GoodBuys @ Walmart

Latest Updates

BREAKING NEWS: President Trump formally asks Congress to take back the $1.1 billion it has set aside for all public broadcasters for the next two years.

00:30
Trump asks Congress to wipe out funding for public broadcasting
Updated June 3, 20255:53 PM ET  - npr
By David Folkenflik,  Deirdre Walsh
People participate in a rally to call on Congress to protect funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR outside the NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Image
-------------

President Trump took yet another step Tuesday to place NPR and PBS at the center of his broader clash with major cultural institutions, formally asking Congress to take back the $1.1 billion it has set aside for all public broadcasters for the next two years.
A simple majority of lawmakers in each chamber must approve what's technically known as a "rescission request" within 45 days for it to become law. With their slim leads in both the House and Senate, Republicans can afford just a few defections.

A House subcommittee hearing earlier this spring set the stage for Trump's request. His Republican allies accused NPR and PBS of partisan bias. Lawmakers used the hearing as a springboard to argue for elimination of the federal funding that is funneled through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to local stations and the public media networks.

PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger testified at that hearing. On Tuesday, she warned that Trump's proposal would devastate public broadcasting stations, particularly in rural communities.
"Without PBS member stations, Americans will lose unique local programming and emergency services in times of crisis," she said in a statement. "There's nothing more American than PBS and we are proud to highlight real issues, individuals, and places that would otherwise be overlooked by commercial media."

Katherine Maher, the CEO and president of NPR, echoed those sentiments and said that local public radio stations could face "immediate budget shortfalls," leading to layoffs and show cancellations. She also questioned the legality of the request.

"The proposal, which is explicitly viewpoint-based and aimed at controlling and punishing content, violates the Public Broadcasting Act, the First Amendment, and the Due Process Clause," Maher said in a statement.

Taking a cue from DOGE on foreign aid
The cuts to public broadcasting are part of a larger package from the White House of $9.4 billion in proposed clawbacks, which include funding for foreign aid. House Speaker Mike Johnson noted that many of the cuts were identified by the task force on government efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk.
"We thank Elon Musk and his DOGE team for identifying a wide range of wasteful, duplicative, and outdated programs, and House Republicans are eager to eliminate them," Johnson said in a statement, vowing to act quickly on the request.

Read more
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/03/nx-s1-5418080/pbs-npr-trump-rescission-public-broadcasting?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=threads.net&utm_term=nprnews

Atiku Breaks Silence

01:49

I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party.


Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights. Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.

As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.

Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari. Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.

During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.

When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!

Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering. The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.

This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.

The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division, because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board. -AA

#AfricanDrumOnline #NigeriaNews #AfricaNews #Politics #AtikuAbubakar


SENATOR NATASHA'S SATIRICAL APOLOGY TO AKPABIO

23:11

Natasha ‘apologises’ to Akpabio, says she mistakenly believed her seat was earned through election not erection

27 April 2025 By Faith Udechukwu, Platinum Post News

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, has addressed Senate President Godswill Akpabio with a satirical apology following weeks of tension between the two lawmakers.

The outspoken senator, who previously accused Akpabio of sexual harassment after a disagreement over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber, shared the letter on her verified Facebook page on Sunday.

She wrote : “From the Desk of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan
“Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,

“It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence. I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognize that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.

“How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… “requests” was not merely a personal choice, but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.

“I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared, and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of “quid pro quo,” I bow my head in fictional shame.

“Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.

“I remain,
Yours in eternal resistance,
Senator Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan
Unafraid, Unbought, andv Unbroken.”

https://platinumpost.news/2025/04/27/natasha-apologises-to-akpabio-says-she-mistakenly-believed-her-seat-was-earned-through-election-not-erection/

#AfricanDrumOnline #NigeriaNews #AfricaNews #Politics #PoliticalDrama

Traoré’s legacy in Burkina Faso

09:00
Published on 24 April 2025 in ISS Today By
Enoch Randy Aikins
Researcher, African Futures and Innovation, ISS
In Burkina Faso, Traoré’s legacy could extend beyond popularity and promises
The challenge will be translating the country’s rich mineral resources and promising economy into stability and development.
At 36, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré is the world’s youngest president – in stark contrast to Africa’s average leader age of 63. He took office in September 2022 after overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who had ousted former president Roch Kaboré earlier that year.

The foundations of the country’s coup administration have been rocky. Last week the military government survived another apparent coup attempt; one among several since Traoré came to power. 

In his inaugural statement, Traoré said Burkina Faso faced an emergency, citing crises in security, defence, healthcare, social action and infrastructure. He pledged to combat terrorism and adhere to the transition timetable agreed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which aimed to restore democratic rule by 1 July 2024.

