Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 27th April 2022
1. 2023: Nobody Knows Buhari’s Presidential Candidate – Okorocha
A former Governor of Imo State and presidential hopeful, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has said nobody in the All Progressives Congress (APC) knows President Muhammadu Buhari’s preferred candidate.
Okorocha made this known on Tuesday while speaking during a programme on Channel Television, Politics Today.
The presidential aspirant disclosed that President Buhari is unpredictable and has not endorsed anybody for the number position in the country.
The lawmaker representing Imo West in the National Assembly added that Buhari has not revealed his preferred candidate or given his support to any aspirant yet.
2. DSS Raises Alarm, Identifies Places In Nigeria Terrorists Have Targeted To Bomb
The Department of State Services has issued a fresh alert on plans by some terrorist and criminal groups to bomb certain targets in the country.
The DSS in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya said the criminals have formed some alliances among themselves and plan to attack some soft and hard targets including infrastructures in the country.
It disclosed that some targeted places include public places like worship and relaxation centres where there are usually a lot of people.
The secret police pointed out however that while steps have been taken to forestall any attack, it is necessary to inform members of the public and those who visit/own such places to be more security conscious.
The DSS stated that it is collaborating with other security agencies to keep the country safe, especially during the forthcoming holidays and festive season.
3. 2023 Presidency Should Go To North-Central, Saraki Insists
Former Senate President and 2023 presidential aspirant, Bukola Saraki says it is the turn of the north-central region to produce Nigeria’s next president.
He said the region has suffered, sacrificed, and endured a lot for the country and deserves a shot at the presidency.
Truetells Nigeria reports Saraki made the submission on Tuesday in Jos, the Plateau State capital while addressing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
According to him, the north-central region had in the past laboured and made sacrifices for other regions to get to power, but now, it is the turn of the region to take the power.
His position comes amidst calls for power rotation and zoning and the need for the 2023 presidency to be given to the south.
4. Nigerian Army Kills Two IPOB/ESN Fighters In Imo, Arrest Four Others
Troops of the Nigerian Army belonging to the 34 Artillery Brigade have killed two fighters of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) which is the militant arm of the proscribed Indigenous Peipks Of Biafra (IPOB).
According to a statement made available to Naija News on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the ESN fighters were killed in Imo State on Monday during a fierce gun battle with the soldiers.
The gunbattle took place along the Orlu-Orsu road.
The statement added that apart from the two persons killed, four other fighters were also arrested while items including weapons, phones, cash, and others were recovered.
According to Onyema, it was the ESN gunmen that first opened fire on the troops who were on a routine patrol around the general area of Aluminium Company and All Saints Church in Imo State.
They however fell to the superior firepower of the gallant troops.
5. My Presidency Will Bring Peace, Unity And Development – Osinbajo
The Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 presidential aspirant, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has promised to deliver peace and development to the country if he eventually emerges as the next President.
Truetells Nigeria reports Osinbajo made the promise on Tuesday during his consultation visit to Ogun State where he was received by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
According to him, he is in the race to serve the people of Nigeria and will not waste time in fulfilling all his promises if he becomes President in 2023.
The Vice President promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear and tackle all the challenges facing the country.
Addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Osinbajo said the visit is not for campaign purposes but to inform them of his decision to contest for presidency and seek their support.
6. 2023: Fayemi Meets Akeredolu Over Presidential Ambition
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Tuesday met with his Ondo state counterpart Rotimi Akeredolu, on his 2023 presidential ambition.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Fayemi said he came to seek Akeredolu’s counsel and advice before joining the presidential race.
Fayemi stated that he has the requisite experience to address the enormity and the complexity of the challenges in the country and offer a fresh perspective on how to take the country forward.
The governor added that he was still consulting with party stakeholders and associates before announcing his 2023 presidential bid.
The chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, however, said had yet to decide whether or not to join the presidential race.
7. Buhari Meets Tambuwal Behind Closed Doors In Aso Rock
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met the Sokoto State Governor and presidential hopeful, Aminu Tambuwal, behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Truetells Nigeria learned that the governor arrived at the State House around 11:15 am to inform the president of his presidential ambition under the platform of the PDP.
This development comes days after Ango Abdullahi of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) chose former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as the northern consensus candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
8. Alleged Misconduct: Court Orders CCT Chairman, Umar To Appear Before Senate
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar has been directed by the Federal High Court in Abuja to appear before the senate over alleged misconduct.
This is coming after the court dismissed the suit filed by Umar seeking to stop Senate from probing him.
The court in its ruling on Tuesday noted that the CCT chairman is answerable to the Senate on moral standards.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo ordered Umar to appear before the Senate and answer questions on a public petition levelled against him by an aggrieved citizen.
According to Justice Ekwo, the case of the CCT Chairman seeking to stop the probe by the Senate lacked merit and was dismissed.
9. 2023: Sowore Knocks Adebanjo Over Call For South East Presidency
Human rights activist and presidential hopeful, Omoyele Sowore has slammed Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo for his support for South East presidency.
The publisher of Sahara Reporters also rejected Adebanjo’s call for presidential aspirants from the South West and South South to shelve their presidential ambitions.
Recall that the Afenifere leader had stated that it is the turn of the South East to produce the next Nigerian president, in the spirit of fairness and justice.
Speaking at the Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC) in Abuja on Monday, Adebanjo urged southern politicians who are not from the South East to also shelve their presidential aspirations.
In an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Sowore said the call for South East presidency is an attempt to divide Nigerians along the ethnic lines, adding that only Nigerians should determine who leads them in 2023.
The presidential aspirant claimed that the call by some politicians for political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South is undemocratic and should not be encouraged.
10. 2023: Tinubu, Osinbajo, Wike, Others Have No Respect For South East – Orji Kalu
A former governor of Abia State and presidential aspirant, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has berated presidential aspirants from the South West and South South regions for joining the 2023 presidential race.
Truetells Nigeria reports that some of the presidential aspirants from the South West and South South include the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, National leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, the Senate Chief claimed that the South-West and South-South presidential aspirants have no single respect and concern for the South East region.
The former governor urged the presidential hopefuls to jettison their presidential ambitions and support the South East for the presidency.
He also raised an alarm over the amount of money being spent by the aspirants from the two regions, saying that money alone cannot buy the presidency.
Kalu, however, asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone their presidential tickets to the South East.
Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 27th April, 2022
