Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 9th November 2022
1. Details Of ASUU NEC Meeting Emerges As Union Take Decision On Fresh Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National Executive Committee (NEC) has concluded its meeting held in the Federal Capital Territory.
Truetells Nigeria reports that following the half-October salaries paid to members of ASUU by the federal government, the Union held an emergency NEC meeting to discuss the way forward.
According to some ASUU leaders, members were advocating for another round of strike if payments for their salary backlog is not made.
The academic union leaders told Punch that as the case is now, the decision lies with lecturers whether or not to resume because some ASUU branches across the nation have held congresses to decide on the next steps to take.
Details of the meeting, which ended on Monday, are still sketchy, with ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke yet to address the press.
But a member of the Union’s NEC disclosed that it has resolved to give the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government more time.
He said that ASUU decided to give the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at least two weeks to intervene and resolve the issue of ‘No Work, No Pay policy.’
2. Arewa Youths Reveal Only Three Northern Governors Backing Tinubu, Say The Rest Are Deceiving Him
The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) on Tuesday claimed that only the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State are truly backing the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to Daily Post, AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, warned that other APC, aside the trio, are against Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
Cautioning the former Lagos State governor on the attitudes of the state governors on the platform of the party, the Arewa group president said Tinubu has what it takes to get it right in 2023.
According to him, some APC governors are negotiating with the opposition and paying lip service to Tinubu’s ambition.
He warned Tinubu against relying on only governors, stressing that the governors are going to let him down.
AYCF National President claimed that a lot of the governors are not committed and not serious to Tinubu’s course.
3. Court Convicts EFCC Chairman, Bawa For Contempt, Committed To Kuje Prison
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa had been convicted by a High Court sitting in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama for contempt.
Bawa was convicted by the court in relation to the commission’s failure to comply with an earlier order of the court.
Justice Chizoba Oji ruled that Bawa should be committed to Kuje prison for his disobedience.
Justice held that “the Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in contempt of the orders of this honourable court made on November 21st 2018 directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja to return to the applicant his Range Rover (Supercharge) and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira).
“Having continued wilfully in disobedience to the order of this court, he should be committed to prison at Kuje Correctional Centre for his disobedience, and continued disobedience of the said order of court made on November 21st, 2018, until he purges himself of the contempt.
“The Inspector General of Police shall ensure that the order of this honourable court is executed forthwith.”
The presiding Judge rejected the arguments put forward by the lawyer to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, to justify the action of the EFCC Chairman.
The ruling was delivered with respect to a motion on notice marked: FCT/HC/M/52/2021 filed by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, a one-time Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
4. Amidst Rumoured Rift, Bala Mohammed Visits Atiku
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Tuesday paid a visit to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the visit is coming amidst rumoured rift between the two PDP stalwarts.
Recall that the Bauchi State Governor had sent a letter to the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, accusing Atiku of looking away as crises consumed the party’s structure in Bauchi.
In a statement to newsmen by the New Media Aide to Bauchi Governor, Lawal Muazu Bauchi, Bala Mohammed led a delegation of Bauchi State stakeholders of the PDP to Abuja, on a courtesy visit to Atiku in honor of an invitation by the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu.
Members of the delegation were Senators Bala Kariya and Adamu Gumba, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Abubakar Sulaiman and PPS, Samaila Burga.
Also in attendance were Ayu, DG PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former governor of Jigawa Sule Lamido.
5. Court Sacks PDP Governorship Candidate In Zamfara, Says Party Can’t Take Part In 2023 Election
A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamafara State has barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding a governorship candidate in Zamfara for the 2023 elections.
The court according to an order to Tuesday by Justice Aminu Bappa ruled that the PDP does not have a valid candidate for the Zamfara governorship election.
It nullified the May 25, 2022, primary election that produced Dauda Lawal as a candidate.
Truetells Nigeria reports this is the second time the court will nullify the 2023 PDP primary in Zamfara State.