Under Burkina Faso’s new transition plan, Traoré may remain in his position until at least 2029

However, Burkina Faso has since withdrawn from ECOWAS, forming instead the Alliance of Sahel States with Mali and Niger – countries also run by post-coup administrations. Under Burkina Faso’s new transition plan, Traoré may remain in his position until at least 2029.

His popularity has soared since his ascension to power. At President John Mahama’s inauguration in Ghana on 7 January, Traoré received the loudest applause of all 21 African heads of state. This showed not only his popularity but the trend of tolerance for military rule in Africa, especially among the youth.

Afrobarometer reports that almost two-thirds of Burkinabé believe the army should intervene when leaders abuse their power. Likewise, 66% accept military rule, up from 24% in 2012. The fact that the survey was conducted at a time when the country was under military rule portrays a general acceptance of the regime. 

However, Traoré’s popularity goes beyond acceptance of military rule. He has embarked on radical reforms that resonate with many Burkinabé. These include reversing his predecessor’s salary increase for government officials while he remains on his military captain earnings. 

As part of efforts to take ownership of mineral resources, Traoré has nationalised two gold mines and stopped exporting unrefined gold to Europe – instead inaugurating a national gold refinery expected to process 150 tonnes annually.

Other significant achievements include establishing the National Support Center for Artisanal Cotton Processing, building a new airport, and considerable agricultural investment.

While these are noble attempts to industrialise Burkina Faso, the country must not fall into the usual traps of inefficiencies, corruption and mismanagement that characterise most African state-owned enterprises. 

Further, Traoré has rejected financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, insisting the country can develop without the West’s loans and conditionalities. For some, this is a demonstration of Africans handling their own affairs. For the youth, Traoré’s regime is a chance to show what young people can achieve. But for most ordinary Burkinabé, the priority is simply improving their daily living conditions. 

At a time of increasing global uncertainty and a decline in international aid, Africa must strive for self-reliance and control of its resources. Like many African countries, Burkina Faso is blessed with natural resources that, if properly managed, could transform citizens’ lives.

At a time of increasing global uncertainty, Africa must strive for self-reliance and control of its resources


The country has mineral resources and produces substantial quantities of gold, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphate and limestone. It also has reserves of diamonds, bauxite, nickel and vanadium, most of which remain largely unexploited.

The country has made gains. Gross domestic product (GDP) (in market exchange rate) increased from US$3.2 billion in 1990 to US$18.3 billion in 2023, and extreme poverty declined from 83% to 27.7% in the same period. But significant challenges remain.

According to the 2023/2024 Human Development Report, Burkina Faso is classified as having low human development and is ranked 185th out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index. It placed 149th out of 167 countries on the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Index, and on the Multidimensional Poverty Index, 64.5% of the population is multidimensionally poor.

However, the economy holds significant promise. Recent research by the Institute for Security Studies’ African Futures and Innovation team shows that Burkina Faso’s economy could grow at an average rate of 8% from 2025 to 2043.

The study identified governance reforms as critical to unlocking the country’s development potential. Indeed, good governance could raise GDP per capita by an extra US$240 above a business-as-usual forecast, lifting 500 000 additional Burkinabé out of extreme poverty.

For this, Traoré must lead the country in overcoming political instability, violent extremism and weak institutions. Institutional and structural reforms are needed to enhance security, accountability, public sector efficiency and governance inclusion.

The immediate priority is addressing terrorism, which resulted in the loss of about 40% of the country’s territory, undermining the state’s authority and ability to deliver public services, as thousands of schools and health facilities are closed in those areas. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that over two million people are internally displaced, and those needing humanitarian assistance increased by 35% between 2022 and 2023.

Next should be building strong institutions and strengthening existing ones to improve public sector efficiency and combat corruption. Local governments must be empowered with the resources and capacity to implement development programmes tailored to communities’ needs.

With a young, strong, charismatic leader, Burkina Faso could get its governance right and achieve its developmental aspirations

In the medium term, the country must transition into constitutional rule to ensure the political stability and legitimacy needed to drive economic growth. This would also enhance investor confidence, allowing Burkina Faso to attract the foreign direct investment needed for its development. The African Union, civil society organisations and development partners should support the 60-month transition plan to ensure a smooth transition to democracy. 

This is not the first time such a charismatic figure has emerged on Africa’s political scene. Many revolutionary leaders started the same way but later deviated from the course as they clung to power. In Ghana, 32-year-old Jerry Rawlings, nicknamed ‘Junior Jesus’, emerged in late 1979 in a bloody revolution to fight corruption and sanitise the country’s political system. But after 19 years in power, his legacy was mixed. 

