Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 4th August 2022
The government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that it purchased ten vehicles for Niger Republic.
The federal government gave the confirmation on Wednesday through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.
Speaking to newsmen after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, Ahmed confirmed the purchase of ten vehicles valued at N1,145,000,000 for the Niger Republic.
This confirmation follows the outrage that greeted the leaked document about the purchase which was shared by popular Investigative Journalist, David Hundeyin, on his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday night.
Defending the action of the federal government, Ahmed explained that Nigeria has a culture of assisting needy neighbours in the spirit of brotherhood.
She added that it would also help in dealing with insecurity.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million on Trust Television Network (Trust TV).
Naija News reports that the NBC fined the television station over the broadcast of the documentary titled “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story”, which was aired by the station on the 5th of March, 2022.
In a statement to newsmen on Wednesday, Trust TV management stated that it was still studying the Commission’s action and weighing up their options.
The media organisation disclosed that the fine was communicated to the firm in a letter signed by the NBC Director General, Balarabe Shehu Illela.
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has submitted that it will be unfair to blame Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the failures of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
He argued that in the same way, it will not be correct to praise Tinubu for any achievement recorded by the Buhari administration.
Naija News reports Oshiomhole made the submission on Wednesday during his interview appearance on Arise TV.
In his view, Tinubu was never a part of governance in the Buhari government, he didn’t play any part in policy implementation nor did he handle any contract or project, hence to blame him or praise him for the performance of the current administration would be an unfair judgment.
The former Edo State Governor added that, unlike Tinubu, a key figure in the Buhari administration like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo can be asked to account for policies and government actions handled by him in office.
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday met at the party’s headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting was scheduled to address the lingering rift between the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
Wike has been silent over the move of the PDP to take over power in 2023, following Atiku’s decision to pick the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
The BoT meeting of the main opposition party is being held under the chairmanship of the party’s advisory organ, Walid Jibrin.
Jibrin had earlier announced that the meeting of the PDP would be centred around constituting members of a reconciliation committee that will meet with Wike.
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has described those against the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket as detractors.
Recall that a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, had kicked against the decision of the ruling party to field the same faith ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
They also vowed to mobilise northern Christian electorates to vote against the candidate of the ruling party in the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu, over his decision to choose the former governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima, who is also a Muslim, as his running mate.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, Oshiomhole accused those against the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket of attempting to incite religious violence.
The former Edo governor advised Nigerians to be wary of the politicians who have rejected the decision of the ruling party to field the same faith presidential ticket.
Oshiomhole described them as “Christians by mouth and devils by heart” who want to see Nigeria engulfed in a war that nobody can win.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Farouk Yabo (Sokoto State), Lydia Jafiya (Adamawa State), and Udom Ekenam (Akwa Ibom) respectively as new Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Civil Service.
The number one citizen of Nigeria administered the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office to three senior officials on Wednesday (today) shortly before the commencement of the week’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Naija News understands.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo attended the meeting virtually today. Some members of the Council were also absent physically but joined virtually from their various locations.
Former presidential aspirant, Professor Kingsley Moghalu has stated that many Nigerians may be shocked by Peter Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential polls.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, Moghalu submitted that the growing acceptability of Peter Obi is more about his personality than the Labour Party (LP) which he represents.
He argued further that religious sentiment attached to the 2023 presidential election may also work in favour of Obi at the polls as many voters may vote along ethno-religious lines.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made this view known on Wednesday when he gave his opinion about the likely performances of four major contenders for the 2023 presidency.
He pointed out that as things stand, nobody is sure about who may eventually emerge as the winner of the 2023 presidential contest.
But he pointed at Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the four major contenders.
The leadership of the Senate on Wednesday met with Heads of Security Agencies over the growing insecurity rocking the nation.
Naija News reports that the meeting, which started a few minutes past 2.00 pm, is being held at the Senate Wing National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, was yet to join the meeting although he came in about 15 minutes before 2 pm amid tight security.
According to The PUNCH, the meeting had to be delayed for his arrival.
Some of the Senators present are the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, George Sekibo; and the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abdullahi DanBaba.
Recall that Senators, across party lines, had issued a six weeks ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve insecurity or face impeachment.
A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has vowed to confront supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, should they abuse him.
Naija News reports that Oshiomhole made this known while speaking in an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday.
When told that supporters of Obi will come after him if he criticises their candidate, Oshiomhole swiftly replied, “I will come after them.”
The former Governor also warned the supporters of the LP presidential candidate not to attack him over his political ideology.
The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that time will tell if Obi supporters were really obedient in the political process of Nigeria.
Oshiomhole said that some of the presidential candidates who had spoken about national issues have not sufficiently addressed how they are going to tackle the issues confronting the nation.
The former Governor however singled out Obi over his recent interview on Channels Television, saying that he got away with several intriguing questions put across to him.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, on Wednesday morning met with all Commissioners of Police and other senior officers in the country.
Naija News gathered that the meeting, which was conveyed as a result of the rising insecurity in the country, would map out strategies to combat criminals.
Also, the documentation and streamlining of the operations of commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders across the country will be discussed.
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