Good morning Nigeria, welcome to roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 6th May 2021.
1. Oduduwa/Biafra: Minority Groups Will Suffer If Nigeria Breaks Up – Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has kicked against the calls for Nigeria’s break-up by some groups in the country.
He stated this while speaking at his Penthouse residence, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, when he played host to members of Tiv professionals Group (TPG) led by Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu.
The former president asked that if Nigeria breaks up what would be the fate of minority ethnic groups in the nation.
According to Obasanjo, if the likes of Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa/Fulani ethnic groups stand alone, the minority groups may be oppressed as they would turn out to be smaller countries.
2. Benue: PDP Supports Ortom, Blasts Buhari Over Attacks By Suspected Herdsmen
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hit out at President Muhammadu Buhari over the handling of the security challenges in Benue State.
According to the PDP in a statement on Wednesday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari appear complicit in the killing of innocent Nigerians in Benue State by suspected herdsmen.
According to them even after the assassination attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom’s life, nothing credible has been done by the federal government to address the insecurity in Benue.
It called on Buhari to take fresh and urgent measures to stop the killings in Benue State and direct security operatives to take action.
3. 27 Kaduna Forestry College Students Released
The twenty-seven students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, abducted by bandits have been released.
The development was confirmed by one of the people who received the students.
The source noted that the release of the student was facilitated by Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi dialogue committee with support from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
4. Gumi Denies Taking N800k During Negotiation For Afaka Students’ Release
Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Abubakar Ahmad Gumi has dismissed reports that he was involved in the N800,000 purportedly paid to secure the release of some abducted students in Kaduna state.
Recall that bandits had in March attacked the College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi LGA, and abducted 39 students.
Speaking with Roots TV during a protest to demand the release of the abducted students, one of the parents alleged that Gumi directed them to a Fulani man named Ahmed, who collected N800,000 from them.
But speaking to TheCable on Wednesday, Sheikh Gumi described the allegation as nonsense.
The cleric, who has come under criticism over his relationship with bandits, said he is not aware of such a transaction.
5. FG Set To Deploy 5G Technology
The Federal Government has announced it is going ahead with arrangements for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology in the telecommunications industry.
Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, announced this on Wednesday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCC and the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) at the headquarters of the Commission in Abuja.
The MoU between the two agencies under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy would lay the foundations for the acquisition of Frequency Spectrum suitable for the deployment of the technology in the country.
Danbatta said the NigComSat, it was discovered after investigation across the globe, had the appropriate technology to facilitate the deployment.
He, however, allayed fears and concerns on health and security implications over the deployment of 5G, asserting Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.
6. Why DSS Hasn’t Arrested Sheikh Gumi – Ex-Director
The former Director of the Department of State Service, Mike Ejiofor, on Wednesday revealed why the secret police have not arrested Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi.
Ejiofor in an interview with Punch said, “If you go and arrest him, you are going to provoke his supporters or the people he is working for and if you don’t arrest him, people will say why has he not been arrested as other people who acted, in the same manner, have been arrested? So, it becomes a very dicey situation that needs to be handled with care.”
He condemned the cleric for openly asking the federal government to pay the N100m ransom demanded by the kidnappers of Greenfield University, Kaduna.
7. Insecurity: Reps Ask FG To Suspend 2021 Census
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been charged by the House of Representatives to suspend the planned 2021 census until the security challenges in the country are resolved.
The house of representatives made this call in a series of tweets on the official handle of the House of Representatives.
The resolution of the House was passed following a motion moved by a member representing Bosso/Paikoro Federal Constituency of Niger State, Shehu Beji.
Beji while speaking before the house noted that several factors would work against the accuracy of the figures that would be obtained and the overall success of the exercise due largely to insecurity.
8. Ndume: Army Now Rations Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram
Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has revealed that the Nigerian Army now rations its ammunition for the fight against Boko Haram and other criminals.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ndume, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, stated that the rationing of ammunition is common practice among the soldiers.
According to the lawmaker, the army has continually blamed its poor performance of curbing insurgency in the northeast on lack of funds.
9. Buhari Paid Ransom To Kidnappers – Obasanjo
President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, of paying ransoms to kidnappers.
Buhari had spoken against payment of ransom to bandits and kidnappers, he also warned governors not to negotiate with criminals.
Obasanjo, however, on Wednesday when he played host to members of Tiv professionals Group (TPG) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, noted that the Buhari administration and that of former President Goodluck Jonathan negotiated with kidnappers, though they deny the claims.
He called on the government to develop a means to deal with kidnappers and bandits as against ransom payment.
10. Imo Attacks: Uzodinma Takes Action Against Hoodlums, Sponsors
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has vowed to crush hoodlums and their sponsors terrorising the state.
He made the vow on Wednesday in Owerri during the presentation of additional security vehicles and gadgets to Operation Sarch and Flush Patrol team in the state.
Speaking further, Uzodinma promised to achieve his plan by taking war to bandits’ hideouts and flushing them out of Imo.
