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Finally! Donald Trump, Kim Jong-un Make History as they meet

Published

6 years ago

June 12, 2018

Sahara Weekly

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Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made history Tuesday, June 12, becoming the first sitting US and North Korean leaders to meet and shake hands, as they seek to end a tense decades-old nuclear stand-off.

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The two men strode toward each other and shared the momentous handshake beneath the white-washed walls of an upscale hotel in neutral Singapore, before sitting down for a half-day of meetings with major ramifications for the world.

They shook hands for several seconds, Trump reaching out to touch the North Korean leader on his right shoulder.

As they sat down for their one-on-one meeting, the US leader predicted a “terrific relationship” with Kim.

The extraordinary summit was unthinkable only months ago.

Then, the two nuclear-armed foes appeared on the verge of conflict, as Kim conducted nuclear and missile tests and the two leaders slung personal insults.

Trump had cajoled the international community to exert “maximum pressure” to buckle Kim’s regime and threatened to unleash “fire and fury like the world has never seen” if Pyongyang did not disarm.

For his part, Kim called the US leader “mentally deranged” and a “dotard” as he fired off a series of provocative weapons tests.

That seemed a distant memory amid the palms of the ultra-exclusive Capella Hotel.

It is a potentially legacy-defining meeting for both men – comparable to president Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, or Ronald Reagan’s summit 1986 with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik.

And it is part of what Trump calls a “one-time” offer to resolve the stand-off through diplomacy.

“We will all know soon whether or not a real deal, unlike those of the past, can happen!” Trump tweeted shortly before departing for the summit.

Hugely symbolic talks

The pair – Kim in his 30s and consolidating his dictatorship, Trump in his 70s and struggling to bend Washington to his impetuous will – are unlikely protagonists, both instantly recognizable, so much larger-than-life as to be cartoonish.

But their work today is deadly serious.

They represent nations that are still technically at war, even if the mortars, carbines and gunships of the bloody 1950s conflict have long since fallen silent.

But that frozen Cold War-era conflict risks being thawed by North Korea’s increasingly potent weapons programs.

The totalitarian regime is on the cusp of marrying nuclear and missile technology that would put Los Angeles, New York and Washington within striking distance of a nuclear holocaust.

The United States says that is unacceptable and will be dealt with, one way or another.

For North Korea the talks are hugely significant.

Standing beside the US president in front of a phalanx of cameras is an enormous step toward ending decades of international isolation and legitimizes a regime which is among the world’s most ruthless.

‘Brighter future’

Still, it remains far from clear that Pyongyang is willing to give up its nukes -— weapons that may be the ultimate guarantee of regime survival.

On the eve of the meeting, aides for both men were still scrambling to narrow yawning differences over “denuclearization”, which means vastly different things to the two parties.

Trump will use what he says are legendary instincts to see whether Kim if bluffing, buying time or is serious.

In return, his administration may be willing to offer security guarantees, normalization of relations, sanctions relief and economic aid that would transform North Korea from the sick man of Asia.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on the eve of the summit that the United States is willing to offer the regime “unique” security guarantees.

“We will take actions to provide them sufficient certainty that they can be comfortable that denuclearization is not something that ends badly for them,” Pompeo said.

“Just the opposite. That it leads to a brighter and better future for the North Korean people.”

Kim and Trump will first meet one-on-one in a closed session, before a larger meeting with key advisers, US officials said.

But the summit itself is unlikely to be the end game, more likely it is the start of a longer process of negotiation.

Pompeo said he was “very optimistic we will have a successful outcome with the two leaders.”

“There are only two people that can make decisions of this magnitude. Those two people will sit in a room tomorrow.”

However, Washington’s top diplomat also warned the United States would not be “duped” and that nothing less than complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization was acceptable.

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JUST IN: EFCC Boss, Olukoyede Faces Contempt Charge, May Be Jailed Over Yahaya Bello’s Case

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Kogi AG Vs. AGF: Supreme Court cautions against continued harassment of Kogi officials

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A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.

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The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, Esq, where he prayed the court

for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

Delivering his order on the motion on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil said, “The applicant’s application before me is to the effect that the Respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this Court on the 9th of February, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive motion on Notice before this Court.

“That the said act was carried out by the Respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same acts of the Respondent amounts to acts of contempt.

“That the Respondent should be summoned to appear before this Court to answer to the contempt charge.

“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem”. To wit:

“An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why order of committal should not be made against the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“An order for service of Form 49-Notice to show why order of committal should not be made on the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at EFCC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 301/302, Research and Institution District, Abuja.

“This matter is adjourned to the 13th of May, 2024 for the Respondent’s Chairman to appear before this Court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him.”

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Impeach Ododo for aiding the criminal, Yahaya Bello – Prophet Ikuru explodes

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Sahara Weekly

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By Collins Nkwocha

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The Yahaya Bello,EFCC Saga has continued to trend as the former Kogi state governor has refused to surrender himself to the commission.

The prophetic hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos has blasted the current Kogi state governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo for aiding his predecessor,yaya Bello to to escape and evade arrest.He said “Ododo should be impeached for aiding a criminal and obstructing justice, he’s the brain behind the escape of Bello,the house of Assembly should impeach him so that it can serve as a lesson to other governors,how can you aid a criminal against the state,it is a very serious issue”.

He maintained that Yaya Bello was vicious and wicked as a governor,he denied a lot of pensioners of their money and a lot of them died in the process.He maintained that Bello doesn’t deserve any mercy because he was merciless.He withdrew $720k to be for his child’s school fees in advance and didn’t have conscience to give the pensioners their little money after spending years in service.

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You’re wicked,$720k for school fees in advance,”U dey take Kogi people play football” -prophet Ikuru

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Sahara Weekly

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By Collins Nkwocha

The prophetic Hall of fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos has reiterated that the former governor of Kogi state, Yaya Bello is a heartless, callous and wicked criminal that shouldn’t be allowed to go unpunished.

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This is coming after the latest revelation that Bello withdrew $720k from the state funds to pay for his child’s school fees in advance by the EFCC chairman.

The handsome prophet who was visibly annoyed with the revelation by the EFCC boss said ” yaya Bello don pocket Kogi people so Tay e dey take them play football, this is wickedness,you have embezzled to the level that you don’t even know what else to use to embezzle anymore that you had to withdrew $720k for your child’s school fees in advance,you should be ashamed of yourself”.

He praised the EFCC chairman for doing a good job and helping the nation to recover her looted resources.He praised the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for helping the nation in the fight against corruption.

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