conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering on countless lives.
”As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.
”It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long.
“No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives,” he said.
The Nigerian leader called on parties in the conflict in the Middle East to respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians, consistent with global legal and diplomatic frameworks.
”In a rules-based international order, States have the right of self-defence. But self defence must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic – and moral – frameworks.
”An entire civilian population, their dreams and futures, cannot be dismissed as collateral,” he said.
Explaining Nigeria’s principled and consistent stance on the two-state solution, President Tinubu noted that it stands as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace.
”It is not just a diplomatic article of faith; it is a vision grounded in the principles of equality and mutual recognition.
”Achieving this vision requires a commitment to dialogue and respect for history. We all know this conflict did not begin on October 7 in 2023. It can only be resolved through principled compromise, based on appreciation of the proper context.
”This conflict, in the cradle of history, is so visceral that the ripples of division spread far and quickly. The corrosive impact of the images of endless violence, repeated on a billion smart phones around the world is huge. We need to find new pathways to peace, without delay,” he said.
The Nigerian leader commended King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, describing it as a vital opportunity to renew diplomatic efforts and work toward a sustainable peace.
He assured that Nigeria, given its own experiences, would continue to support international efforts that advance peace and stability in the Middle East.
”Our own experiences, domestically and regionally, have taught us that identity politics are no substitute for respecting the nuances of diversity,” he said.
According to President Tinubu ”the path to reconciliation may be fraught with challenges, but it is through honest conversation that we can foster understanding.
”The international community has the opportunity to bring to bear new thinking on this most relentless challenge.
”It is our duty to engage in this dialogue with sincerity and resolve, recognising the complexities that each side faces.”
President Tinubu called for the establishment of a secretariat to implement the resolutions of the Summit.
He urged the leaders to mandate a select group of Heads of Government to canvass support globally and oversee the implementation of the Summit resolutions. These heads would provide regular reports to a joint OIC and Arab League leadership until permanent peace is achieved in the Middle East.
In his opening remarks, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, including the targeting of civilians and the continued violation of the Al-Aqsa mosque.
He also condemned the Israeli ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from delivering relief aid to Palestinians and the displacement of Lebanese people.
He emphasised the importance of preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders, mentioning international recognition and the establishment of a Global Coalition with the European Union and Norway.
He urged more states to join the Global Coalition.
By C. Nwanchukwu
Not many people are aware that Donald Trump’s last daughter, Tiffany, is living in Nigeria with her Lebanese-Nigerian husband, Michael Boulous.
The couple stays at Banana Island, Lagos, when they are in Nigeria, though they spend more time in the US than Nigeria.
And this is why:
Michael’s grandfather arrived in Nigeria from Lebanon with nothing but his dreams in the beginning of this century, and he struck gold here.
The man founded what is today known as SCOA Nigeria, the sole importer and distributor of Suzuki in Nigeria.
But beyond SCOA Nigeria, the man founded a family business known as Boulous Group, a conglomerate based in Lagos, Nigeria, with an interest in technology, fast consumer moving goods (FCMG), technology, and construction.
The family owns the biggest tissue paper factory in the country, Boulous Paper Mill, and they manufacture some of the popular tissue paper products we use, like Rose Plus and Boulos Rose Belle Facial.
The patriarch of the Bolous family who founded the business is dead, and so his son, Dr. Massoud Boulos, is the one running the family business at the moment.
Dr. Massoud Boulos first son, Michael, is an in-law of Donald Trump and is currently married to his last daughter, Tiffany.
Michael Boulos grew up in Lagos, where he went to school, and only left the country for his university education.
He has so many young Nigerians as friends, and one of them is our president’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Before Michael’s grandfather died, he was conferred with a Nigerian citizenship, so his descendants, which include Michael Boulois, are Lebanese-Nigerian.
Michael is being groomed to take over his family business in Nigeria, and so the couple Michael and Tiffany spend their time in Nigeria, where Michael monitors what goes on in the multibillionaire conglomerate founded by his grandfather.
As I said, they spend more time in the US than Lagos, though they live here, albeit temporarily.
The couple also worship at House of the Rock Lagos, where the leading pastor, Pastor Adefarasin, is a family friend of the Boulous family, and he was at Michael/Tiffany Wedding at Trump Mar-a-Lago Estate in Florida many years ago.
When CNN of this world and their liberal lunatics frame Donald Trump as a racist, I shake my head because I’m not sure that a racist would allow his child to marry an Arab/Nigerian.
But that is in the past in any way since Donald Trump is the President-elect.
Every other thing is inconsequential.
I just thought about this: the next time Tiffany and the husband visit Nigeria, as they have been doing in the past.
They must be escorted by the US’s secret service because of who her father is.
Copied from C. Iwuchukwu
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.
This is contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale
The statement read, “By this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.
“As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.
“In recognition of President Tinubu’s economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.
“Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks.
“In conclusion, the President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries.”