Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 1st September 2022
1. Vice President Osinbajo Travels To The United States
The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo today, Tuesday 31st August departed Abuja for the United States of America.
This was made known in the early hours of Tuesday in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande.
He explained that the Vice President is leading a federal government delegation to the USA to further discuss Nigeria’s energy transition plan.
During the visit, Osinbajo will meet the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, the World Bank Group President and other top government and private sector leaders.
2. When Will You Publicly Name Boko Haram, Terrorist Financiers – Peter Obi Asks Buhari’s Gov’t
Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has questioned President Muhammadu Buhari’s government over the identity of persons financing terrorism in the country.
Truetells Nigeria recalls that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had last year unveiled the names of six Nigerian citizens allegedly financing Boko Haram and other criminal activities in the country.
UAE revealed Nigerians placed on its watch list as Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.
Speaking ahead of the 2023 general elections, Obi said the need to summon the terrorists’ financiers had become imperative to ensure there were no ‘sacred cows’ in the fight against terrorism, anti-corruption and economic sabotage across the country.
In a tweet via his verified Twitter page on Wednesday, the LP Presidential candidate said it became necessary for the federal government to rise to the occasion.
3. ASUU Gives FG New Condition To End Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Wednesday outlined new conditions to end its lingering industrial action.
The strike which was declared on the 14th of February lasted for six months.
The President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke while speaking on Channels TV called on the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the money it approved for revitalisation, how much the money is and when it would be released.
Osodeke called on the Federal Government to be transparent on its position on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
He advised the government to confirm if it has accepted the agreement ASUU had with their panel.
The ASUU President urged the Federal Government to come and tell the union if they have agreed and not address the press.
4. 2023: Shettima Can Handle Security As Vice President – Keyamo Replies Okowa
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment who also doubles as the spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu presidential campaign organization, Festus Keyamo has stated that the Nigerian constitution allows the Vice President of the country to be in charge of security.
Keyamo made the claim on Wednesday in response to an earlier submission by the Delta State Governor and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa.
Truetells Nigeria recalls Okowa had earlier on Wednesday slammed his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Kashim Shettima, over a statement about taking charge of security if the APC gets elected into power in 2023.
Shettima had famously while speaking last week at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Lagos said if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the 2023 election, he would focus on security while the party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu would focus on the economy.
The submission had drawn widespread reactions and adding his voice on Wednesday, Okowa said the move is absurd.
However, Keyamo has disagreed with Okowa, saying the constitution allows the President to delegate such roles to anyone qualified including the Vice President.
He added that such a person would be discharging the responsibilities assigned by the President and report back to the principal who has the responsibility of taking the final decision.
5. FG Promoting Insecurity By Blocking State Police – Akeredolu
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has condemned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for reportedly frustrating efforts of state governors to address security issues in their domain.
The governor argued that the Federal Government had refused to strengthen the security in individual states and abandoned them to their fate
In a statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary on Wednesday, the governor accused the federal government of empowering some private security outfits in the country, while ignoring federating units.
6. 2023: Nigerians Have Become More Intelligent Than Their Leaders – Bishop Kukah Warns
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah says Nigerians have become more mentally aware than those governing the country.
The outspoken cleric made the observation on Wednesday, adding that it is the reason there are agitations from some sections of the citizens.
He added that it won’t be a bad idea if those who don’t know seek knowledge.
Naija News reports Kukah made the observation in Abuja during the presentation of his new book, “Broken Truth,” as part of activities lined up for his 70th birthday.
7. Buhari Government Told Security Operatives Not To Attack Fulani Herdsmen – Ortom
Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is promoting insecurity in the nation.
The governor said that security operatives told him that the president directed them to leave killer herdsmen alone.
Ortom stated this during an interview with ICIR published on Monday.
The governor claimed that he received confidential information from top security personnel that the regime had ordered them not to move against the killer herdsmen.
8. 2023: Peter Obi Speaks On Alleged Deal With Atiku, PDP
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has distanced himself from reports of a deal to support the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar, flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 general elections.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that Keyamo took to his Twitter page to share a report alleging that Peter Obi had agreed to clear the path for the emergence of Atiku Abubakar.
He further made a mockery of the ‘Obident movement’, stating that the former Governor of Anambra State was taking them to nowhere.
Speaking on Wednesday via his Director General of Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, Obi denied the reports, saying they were utterly false.
Okupe further noted that the former Anambra state governor was ‘far ahead’ of all the other presidential candidates in the country, and as such cannot step down his aspiration for anyone.
He described the reports as cheap, self-serving and distracting propaganda, while urging Obi’s supporters to stay focused on the mission to ‘take back’ Nigeria.
9. Wike Accuses Buhari, Amaechi Of Interfering In 2019 Elections In Rivers
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has called out President Muhammadu Buhari and the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for allegedly interfering in the 2019 governorship election in the State.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Wike made the claim on Wednesday, during the flag-off ceremony of the construction of internal roads in Igwuruta, Ikwerre local government area of the state.
This is coming barely 24 hours after Buhari said he would not allow anyone to rig the election, while receiving members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by Chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, at the State House, Abuja.
Reacting to this, Wike claimed that the president used the security agencies through Rotimi Amaechi to interfere in the 2019 governorship election.
He stated that the people of the state stood against the action of the security agencies.
10. FG To Meet Vice Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors Over ASUU Strike
The Muhammadu Buhari-led government has scheduled a meeting with the Vice-Chancellors, Pro-chancellors, and management of Federal Universities over the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of Administration of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, made this known in a letter on Tuesday.
Maiyaki said the meeting, which will take place on September 6, 2023, at the NUC Secretariat in Abuja, is with the Honourable Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
He said the meeting is to brief the Governing Councils and the management of the universities on decisions and actions that have been taken by the federal government as regards the strike and to review the current situation.
