Newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 1st August 2022
1. 2023 Presidency: Atiku Reacts To Wike’s Accusation Of Falsehood
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the accusation made by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of falsehood.
Truetells Nigeria recalls that the former vice president had in a recent interview said he chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate because he could work with him amicably.
In response to Atiku’s interview, Wike, while speaking with journalists on Friday at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, accused the PDP presidential flagbearer of falsehood.
Reacting to Wike’s accusation, the Media Adviser to Atiku, Paul Ibe, said the party can move forward now that the Rivers governor has responded to his principal’s interview.
He claimed that though some people might want to escalate the crisis, the former Vice President and PDP were focused on bringing the disagreement to a closure.
2. Terrorists Have Occupied South West Forests – Gani Adams
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has raised an alarm that Boko Haram terrorists have occupied forests in the South West.
Adams stated that the terrorists are present in the forest between Abeokuta and Ibadan planning to attack the residents of the South West.
He added that the gunmen are in-between Osu forest and Ile Ife in Osun state and are fully armed with various arms and ammunition.
The Yoruba chief made this known in a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesman, Kehinde Aderemi.
Adams said that based on an intelligence report at his disposal, the terrorists were seen with a large cache of ammunition.
He, however, called on South West governors to fortify the operations of the South West Security Network, code-named Amotekun.
3. Four Alleged Informants Arrested Days After Kuje Prison Break
Four persons suspected to be informants to terrorists that attacked the Kuje Medium Security in Abuja have been arrested, Truetells Nigeria learnt.
Recall that terrorists attacked the Kuje correctional centre weeks ago and killed no fewer than six persons, including an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The terrorists made way for top Boko Haram members in the facility to escape while they also allow other criminals to flee.
Reports by PRNigeria on Sunday revealed that four people have been arrested for leaking information to terrorists about troops’ locations and movements around the outskirts of Abuja.
The criminals, according to the reports, are already in the custody of a security agency.
An intelligence operative who spoke with the media platform said the suspects were arrested with sophisticated equipment including Walkie-Talkies, revolvers, knives, amulets, and old Chinese-made phones, that do not use data.
4. 2023: Wike Meets PDP Chieftains Behind Closed Door
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Truetells Nigeria learned that the meeting, which took place at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, was attended by some PDP Governors.
The governors include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.
Also at the meeting were former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke; former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam; former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko and former Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson;
Others are the former governor of Kogi state, Ibrahim Idris; former Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang; Prof. Jerry Gana, and Kano PDP governorship candidate, Mohammed Abacha among other chieftains
The agenda of the meeting was unknown as of the time of filing this report, but there are indications it is in connection to the crisis rocking the party.
5. APC Wins All Seats In Ebonyi Local Council Elections
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the winner of the Ebonyi Local Government Area election conducted on Saturday.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), Jossy Eze, made this known in Abakaliki on Sunday.
While announcing the results, Eze said the APC won all 13 chairmanship seats in the local government and all the 171 councillorship seats.
The EBSIEC chairman, therefore, commended the electorate for ensuring that the polls were free and peaceful.
6. Insecurity: We Are At Alert For Terrorists – Lagos Police
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has said it is on alert to defend the commercial city from any form of attack from terrorists.
Truetells Nigeria understands that the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said this while speaking during a webinar space over the weekend.
Hundeyin made the bold statement while reacting to reports that dreaded Boko Haram terrorists and its affiliate, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are planning to attack the state, as well as some parts of the country.
Reports had claimed that the two sects were planning to invade some parts of the North-West, North-Central and South-West.
Lagos, Kaduna, Kogi, Katsina and Zamfara states as well as the Federal Capital Territory were all mentioned as targets for the attack.
Reacting, however, to the report, Hundeyin who was responding to questions from The PUNCH during the webinar said operatives of the command are ready and are also getting intelligence reports.
7. PDP Crisis: You Can’t Be Bigger Than The Party, Sule Lamido Slams Wike
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has asked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers to abide by all the decisions made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lamido was reacting to the crisis rocking the opposition PDP following the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking to THISDAY over the weekend, Lamido warned Wike to stop complaining about his loss at the PDP Presidential primary, stressing that he cannot be bigger than the party.
The former Jigawa governor also advised Wike to respect Atiku’s decision not to pick him as his running mate.
Lamido asked Wike to learn from the former Rivers governor, Peter Odili, who did not get the PDP presidential ticket for the 2007 election.
8. Tambuwal Meets Obasanjo Behind Closed Doors
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo played host to Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Penthouse on Sunday, Truetells Nigeria understands.
Full information about the meeting is yet to be made public but reports said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor met with Obasanjo to discuss national issues.
Special Assistant to Obasanjo on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi confirmed in a terse statement that Tambuwal arrived at the OOPL at about 1:30 pm today with some of his key aides.
The Sokoto State leader reportedly went straight into the meeting with the former President and at about 2:40 pm, they both ended the brief meeting hinged on national issues.
Tambuwal was said to have enjoyed the launch with his entourage and headed for the mosque inside OOPL to observe salat (prayers) before leaving the complex.
9. A Miracle About To Happen’ – New CAN President Speaks On How Christians Will Vote In 2023
Nigerians, particularly Christians will vote for candidates based on convictions and antecedents in the 2023 general elections, says the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Daniel Okoh.
The Christian leader said that there is a miracle waiting to happen in Nigeria which will surely become a reality.
Okoh said the citizens have gone beyond casting their votes based on the political party fielding candidates. He said people now look into the credibility and character of the candidates before they give them their votes.
Truetells Nigeria understands that the Archbishop stated this while delivering the sermon at the 2022 International Men’s Conference of Christ Holy Church International in Abuja on Sunday.
Okoh in his sermon entitled ‘By Faith, Give Leadership’ said it is important that people of God at this time should have their eyes open.
He admonished electorates to ensure they know the people they are giving their votes to.
10. 2023: Atiku Made Peter Obi A National Figure – Melaye
Former Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye had claimed that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, made the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, a national figure.
Melaye claimed that the former vice president discovered Obi and made him a national appeal when he picked him as his running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
He said this during the public declaration for Atiku and induction ceremony by the Diamond Ladies in Politics held Saturday evening in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The former lawmaker described the PDP presidential candidate as a talent hunter, saying that Atiku identified the former Anambra governor before his supporters on social discovered him.