Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 24th November 2022
1. Why I Approved Redesign Of ₦200, ₦500, ₦1000 Naira Notes – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday launched the new Naira banknotes, expressing delight that the redesigned currencies are locally produced by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) PLC.
Speaking at the launch of the new banknotes, which preceded the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President explained in detail the basis for his approval to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the ₦200, ₦500 and ₦1000 banknotes.
According to the President, ‘‘the new Naira banknotes have been fortified with security features that make them difficult to counterfeit.’’
He also added that the new banknotes would help the Central Bank design and implement better monetary policy objectives as well as enrich the collective memory of Nigeria’s heritage.
President Buhari commended the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and his Deputies for the initiative, while also thanking the Managing Director, Executive Directors and Staff of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC “for working tirelessly with the apex bank to make the currency redesign a reality, and for printing the new Naira notes within a comparatively short time.”
Acknowledging that international best practice requires central banks and national authorities to issue new or redesigned currency notes every 5 to 8 years, the President noted that it is now almost 20 years since the last major redesign of the country’s local currency was done.
2. President Buhari Heads To Niger Republic For AU Summit And Book Launch
President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to Niamey the capital of Niger Republic on Thursday for the African Union (AU) Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification as well as the Extraordinary Session on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Truetells Nigeria learnt that the president would also be attending the launching of the French version of the Book titled ‘‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’’, as well as inaugurating the ‘Muhammadu Buhari Boulevard’, named after him by the Government of the Republic of Niger.
President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement on Wednesday said the naming of the Boulevard and launch of the French version of the book, written by John Paden, a Professor of International Studies at George Mason University, Northern Virginia, United States, on Thursday, will precede the AU Summit on Friday, November 25, 2022.
Shehu noted that the president is expected to deliver his National Statement at the African Union Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification, meeting under the theme “Industrialising Africa: Renewed commitment towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Economic Diversification.”
3. If Nigeria Does Not Work, Let It Break Up – Sowore
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has declared that the continued existence of Nigeria as a single, united nation should not be forced.
According to him, a referendum should be conducted for the people to decide if they want to leave or stay.
The politician/news publisher added that the current 1999 constitution Nigeria is using needs to be changed as it was not ratified by the citizens of the country before it became binding on them.
He said in an interview with The ICIR: “Nigeria has reached a point where it is either we work on a perfect union, or we abandon the union altogether and one of the ways to work on the perfect union is to sit down and frame another Constitution. Get it ratified, get a referendum for everybody to say yes or no to it and you’re good to go.
Speaking further, Sowore said if he emerges as the President of Nigeria in 2023, he would allow a referendum on Nigeria’s break up.
Asked if he is not worried about being the President that will supervise the disintegration of the country, Sowore said he is not but added that he is not in the race to ensure the country breaks up but for it to have a perfect union.
He said even those who are not physically demanding a secession have mentally seceded from Nigeria.
According to him, the only way to reverse the growing trend is to address fundamental injustices in the system so the people can feel safe and happy in their own land.
4. Wike’s Lack Of Support Does Not Stop Atiku From Winning The Election – Bwala
The spokesman of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Daniel Bwala has said that the lack of support from the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike will have little effect on the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.
Bwala stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily.
He insisted that despite the current crisis, the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar would still win the presidency.
Expressing confidence in the new Electoral Amendment Act, Bwala said the February presidential election may not be different from the Osun election where some members of the party allegedly worked against PDP.
He opined that their victory is destined by God, hence no one could stop it.
5. Buhari Nominates Lauretta Onochie As NDDC Board Chairman
The new media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie on Wednesday was appointed as the substantive chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
President Buhari in a letter forwarded to the 9th senate led by Ahmad Lawan also announced the nomination of 15 others as NDDC board members.
The President in the letter which was read in the upper chamber at plenary on Wednesday requested the Senate to confirm the nominees.
Recall that President Buhari in October 2020, nominated Onochie as the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to represent Delta State.
The nomination was, however, condemned by members of the opposition party and civil society groups.
They had claimed that she is a card-carrying of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who can not serve in a sensitive institution like INEC.
Onochie on three different occasions during her screening denied that she is a member of the APC.
