Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 5th July 2022
1. FG Slams US Senators Asking For Action Against Nigeria Over Alleged Persecution Of Christians In The Country
The federal government has replied some Senators of the United States of America asking for the redesignation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern over alleged cases of Christian persecution.
Speaking on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the fresh allegations raised by the US Republican Senators after the country had been removed from the list are false and baseless.
Truetells Nigeria understands the lawmakers had in a letter addressed to the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken alleged that persecution of Christians was rife in Nigeria and called for action against the country for allowing such happenings.
The Senators want Nigeria returned to the list of countries designated as sources of concern over religious intolerance.
However, Mohammed who spoke in London said the allegations are not true as the perpetrators of the evil highlighted by the US Senators have no consideration for religion but are pure criminals who want to cause religious war.
Mohammed said the lawmakers lack an understanding of what is going on in Nigeria.
He added that some Nigerians running Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are deliberately misinforming the American government to get more funds and support.
2. Obi/Kwankwaso: The Best Shot For South-East In 2023 Is Vice President – Galadima
Buba Galadima, chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), has debunked reports that the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso and the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi are planning to merge.
Galadima during an interview on Arise TV said what Kwankwaso and Obi are discussing is an electoral alliance.
He further stated that all issues have been sorted, except one, which is who will be the presidential candidate and the running mate.
The elder statesman said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar would win more votes in the north if Kwankwaso agrees to be Obi’s vice.
3. No Exams On Sallah Day – NECO
The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Monday denied fixing any Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for Saturday, July 9.
The examination body in a statement released said it has rather given a whole examination free week.
The examination-free week would start from Friday, July 8 to Wednesday, July 13, 2022, to enable the Muslims to celebrate Sallah.
NECO’s Head of Information and Public Relations Division, Azeez Sani in Minna said the council released the statement contrary to the report that it scheduled the examination for 9th July 2022, which is Sallah Day (Eid-Adha).
4. Wike: I Have Forgiven The Evil Powers Of Darkness And Moved On – Dagogo
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo has expressed appreciation to his family members and supporters following his release from detention.
Dagogo who spoke on Monday via a personally signed statement said he has forgiven all those responsible for his ordeal which made him spend 63 days in detention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The lawmaker said he went through the ordeal because some people lied against him but God proved his supremacy over oppressors of the innocent.
Truetells Nigeria recalls Dagogo was arrested by police operatives on the 28th of April at the venue of the screening exercise for the PDP’s governorship aspirants in Port Harcourt.
He was detained by the police less than four days after the state Governor, Nyesom Wike declared him wanted for allegedly hiring suspected cultists to disrupt a screening exercise at the party secretariat.
After 63 days, he was granted bail by Justice Chiwendu Nworgu of the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
In his letter following his release from detention, Dagogo said he is innocent and appreciated all those who stood by him during the trying times.
5. Lagos Govt Closes Redeemers School Over Death Of Five-Year-Old Pupil
The Lagos State Government has closed down a private school in the state, Redeemers Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, over the death of a pupil.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Commissioner for Education in the state, Folasade Adefisayo, made this known in a statement released on Monday.
Recall that a five-year-old pupil of the school, Chidera Eze, reportedly drowned during a swimming lesson while in the custody of the school.
The commissioner stated that the school is yet to conclude its registration and is, therefore, not yet an approved school when the said incident happened.
She, however, said that the school would remain closed, pending an administrative investigation of its operations and procedures as well as the conduct of its officials.
Adefisayo also advised parents to note the closure of the school and wait for the conclusion of the administrative investigation.
6. 2023: INEC Office Set Ablaze In Enugu State
Unknown arsonists have burnt down the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The office, situated at the council’s headquarters in the Ogurute area of the state was set ablaze late Sunday night after the criminals invaded the area.
It was gathered that the state fire service which has an office at Ogurute could not move in to save the situation for fear of further attacks until security was provided.
However, it was learned that by the time security was provided, the fire had completely razed down the building.
According to The Nation, the only thing two fire trucks from Nsukka and Ogurute were able to do was to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby offices.
7. 2023: Wike Too Big To Be Atiku’s Running Mate – Omokri
Former presidential aide and political activist, Reno Omokri on Monday said the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike is too big to become the running mate of Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election.
According to Omokri, he sees Governor Wike becoming the president of Nigeria at the end of Atiku’s tenure if he wins the 2023 race.
Omokri stated this during an interview on Arise TV on Monday.
Speaking on Wike leaving the main opposition party, he said the Governor of Rivers State has said in private and public that he will not leave PDP.
8. FG Cancels Training Contract For Ex-Niger Delta Militants
The Federal Government has revoked the training contract awarded to Express Concern International (ECN) to train former Niger Delta militants.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col.Milland Dikio (retd), made this known in a statement on Sunday signed by his spokesman, Neotabase Egbe.
Dikio stated the federal government decided to revoke the training contract for former Niger Delta agitators over breach of the agreement.
He said the termination followed an allegation by a group, Concerned Indigenes of Oil Mineral Producing States Forum (CIOMPSF), that the company diverted funds it received from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Dikio asserted that contracts are not awarded to just anybody who submits a proposal, but to serious contractors, who have the capacity to deliver their contractual obligations.
He said the amnesty office had also activated its internal mechanism to retrieve the money it paid to the firm through a performance bond provided by the company.
9. Gunmen Abduct Another Catholic Priest In Kaduna
Barely 48 hours after the abduction of Reverend Fathers Uboh Philemon of St. Joseph Retreat Centre and Rev. Fr. Udom Peter of Uromi Catholic Church, both of Ugbokha, Esan South East LGA, Edo State, gunmen have kidnapped Rev Father Emmanuel Silas in Kaduna state.
Truetells Nigeria understands that Father Silas was reportedly kidnapped on Monday morning in Zambina, Kauru LGA of the state.
Confirming the clergyman’s abduction in a statement to journalists, chancellor of the Catholic diocese of Kafanchan, Emmanuel Uchechukwu Okolo called for intense prayers for the priest quick and safe release.
10. Fraud: Buhari Govt Replaces Acting Accountant General Of The Federation, Begins Search For New AGF
The federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced Mr. Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).
Truetells Nigeria gathered that Anamekwe was replaced about two weeks ago over allegations of corruption and investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (INEC) hanging around his neck.
It was further gathered according to reports monitored on The Nation that he was replaced with a former TSA (Treasury Single Account) Director, Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis.
A source privy to government operations on the matter has now disclosed that a search for a substantive Accountant General has commenced in earnest.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Folasade Yemi-Esan has issued a circular to that effect.
