Top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 14th March 2022
1. AGF Malami Denies Exonerating Embattled Abba Kyari
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said he did not exonerate embattled DCP Abba Kyari.
AGF Malami, in a statement on Sunday, stated that he only asked for further probe into the activities of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Recall that the AGF in a legal advice forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had called for further investigations, noting that a prima facie case of money laundering had been established against the DCP.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, described as false the media reports that Malami’s Office had conclusively exonerated Abba Kyari.
According to the statement, there appears to be a misunderstanding regarding the issue.
Malami’s spokesman noted that it was a case of work in progress in respect of which the office of the Attorney General of the federation requested for further probe in relation to some aspects of the investigation.
He said that It was clear that the conclusion on the alleged contradiction on the issue was a clear case of misconception.
2. Buhari Administration Is A Certified Failure – PDP Fires President, APC
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lashed out at the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing it of failing by all standards.
The PDP in a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba also accused Buhari of arrogantly leading his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) into multiple failures.
The PDP statement said President Buhari since taking over the affairs of Nigeria in 2015 has brought “unprecedented economic hardship, chaos, escalated insecurity, a state of anomie and hopelessness in our country.”
According to the opposition party, Buhari and the APC have almost collapsed the once buoyant economy handed over to them by the PDP.
It listed other ‘sins’ of the ruling party and Buhari to include failure to obey court orders, prosecute its members accused of corruption, and inability to address the leadership crisis rocking the party which has seen ‘two national chairmen’ laying claim to the party’s leadership structure.
PDP then called on Nigerians to end the misrule of the APC by voting out the party in 2023.
3. Terrorists Can’t Win The War In Nigeria, We Have Killed Many Of Their Leaders – Amao
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has assured that the military will win the war against bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements in the country.
According to the Chief of Air Staff, the military has developed better strategies that have ensured the insurgents have been limited in their operations and activities.
Truetells Nigeria understands Amao made the submission during a virtual media chat between journalists and service chiefs tagged – Open Ears Dialogue.
Amao added that most of the leaders of the insurgents have been killed during military operations and this has weakened the terrorists while many of them have been surrendering in droves.
4. 2023 Presidency: Buhari Will Support Tinubu Against Osinbajo, Fayemi – Ibrahim
A close confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abu Ibrahim has declared that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will get Buhari’s support for his 2023 presidential ambition.
Ibrahim said the northern region and particularly, northwest politicians will be at loss in the future if Buhari refuses to support Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition.
According to him, Asiwaju Tinubu mobilized southwest votes for Buhari in 2015 and it’s simply payback time. He added that should Buhari fail to support Tinubu, the north will be seen as traitors and won’t enjoy the trust and partnership such as brought Buhari into power.
“If we don’t support Tinubu, North-West politicians will suffer in the future as nobody will trust us again. So we have to make sure that this understanding is for our future politics,” he said on Sunday in an interview with Daily Trust.
On the possibility of any other southern aspirant making it impossible for Tinubu to achieve his dreams, Ibrahim said no politician can stand against Tinubu.
He specifically pointed out that Tinubu is a benefactor to both Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, hence both of them won’t want to rock the boat by contesting against the APC National Leader in 2023.
Speaking on the reported presidential ambitions of Osinbajo and Fayemi, the former lawmaker insisted that both of them won’t contest against Tinubu.
5. 2023: Allow Igbo Presidency Or Let Igbos Secede From Nigeria – EMTT
A coalition group identified as Equity Movement Turn by Turn has demanded that an Igbo man should take over the leadership of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari, Naija News reports.
The group said it is paramount that the Southern region of the nation be allowed to taste the seat of power after a long while for fairness and equity sake.
EMTT stressed that the South-East would likely exit Nigeria if an Igbo man is denied the nation’s number one political position come 2023.
The group appealed to all former and present leaders of the country not to allow the next Nigerian President to elude the region.
The group stressed that if Nigerians cannot trust the Igbo, they should allow them to go in the best interest of the country.
6. I Don’t Believe Buhari Has Endorsed Adamu, I Remain In The Race For APC Chairmanship – Al-Makura
A former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura has declared he would not be withdrawing from the race to become the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Al-Makura, he can’t withdraw from the race simply based on speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Truetells Nigeria recalls earlier reports have claimed the President has endorsed Adamu for the position and has refused to change his mind despite pressures from some Governors.
But Al-Makura on Sunday declared to journalists in Abuja that there is no authoritative source that can confirm Buhari has endorsed Adamu or any other person for the job.
Al-Makura who currently represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly also boasted that he has no record that will make him fail any security check for the APC chairmanship job.
7. Nnamdi Kanu: IPOB Sends Message To Judge, Gives Reason To Release Him In Next Trial
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has given reasons why Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court should acquit and discharge their leader, Nnamdi Kanu in the next court hearing.
IPOB stated that discharging Kanu on the next trial date which is on April 8, 2022, would prove that the judge is not biased and has not been compromised.
IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said this on Sunday in a statement.
He maintained that the 15-count charge against Kanu were ludicrous and empty with no substance.
8. Buhari Is A Serious Muslim That Wants People Of Different Religions To Live In Harmony – Osinbajo
The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who promotes religious tolerance.
According to Osinbajo, though Buhari is a very committed Muslim, he understands and promotes religious tolerance.
The Vice President added that the religious tolerance of President Buhari is easily exhibited in the relationship between the two of them as they have not had any problem working together since coming into leadership in 2015.
The spokesperson for Vice President Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande in a statement on Sunday, quoted his principal to have made the submission when he received the Senegal-based Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya movement, Sheikh Mahi Ibrahim Niass.
Furthermore, Prof Osinbajo was quoted to have emphasized the need to promote religious tolerance and ensure the people of the country and Africa at large, live together in harmony despite having different religions.
9. Lagos: NDLEA Arrests General Overseer With Drugs
The General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Rev Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ekwem has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for drug peddling.
NDLEA arrested Ekwem while on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body.
Ekwem was apprehended by operatives of NDLEA during outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis Ababa.
The cleric has his church headquarters in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka, Awka North LGA, Anambra state and two other branches in Lagos and Abuja
The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement titled, ‘Church General Overseer arrested with drugs at Lagos airport’, the NDLEA said when the drugs were tested, the 54 sticks proved positive to cannabis.
Babafemi disclosed that the cleric during preliminary interview revealed that he packed that quantity of illicit substance on his body to use during his three weeks crusade in Kenya.
10. Obasanjo Opens Up On His Journey In Islam
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up about his knowledge of Islamic religion, Truetells Nigeria reports.
The former leader while addressing a group of Islamic scholars on Sunday, said his Islamic journey ended as a child after he fled Arabic school because of flogging.
According to Obasanjo, the fear of torture by his then Quranic teachers made him abandon the Arabic school better known as Ile-Kewu in Yorubaland.
The elder statesman who holds a doctoral degree in Christian Theology, disclosed this while delivering a speech in Abeokuta, Ogun State during the inauguration and turbaning of Sheikh Salis Alao Adenekan as the Grand Caliph of the Tijaniyyah for Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States.