TRUETELLS NIGERIA roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 29th October 2021
1. Nigerians Have Stopped Praying, They No Longer Believe In God – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has submitted that Nigerians have stopped praying and trusting God for a better country.
The president revealed this at the 11th National Prayer Breakfast organized by the Christian Legislators Fellowship of the National Assembly with the theme “Faith in a time of crisis.”
The president, represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Maurice Mbaeri, revealed that there is hope for Nigeria, but some Nigerian have stopped praying to God and instead are now playing God.
The president stated that some Nigerians are questioning God’s ability to solve the present crisis in the economy.
2. Hushpuppi: IGP Speaks On Abba Kyari Extradition
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on Thursday claimed that he is not aware of the request to extradite the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Baba stated this while addressing newsmen at the Ministerial briefing, organized by the Presidential Communication Team, at the State House, Abuja.
There had been reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation requested for Kyari to be extradited following an allegation of bribery involving confessed fraudster, Hushpuppi.
But the IGP stated that he has not got a formal extradition request from the FBI and has only seen reports about the issue on social media.
The IGP further stated that his office had received legal advice from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
3. Lai Mohammed Blasts Nigerian Media Over The Economist Report
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Thursday stated that traditional media houses in the country are doing themselves a great disservice by regurgitating negative reports about the country published by their foreign counterparts.
TRUETELLS NIGERIA reports that the Minister stated this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the recent report by The Economist that the Jihadist threat in the North-east has ‘metastasized’ so much so that the terrorists are carving out a Caliphate for themselves in the North-east.
Mohammed stated that the claim by the foreign newspaper’s claim has no basis given that it was coming at a time that Boko Haram and ISWAP are taking on each other in mutually-destructive lockstep, and at a time that the terrorists are surrendering in droves as a result of heavy pounding by the military.
While dismissing the report as patently wrong and badly-researched, Mohammed regretted that the story was immediately amplified by the local media without even interrogating its content, stressing that such practice is totally antithetical to Nigerian media’s reputation of independence and vibrancy.
4. 2023 Presidency: CAN Speaks On Muslim/Muslim Ticket
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned political parties in the country against heating up the polity with either Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket come 2023 general election.
CAN’s President, Samson Ayokunle stated this on Thursday while leading the Association’s leadership to a parley with the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege in his office at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
“Concerning 2023 elections, we would admonish you, politicians, not to heat up the polity in any way as the campaigns are opened by guiding the utterances that would be coming out of you. There is already tension in the land because of insecurity.
“We equally want to urge you on the presidency that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered. We don’t want Christian/Christian ticket nor Muslim/Muslim ticket,” he said.
Ayokunle went on to express dissatisfaction and disappointment with the state of the economy and its impact on the polity as he called for an enabling environment to cushion the effect on the people.
5. 2022 Budget: FG To Build New Aso Rock Clinic With N21bn
The Federal Government has budgeted N21billion for the construction of the proposed 14-bed Presidential Clinic, also known as Aso Rock Clinic.
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Umar Tijjani, made this known on Thursday while presenting the 2022 budget for Aso Rock to members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Tijjani said that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the construction of the clinic by Julius Berger Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Procurement has approved the Certificate of No Objection.
According to him, the physical construction of the clinic would start on November 1, 2021, while the commissioning would be done on December 31, 2022.
He stated the clinic would contain 14-bed facilities on a total area of 2,700 square meters, adding that there would also be underground, the first floor, two number operating theatre,
Tijani further disclosed that there would be two number Executive Suit, two VIPs, two isolation, one six-bed isolation area, a laboratory, healing garden, Pharmacy and an X-ray facility in the clinic.
6. Insecurity: Nigerian Military Needs Restructuring – Boss Mustapha
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha says the Nigerian Military needs to be restructured if it will overcome the security challenges facing the nation.
Mustapha made the submission on Thursday in Abuja when he received the 24-member advisory committee on the reform of the armed forces and defence.
The committee is headed by Alwali Kazir.
The SGF observed that without a rejig of the current structure of the country’s defence, the fight against insecurity may continue for a long time without any end in sight particularly given the nature of Nigeria’s territory.
TRUETELLS NIGERIA understands that the committee was inaugurated in September by the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi with a mandate to look into and make recommendations on necessary reforms in the armed forces.
Receiving the team, Mustapha said he will do everything within his power to ensure support for the works of the committee as he believes they are taking the right steps and need all the support.
7. Former Ondo Governor, Mimiko Defects To PDP
Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has rejoined the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Until the most recent announcement, Mimiko belonged to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and this will be the third time he will defect to the PDP.
Prior to the defection, Naija News recalls four Governors belonging to PDP stormed Ondo State where they held a closed-door meeting with Mimiko in his Ondo town country home.
The PDP Governors that stormed Ondo and visited the residence of Mimiko in Ondo town are Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Aminu Tambuwal(Sokoto).
At the end of the meeting, Mimiko said his supporters and the stakeholders in Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) will be the ones to determine his next move.
However, according to an update on the matter, Mimiko and the ZLP have agreed to collapse into the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.
A statement credited to the Ondo ZLP Chairman, Joseph Akinlaja said the stakeholders have agreed to join forces with the PDP to save Nigerians from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
8. Court Of Appeal Defers Judgement On Uche Secondus Versus PDP
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has deferred to Friday, judgement on Uche Secondus’ suit seeking the stoppage of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
TRUETELLS NIGERIA reports that the suspended National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, is seeking the stoppage of the national convention scheduled for 30-31 October, 2021.
Secondus had through his attorney approached the Appeal Court to stop the PDP convention.
9. CBN Blames Nigerians As It Reveals Why eNaira App Was Removed From Google Play Store
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has explained the sudden disappearance of the e-naira speed wallet from Google’s play store.
According to the CBN Director of Corporate Communications of the bank, Osita Nwanisobi, the app was taken down to perfect an important upgrade.
He blamed Nigerians for the sudden disappearance explaining that many people failed to enter their details correctly, leading to the glitch in the app.
TRUETELLS NIGERIA recalls the application of the eNaira speed wallet was taken down from the Google Play Store, 48 hours after the digital currency was launched on Monday.
This was after the launch on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Amidst the backlash generated by the development, the CBN spokesperson has now explained that the disappearance is temporary and the app will be back once necessary updates are completed.
He gave the explanation on Thursday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital during the CBN Fair for the southeast geo-political zone.
10. Gov. Lalong Reacts As Plateau Assembly Impeaches Speaker, Appoints New One
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has expressed surprise at the decision of the State House of Assembly to impeach Abok Ayuba as its speaker and appoint a new person.
The Governor made his mind known on Thursday when the lawmakers paid him a courtesy call shortly after the change of power.
Lalong who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State Prof. Danladi Abok Atu said though surprised, he respects the decision of the legislators based on the principle of separation of powers.
TRUETELLS NIGERIA earlier reported that lawmakers in the Plateau State House of Assembly have impeached Hon. Abok Ayuba Nuhu as the speaker of the house.
Nuhu, following his impeachment on Thursday, was replaced with Sanda Yakubu, who hails from Pingana constituency of Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
