Welcome to Truetells Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 19th July 2021
1. Buhari Reacts To Bishop Kukah’s Comments At US Congress
President Muhammadu Buhari has berated the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, over his comments during a meeting with members of the US Parliament.
Truetells Nigeria had reported that Kukah had told the US Congress that the Buhari administration is doing nothing to quell attacks on Christians which is on the increase.
According to the Catholic, extremists, bandits, Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram were targeting many schools in the North especially, Christian ones and are “indoctrinating the children. They end up converting these children to wives, cooks, spies, sexual slaves and so on.”
But reacting on behalf of Buhari, the president’s Media and Publicity Assistant, Garba Shehu accused Kukah of carrying out the work of opposition political parties.
While insisting that there is no bias against Christians in the present administration, the presidency stated that appointments are not given based on tribe or religion.
2. Why Senators Voted Against Electronic Transmission Of Results – Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan has rejected claims that only Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) voted against the electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria.
He made the clarification while explaining why the Senators didn’t fully approve the recommendation on electronic transmission of results.
The explanation was contained in a statement on Sunday by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi titled ‘Why we voted for e-transmission of results with conditions – Senate President …Says not only APC but some PDP Senators too voted for it’,
Truetells Nigeria recalls the lawmakers on Thursday while considering the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill had stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “may consider electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.”
The position of the legislators has raised a lot of arguments but the Senate President on Sunday explained that the decision was taken in the best interest of Nigerians.
He noted that they were not against electronic transmission but belive the timing was not right to deploy it because the structures on the ground may not fully support the process and may disenfranchise a lot of Nigerians.
3. You Are My Boy, I Won’t Pray Against You – Primate Ayodele Replies Femi Adesina
The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has declared that he won’t join issues with presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina over his position on the recent prophecy about Nigeria’s break up.
Describing Adesina as his boy who is only trying to defend his paymasters, Primate Ayodele told the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity to do more investigations before labelling his prophecies as fake.
Truetells Nigeria recalls the clergyman in a recent prophecy among other things, predicted that Nigeria will break up between 2035 and 2040.
But in a sharp and quick reply, Mr. Adesina in an article titled ‘some prophets see nothing’ told the clergy that Nigeria won’t break up, adding that in the past, he had released many fake prophecies that didn’t come to pass.
However, the prophet during a live service today said he can’t join issues with Adesina, telling him to wait for the time announced before categorizing his prophecy as fake.
4. NAF Breaks Silence On ‘Fresh’ Military Plane Crash In Kaduna
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has stated that it has no information on the reported crash of another military plane in Kaduna State on Sunday.
NAF made the disclosure in a reaction to earlier reports of another military plane crash said to have involved one of its fighter jets on Sunday while on a clearance operation against bandits.
It will be recalled that according to earlier reports, a military aircraft crashed somewhere in Kaduna State.
But reacting to the development, NAF’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the headquarters had not received any report of a crash involving its aircraft, adding that no alpha jet left Yola for Kaduna.
He however added that he is making contacts and awaiting information from other locations.
5. OPEC Increases Nigeria’s Oil Output To 1.829 Mb/d
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC Ministers have increased Nigeria’s oil output to 1.829 million barrels per day (mb/d).
The decision was taken at the just-concluded 19th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, ONOMM, held via videoconference on Sunday.
According to Vanguard, the new quota, which showed an increase of 30.6 per cent, when compared to the 1.4 mb/d, excluding condensate, currently being produced by Nigeria, will take effect from 2022.
6. 2023: Buhari Didn’t Sign Any Agreement With Tinubu – Okechukwu
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, said reacted to a purported agreement signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Former pioneer National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Senator Rufai Hanga, had said that there was an agreement that President Buhari would hand over power to Tinubu in 2023.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Hanga claimed that the implied agreement signed in 2014, was the reason why Tinubu remained in APC after Buhari’s first term.
Reacting, Okechukwu stated that President Buhari hardly entered into any written agreement with people, expressing doubt over the claim made by Hanga.
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) added that there was no formal agreement between Buhari and Tinubu to hand over power to the latter after his tenure.
7. Eid-El-Kabir: IGP Orders Police Operatives To Secure Nigeria
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has assured Nigerians of their safety across the country, particularly during the eid celebrations.
This is as he gave fresh orders to Commissioners of Police (CPs) in all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to prevent criminal activities.
The IGP in a statement on Sunday signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba noted that all measures must be put in place to ensure all citizens and residents of Nigeria are safe before, during, and after the eid celebrations.
The Police boss also warned operatives that will be deployed to be civil and professional in the discharge of their duties.
8. COVID-19 Third Wave: FCT, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Two Others Placed On Red Alert
The Federal Government has placed six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert amid fear of COVID-19 third wave and the confirmation of the Delta variant in the country.
Truetells Nigeria reports that this was made known in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Saturday.
The statement was titled, ‘COVID-19 third wave: PSC puts six states and FCT on red alert, recommends preventive measures for safe Eid celebration.’
The other states put on red alert include Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau.
According to the statement, Mustapha warned that other states of the federation must increase their level of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
9. FG Speaks On Taking Loan From Obi Cubana
The federal government has debunked a report that it appealed to celebrity businessman, Obi Iyiegbu popularly known as Obi Cubana to obtain a loan from him.
The government in a reaction through the Ministry of Information and Culture denied any such development.
Truetells Nigeria reports that an online medium had published a story that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed approached the businessman on behalf of the government to obtain a loan from him because ‘Nigeria is collapsing.’
But the Ministry in a disclaimer on Sunday released via its official Facebook page labelled the report as fake news.
10. I Warned Nigerians About Buhari’s Evil Govt – Bishop Oyedepo
Founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has recalled how he warned Nigerians about President Muhammadu Buhari’s evil administration.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the cleric was speaking on Sunday during a sermon at the church’s headquarters, Canaanland, Ota in Ogun State.
Speaking on the power of prophecy, Bishop Oyedepo stated that some people were angry when he cautioned Nigerians about this present administration.
He said he warned Nigerians in 2015 prior to President Buhari’s victory, adding that those that were angry are now facing reality.
