Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 6th April 2022
1. 2023: God Will Choose The Best For Nigeria – El-Rufai Tells Tinubu
The presidential aspirant was in the state on a condolence visit following that attack on a Abuja-Kaduna train by bandit terrorists.
El-Rufai while speaking commended Tinubu for cancelling his 70th-anniversary colloquium in honour of the victims of the attack.
The Kaduna State Governor noted that he is his awareness of the presidential ambition of Tinubu, but said God will choose the best leader for Nigeria.
2. Party Crisis: Lai Mohammed Speaks On Dumping APC
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has denied ever considering leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another party.
Mohammed stated this in his reaction to the decision of some of his followers in Kwara State to decamp to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Truetells Nigeria recalls some of the Minister’s loyalists in the Kwara APC recently defected to the SDP over the supremacy battle causing crisis in the state chapter of the party between Lai Mohammed and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
But despite the defection, Mohammed in a personally signed statement said he is not considering dumping the APC and it’s not even an option for him.
He also appealed to those who dumped the ruling party to return as there is no place like home.
3. 2023: Malami Denies Joining Kebbi Governorship Race
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has denied joining the Kebbi State governorship race.
It was widely reported on Tuesday morning that the minister had declared interest to join the gubernatorial race and succeed Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
But in a statement issued by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, Malami stated that he won’t contest the 2023 governorship election as speculated.
Gwandu said the minister was misquoted and misrepresented.
4. Tinubu Describes Kaduna Train Attack As National Disaster, Donates N50m
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commiserated with the Kaduna state government over the recent train attack by terrorists locally known as bandits.
Truetells Nigeria recalls that bandit terrorists had last Monday evening attacked a Kaduna-bound train with explosives and gunfire, killing eight people, injuring many, and abducting others.
The APC Leader accompanied by former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima arrived Kaduna to meet with Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
He was received by the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Senators Uba Sani and Suleiman Abdu-Kwri at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the Kaduna State seat of power.
Mr Tinubu who described the train attack as a national disaster, made a donation of N50 million to victims of the attack.
According to him, the constant attacks in Kaduna should be a concern to everyone as it has claimed hundreds of lives and properties in recent times.
He added that killings by bandits is no longer acceptable and must stop.
5. Terrorists Attack Military Base In Kaduna, Kill 11 Soldiers, Injure Many Others
No less than eleven soldiers have been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be terrorists who launched a daring attack on a military base in Kaduna.
The gunmen were said to have attacked a military base located in Polwire village, Birnin Gwari local government area on Monday.
During a fierce gun battle with the troops which lasted for about two hours, the gunmen who came into the community with motorcycles were said to have also burnt down some armoured personnel carriers (APC) belonging to the troops, Naija News gathered.
Sources quoted by TheCable said apart from the 11 soldiers killed, up to 19 others were also wounded and are receiving treatment.
After overwhelming the soldiers, the terrorists were said to have escaped with weapons while the wounded soldiers are receiving treatment at Birnin Gwari General Hospital and 271 Nigerian Airforce Medical Center while the corpses of those who lost their lives have been moved to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (44 NARHK) in Kaduna.
6. Osinbajo Will Not Declare For Presidency On Thursday – Sources
The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo will not declare his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election on Thursday.
There had been speculations that the Vice President was set to express his intention on Thursday.
Sources close to Osinbajo disclosed that the Vice President has not made any plan to declare for the presidency on that date as reported.
Some news platforms on Tuesday had claimed Osinbajo will officially declare for presidency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Recall that spokesman of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, had said his principal has not decided on contesting the presidency in 2023.
7. 2023: Atiku Has Nothing Against Zoning – Dokpesi
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Raymond Dokpesi, says former Vice President and presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar has nothing against zoning arrangement.
He made this known while speaking with reporters shortly after submitting Atiku’s Presidential nomination forms at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, on Monday.
Dokpesi, Chairman of the Atiku Technical Committee, added that the party’s zoning arrangement would not be against the presidential ambition of his principal.
The PDP chieftain, however, dispelled rumours that there are internal problems in the opposition party, stressing that the party is one big family.
8. APC Chairman, Adamu Tackles El-Rufai, Amaechi Over Public Outbursts Against Govt
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu has issued a strong warning to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over their recent outbursts following the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Truetells Nigeria recalls El-Rufai and Amaechi in different statements after the attack seems to have engaged in blame trading on who is responsible for the security lapses that led to the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train by bandit terrorists in which many lives were lost, some injured and others kidnapped.
On his part, El-Rufai had said the security forces knew the hideout of the terrorists and should have bombed them, going further to say the Governors might bring in foreign mercenaries to combat the terrorists if the federal government fails to take action.
Amaechi also said the failure of the federal government to approve and release funds for a security installation proposed by his Ministry counts for why the terrorists could operate freely.
While the submissions are viewed as an indictment of the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari and both men are strong chieftains of the ruling party, the APC chairman cautioned them against cutting their own bellies with knives.
Speaking on BBC Hausa, the former Nasarawa State Governor cautioned that “one should not use a knife to rip open his stomach”.
9. PDP Reportedly Shuns Zoning, Makes 2023 Presidential Ticket Open
Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly thrown its presidential ticket for the 2023 election open.
Truetells Nigeria understands that there have been anxieties over which zone the party will zone its 2023 presidential ticket to.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, 13 candidates in total have purchased the party’s presidential interest forms.
A 37-member committee of the PDP on zoning arrangement had been charged to conclude on the party’s zoning arrangement as the election draws near.
However, on Tuesday, the 37-member committee met for over three hours, after which they said recommendations had been sent to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
A source who spoke with Daily Trust today has, however, confirmed that the committee affirmed that even though zoning is part of the party’s constitution, it decided to throw open the presidential contest due to the exigency of the time and the fact that they are in the opposition.
10. Bobrisky, Others At Risk Of Jail As Reps Move To Ban Cross-dressing
A bill seeking to ban cross-dressing in Nigeria has been introduced in the lower chamber of the national assembly.
Naija News understands that cross-dressing has become more common in the country following the fame of popular Instagram entertainer, Bobrisky.
Bobrisky is born male and his birth name is Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju but has chosen to dress like the opposite gender.
He is popularly known for his presence on the social media apps Snapchat and Instagram.
However, a member of the House of Representatives, Umar Muda has presented before the chamber a bill seeking to stop the likes of Bobrisky and James Brown, his copycat.
Truetells Nigeria understands that the bill passed its first reading on the floor of the House on Tuesday.