Based on a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP aspirants – Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau, Wadatau Madawaki, and Aliyu Hafiz Muhammad against the emergence of Lawal, the court had earlier in September ordered the conduct of a fresh party primary.
However, the re-run primary was also won by Lawal.
In another ruling on Tuesday, Justice Bappa has nullified the PDP primary in the state and barred the party from fielding any candidate.
6. You Are Free To Support Any Candidate But Don’t Blame Me For What Is Happening In Benue – Atiku Replies Ortom
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has given a response after the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom decided not to support his ambition.
In deciding not to support Atiku, Ortom had said part of the reasons that informed his decision is the attacks on the people of his state by some Fulani herdsmen.
He, therefore, said he can’t support Atiku while the herdsmen continue to attack his state adding that he would rather die than become a slave to a Fulani man.
Replying the statement, Atiku through the spokesperson of his presidential campaign team, Dino Melaye said on Tuesday that while Ortom is free to give his support to any candidate of his choice, the PDP candidate can’t be blamed for happenings in Benue State.
Speaking during an interview appearance on Arise TV, Melaye said: “Ortom is entitled by right to support whichever candidate he wants; it’s not proper to place the blame of what is happening in Benue on Atiku; it is not fair. During the Shagari administration, he appointed four Benue indigenes as ministers, also the late Yar’Adua appointed a Benue indigene as AGF. These two presidents are Fulani by ethnicity, yet they appointed Benue citizens.”
Melaye stressed that Benue is the second home of Atiku and in February this year alone, he donated N50m to the Internally Displaced Persons there.
7. Ganduje Resolves Kano APC Crisis
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has resolved the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The development was confirmed by House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa on Tuesday.
The Kano State chapter of the APC has been battling with a crisis between the lawmaker representing the Tudun Wada/Doguwa federal constituency and the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Murtala Sule Garo.
Doguwa, while speaking after the five hours reconciliation meeting, said, “His Excellency, Governor Ganduje, has reconciled Murtala Sule Garo, and me.
“The meeting was attended by Nasiru Aliko Koki and the state APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, and the meeting started at 11 pm on Monday up to 4 am today.”
According to Doguwa, they reviewed the crisis and apologized to each other, adding that Ganduje told them kind words.
He further stated that the Kano State Governor told them where each of them were and offered advice.
8. APC Govt Delaying Projects To Get Votes In 2023 – Adegboruwa Knocks FG
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has accused the federal government of intentionally delaying some major projects as a way of tieing people’s hands to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
He said some projects have been going on for too long and causing unnecessary hardship to the people.
The lawyer cited the Lagos-Ibadan expressway project as one of the projects that should have been completed, saying many people have lost their lives, others injured and even some have developed health challenges as a result of experiences on the road.
Adegboruwa added that any road construction or reconstruction that ends up taking lives is not worth it and affected persons should not hesitate to sue the government.
He made the submissions on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily as he cautioned against using projects as a political capital for election.
9. Court Orders INEC To Respond To Fresh Suit Seeking To Disqualify Tinubu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been directed by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to respond to a fresh suit that is seeking to disqualify the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu in the suit was accused of breaching section 90(3) of the Electoral Act.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed in his ruling on Tuesday granted leave to the plaintiff, Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, to apply for an order of mandamus against the INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The presiding Judge ordered the electoral body, the APC and Tinubu, who were cited as the 1st to 3rd defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1960/2022, to file their defence before November 15, when the case will be heard.
10. Udom Speaks On Resigning As PDP Presidential Campaign Council Chairman
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has denied media reports that he is planning to resign as the Chairman of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
It was reported that Governor Emmanuel had threatened to withdraw from the PDP PCC if the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, failed to release campaign funds.
Speaking on Tuesday during the flag-off of the governorship campaign in Uyo, Emmanuel described reports that he plans to dump Atiku and his running mate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, as false.