top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 8th June 2022
1. APC Presidential Primaries: Sanwo-Olu Gives Update On Consensus Candidate
Speaking at the Eagle Square venue of the APC presidential primaries, Sanwo-Olu said the aspirants are very capable and believe in their individual abilities to secure the APC ticket and win the 2023 presidential election for the party but consultations are still going on among them on the possible emergence of a consensus candidate.
He said some announcements may still be made right on the convention ground that will change a lot of things, saying the situation as it is ‘never say never.’
2. Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi Dumps APC, Set To Join PDP
The Senate leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi has dumped the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State.
His defection from the APC to the PDP was confirmed by his special adviser on media and publicity Muhammad Jamil Gulma.
“Senate Leader Dr Yahaya Abdullahi will on Wednesday by 9 am leave Abuja for Kebbi and proceed to Kamba local government to formally declare for PDP and to possibly indicate his interest to contest his present seat,” Vanguard qouted him as saying.
It was gathered that Yahaya’s defection is connected to his embarrassing loss in the ruling APC governorship primary in Kebbi State.
3. APC Primary: Only Two Aspirants Are Remaining In The Race – Sen. Gaya Reveals
A high ranking member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kabiru Gaya from Kano has disclosed that the list of presidential aspirants in the party has been reduced to two.
He made this known on Tuesday ahead of the commencement of voting by delegates at the APC presidential primary holding at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
Speaking during an interview with Channels TV at the primary ground, Gaya revealed the names of the two aspirants remaining in the race for the APC ticket as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Truetells Nigeria recalls both aspirants are also part of the five-man list confirmed to have been submitted earlier by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.
Gaya during the interview added that the plan by the party is to have a candidate from the southwest and a running mate from the north.
4. Adamu Garba Withdraws From 2023 Presidential Race
Nigerian tech enthusiast and politician, Adamu Garba, has withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the aspirant of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), announced the development in a long thread of tweets on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Recall that Garba was contesting the 2023 presidential race earlier on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The politician, however, dumped the ruling party sighting anomalies in the APC.
Giving reasons for his withdrawal from the presidential race, Garba took to his Twitter page on Tuesday to note that in his quest to clinch the country’s number one political position, he discovered there is a need for widespread consultation and rally of the interest of the country’s stakeholders, nationwide.
This according to him, was not well achieved to satisfaction during his campaign.
5. DSS Rescues Kano APC Senatorial Candidate’s Mother In Jigawa
Almost 24 hours after kidnappers abducted the aged mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kano Central Senatorial District candidate, AA Zaura, the operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have rescued her in Jigawa State.
This was just as the Kano State Police Command had said that they have arrested two persons in connection with the kidnappings, whose identities were not immediately ascertained.
However, it will be recalled on Monday, some gunmen had stormed Zaura town of Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State and kidnapped Zaura’s mother in the early hours of Monday.
It will also be recalled that Hajia Laure Mai Kunu was abducted around 4 am before the Muslims’ call to prayer.
In the early hours of Monday, Hajia Laure was abducted from her House at Zaura village some five kilometres away from the main city centre.
While confirming the incident on Monday, the Chairman of Ungogo Local Government Area, Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat, said the security agents have not informed him officially of the incident.
However, a top DSS operative who preferred anonymity confirmed that their men had rescued Laure and another aged woman who was abducted almost ten days ago.
6. Okorocha, Ayade, Four Other Presidential Aspirants Reject Northern Govs List
Seven Presidential aspirants under the All Progressives Congress have rejected the purported list of aspirants said to have been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, who led aggrieved aspirants in a statement issued on Tuesday shortly after a brief meeting in Abuja described the move as shambolic and an already failed attempt to sideline other aspirants, particularly those from the South-East and South-South
Onu in a joint statement, distanced themselves from the list whilst describing the move as a joke and total absurdity taken too far.
The seven aspirants who joined Onu are Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade; former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and businessman Tein Jack-Rich.
In a joint statement issued by Onu on their behalf, the group distanced themselves from the purported list.
7. IPOB Reveals Those Allegedly Behind Deadly Owo Massacre
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused Fulani terrorists of attacking worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
In a statement, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, urged Christians to take their safety and security personally and stop depending on the Nigerian Government.
The statement by Powerful reads partly: “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn the Fulani terrorist’s attack on Catholic Church in Owo Ogun state today been Sunday 5th of June 2022.
“IPOB had repeatedly suggested that Christians should stop their dependence on the Government of Nigeria for the security of life and properties; the reason is that the current regime has only one interest and that is Fulani’s interest. Fulani terrorists masquerading as politicians and security agents are the ones heading Nigeria Army, Police and other security agencies and are responsible for the recruitment of terrorists who were massacring innocent Christians, Muslims and Non-Muslims.
8. APC Primary: Gov Sule Speaks On Reducing Presidential Aspirants
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule on Tuesday stated that the Progressives Governors Forum does not have to power to reduce the number of presidential aspirants ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
According to Sule, the party has to conduct an election for all the twenty-three aspirants screened by the party, if they insist on contesting in the primary.
Governor Sule, who is the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the primary election said this during an interview on Channels TV.
9. Sunday Igboho Reacts To Owo Church Attack, Reveals Next Move
Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has condemned the gruesome murder of worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Truetells Nigeria earlier reported that unknown gunmen on Sunday attacked the catholic church and killed many worshippers just as the service was nearing its conclusion.
It was gathered that the gunmen detonated explosives before firing at the worshippers including women and children.
In viral audio released on Tuesday morning, Igboho, who spoke in Yoruba, allegedly said he had been vindicated following the terrorist attack on the church and the killing of over 20 worshippers.
The agitator claimed he had alerted Yorubas about the terrorist activities in the South West, adding that the government failed to listen to his warning.
10. Nigeria Air Blames COVID-19 For Delay In Acquiring Aircraft
Nigeria Air’s temporary management has revealed the reason they have not taken delivery of any aircraft needed for its operations.
Capt. Dapo Olumide, the Chief Executive of the airline’s management, while speaking at the headquarters of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority after receiving an Air Transport Licence for the airline, explained that it is difficult to acquire the aircraft because of the effects of COVID-19 on the aviation sector globally.
However, he noted that efforts were ongoing to purchase the aircraft as the NCAA had made it one of the necessary requirements before the issuance of another vital certificate.