6. Wanted Bandits Leader, Bello Turji ‘Detains’ Zamfara Community Members For Paying Incomplete Protection Fee
Notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji has ordered the detention of some villagers in Zamfara State over the failure of their community to pay the full protection levy slammed on them within the required time frame.
Truetells Nigeria gathered Turji had ordered the Moriki community in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State to pay the sum of N20 million as protection fee.
He gave them two weeks to deliver the total money in exchange for free access to the farm and other daily activities by the community members without fear of attack.
To raise the amount, it was gathered that the community members decided to task themselves N6,500 per head but at the end of the day, they could only raise N10.6 million because some households declined.
Notwithstanding, the community mobilized seven members to deliver the amount they had raised at an agreed spot in Kasayawa.
It was gathered that seventeen loyalists of Turji came to the agreed meeting point to collect the money but when they discovered the amount was incomplete and the terrorist leader was notified, he ordered his boys to detain five out of the seven people that came to deliver the money at one of his camps in Jirari forest.
Truetells Nigeria recalls on Monday, 14th November, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) unveiled the identities of nineteen (19) most wanted terrorist leaders it is tracking at the moment, including Turji.
The list released by the Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor said the identified terrorists have been causing havoc in the North East, North West, and North Central zone of the country.
7. 2023: Babachir Lawal Dumps Tinubu, Reveals Preferred Presidential Candidate
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has backed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
In an interview with the BBC on Wednesday, Lawal disclosed that he is no longer supporting the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the Presidency in 2023.
The former SGF claimed that the opposition PDP had a discussion with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Christian leaders and the opposition party agreed to their demands.
He added that the Labour Party also tried to convince him and other aggrieved members to work for the party, but decided to support Atiku and the PDP.
The APC chieftain asserted that Tinubu will not win the forthcoming presidential election as a result of the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the ruling party.
Lawal said he and others backed Tinubu to emerge as the APC flagbearer, but they later realized he had been hiding his decision to pick a Muslim running mate from them.
8. Appeal Court Upholds Judgment Sacking All PDP Candidates In Zamfara
The plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest in the 2023 general elections in Zamfara State on Wednesday suffered a setback.
This is coming after an Appeal court sitting in Sokoto State delivered judgement in an appeal filed by the Zamfara State chapter of PDP and its Governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal Dare.
The Commissioner of Information in the state, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara revealed the development in a statement made available to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital.
According to the statement, the appeal was against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Gusau delivered on 16/9/2022, which nullified the governorship primary election of the party for non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2022 and PDP guidelines for the conduct of the primary election.
9. ‘Old Tales By Moonlight’ – Keyamo Tackles Atiku Over Comments On APC
The spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his comment during a meeting with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Speaking during an interactive session with CAN leaders on Tuesday in Abuja, Atiku accused Nigerians of being responsible for their own woes for voting the ruling APC to power in 2015.
He claimed that the APC does not keep promises made to Nigerians eight years ago, insisting that the party has failed to tackle insecurity, restructure the country, and fight corruption.
But reacting to Atiku’s attack in a chat with The Punch, Keyamo said it was obvious the PDP flagbearer was running out of fresh ideas on how best to tackle the APC.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment said Atiku failed to propose restructuring when he was in government for eight years and does not have the right to accuse the ruling party.
Keyamo, therefore, asked the former Vice President to show one document by which he proposed restructuring, including true federalism and state police.
10. Abacha’s Ex-CSO Al-Mustapha Reveals Those Behind Prolong Boko Haram Insurgency
The presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA) and former Chief Security Officer to late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj Hamzat Al-Mustapha, has accused foreign nations of been behind plots to prolong the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at a roundtable about the 2023 general election, Al-Mustapha said while insurgency started in November 1, 1999, it was conceived in 1972 after oil and gas was discovered in commercial quantity in the country.
He stated that crisis in African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Libya, among others were caused by Western nations.
According to the aide of a former dictator, western nations are behind chaos in these countries because they have a high deposit of mineral resources.
He said that the federal government discovered oil and uranium in large quantities in 1996 in the North-east and North-west, which is now being mined illegally as insurgency rages on.