With a young, strong, charismatic leader, Burkina Faso has a chance to get its governance right and achieve its developmental aspirations. This could be a lasting legacy for Traoré’s regime. 

This article was first published in Africa Tomorrow, the blog of the ISS’ African Futures and Innovation programme.


Exclusive rights to re-publish ISS Today articles have been given to Daily Maverick in South Africa and Premium Times in Nigeria. For media based outside South Africa and Nigeria that want to re-publish articles, or for queries about our re-publishing policy, email us.  media@issafrica.org


Terrorists Attacking Benue Communities Are Not Nigerians - Gov Alia

23:51
Terrorists Attacking Benue Communities Are Not Nigerians, Claim To Be Malians, Speak Strange Fulani, Says Governor Alia

- By Bukola Kayode, Frontline News

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has raised an alarm, that the bandits attacking Benue are not Nigerians.

According to the Governor the violent criminals claim to be from Mali, and are usually armed with AK-47 rifles.

Alia stressed during an interview on Channels TV, that these assailants don’t speak local languages.

He said: “Let’s have the narrative very correct. We know Nigerians — by our ethnicities, we can identify a Fulani man, a Yoruba man, a Hausa man — we know them. Even the regular traditional herders, we know them. They work with cows, herding with sticks.

“But these folks (the attackers) are coming in fully armed with AK-47s and 49s. They do not bear the Nigerian look. They don’t speak like we do. Even the Hausa they speak is one sort of Hausa.”

“It’s not the normal Hausa we Nigerians speak. So it is with the Fulani they speak. There is a trend in the language they speak, and some of our people who understand what they speak give it names. They say they are Malians and different from our people. But they are not Nigerians — believe it,” he added.

“This is the second phase we are seeing. The initial ones were with the traditional herders. The traditional herders — we had fewer troubles with them. What we are experiencing has a new, different, strange face, and it’s now alarming,” the governor said.

“These terrorists are everywhere. We are under a siege. These people just come and hit and kill and run back. Where are they running to?”

“The way these killings are being planned and carried out is definitely coordinated,” he noted. “Some local government areas in Benue share borders with Cameroon, and those borders are quite porous.”

The governor also said intelligence reports indicate the existence of terrorist hideouts in parts of Taraba and Nasarawa states, as well as in regions bordering Cameroon.

“The terrorists have their havens in Taraba, Nasarawa, and in border regions of Cameroon,” Alia stated.

Gov. Mutfwang Celebrates General Martin Agwai On His 76th Birthday

11:25



General Agwai (rtd)

Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has extended his warmest congratulations to the former Chief of Army Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai on the joyous occasion of his 76th birthday.

In a congratulatory message, Governor Mutfwang described General Agwai as a role model and mentor to countless personnel in the Nigerian Army, whom he groomed to step into his shoes before his retirement. 

He said the commitment and dedication of Geneneral Agwai in the pursuit for peace and unity in the country is a tastement to his selfless service to the nation and humanity.

Governor Mutfwang praised the remarkable contributions of the retired Nigerian Army General, whose stewardship during his reign as the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff shaped the nation's security  architecture and the stability of the country.

___________________________________________________

Download eBook: "THE STOLEN SON" by bjon Agera

________________________________________________________________


He described General Martin Luther Agwai as a beacon of hope and an exceptional leader who has consistently sought for solutions to the many challenges facing the nation.

Reflecting  on the moral upbringing of General Agwai, Governor Mutfwang  expressed delight that the General grew up in a Christian home and became the President of the Christian Students Fellowship at Government Secondary School, Zaria in 1967. 

He praised his moral integrity and tireless efforts in promoting peace and unity in Plateau State, and the nation at large.

On behalf of his family, the government, and the peace-loving people of Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang extended his heartfelt congratulations to General Martin Luther Agwai on his birthday celebration, praying for God's blessings of immeasurable joy, good health for him to continue to offer wise counsel.

Gyang Bere 

Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State 

November 8, 2024

____________________________________________________________

BUY CHEAP, USED CARS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION!

2021 Toyota Alphard G

S CPKG/Navi/JBL/R/Aero

22,000 km Automatic-Gasoline/Petrol2,500cc

STOCK

Car Price (FOB) US$35,941

Estimated Total Price US$39,488

The price is not fixed. Let's try to negotiate!

Selected : C&F Nearest port :LAGOS

YOU CAN CHANGE THE DESTINATION

ASK FOR THE BEST PRICE!

ForeMediaAd

 
Copyright © African Drum Online. Designed by OddThemes