Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Tuesday, 30th March 2021
1. Buhari Heads To UK For Medical Check-Up
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, 30th March proceed to London, the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up.
The development was disclosed in a statement released by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina.
Before departing the country for the UK, President Buhari would meet with the security chiefs in the morning.
2. I Also Fought For Nigeria – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that Nigeria would be better and stronger together.
Speaking virtually from Aso Villa on Monday, March 29 as a guest of honour and chairman of the 12th colloquium to celebrate the 69th birthday of All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President Buhari said he fought for the unity of Nigeria as a military man during the 1967/1970 civil war.
Naija News understands that the colloquium held in Kano State was virtually attended by the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; amongst other prominent leaders.
The leader’s physical appearance at the event themed, ‘Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative Of National Cohesion For Growth And Prosperity, was disrupted by poor weather from the Abuja airport to the Kano airport, Naija News understands.
Delivering his speech from the comfort of his office in Aso Villa, Buhari said the theme of the occasion was suitable for the contemporary issue of secession and national unity in the country. His statement reads: “Despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in our national history, it seems to me that we have all agreed on one point that notwithstanding our diversity or ethnicity, culture, language and religion, Nigerians are better together, even stronger together.
3. Insecurity: Recruit 50 Million Youths Into Army – Tinubu To Buhari
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has urged the Federal Government to recruit at least 50 million youths into the Nigerian Army to help tackle insecurity.
Naija News reports that Tinubu stated this while speaking at a colloquium to celebrate his 69th birthday in Kano State.
According to the former Lagos governor, recruiting youths into the army will boost Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
4. Leave Yenagoa Or Else… – Bayelsa Issue Quit Notice To Herdsmen
The Bayelsa State Government has given Fulani herdsmen umbrella body – the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) – two weeks to move their livestock out of Yenagoa, the state capital, and its environs.
Naija News reports that the ultimatum was given by the Bayelsa State Livestock Management Committee.
The Chairman of the 23-man committee and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. David Alagoa, made this known to newsmen on Monday after a meeting between the committee and some South-south chapters of the MACBAN at the ministry.
The commissioner stated that the committee would impound herdsmen cows as the movement by foot either at night or in the day would not be tolerated in the state.
5. Jonathan vs Buhari: Babangida Suspended From PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State has suspended former Governor, Babangida Aliyu from the party.
According to a communique issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting in Minna, the decision to suspend the former governor was as a result of six weighty allegations which the party in his LGA reportedly found disturbing and considered to be inimical to the progress of the party.
The PDP accused Babangida of working for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2015 to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan.
6. ESN: We Are Not Gunmen – IPOB Replies Nigerian Military
The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied reports linking its Eastern Security Network (ESN) to the killing of security operatives and burning of security buildings in the southeast.
The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful where it denied the links, stated that ESN is after terrorists operating in the region and not against security operatives.
It noted that a statement credited to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo in which the military chief accused the ESN of attacking security operatives and formations is totally false.
Powerful added that the ESN operated in the bushes and not in the cities.
7. Oduduwa Republic: We Must All Restructure Our Minds – Ganduje
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has called for the restructuring of the minds of Nigerians in order for the country to be united and integrated.
In his welcome address at the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Kano on Monday, Ganduje noted that Nigeria risks division if nothing is done to stop the agitation in some parts of the country.
He admitted that the level of cohesion in Nigeria is currently at a very low point, saying the divisive variables will pull the country down if various secessionists are not checked.
8. Finally, Kogi Bows To Pressure, Set To Begin COVID-19 Vaccination
The Kogi State government has disclosed plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccines allocated to the state on Tuesday.
The state commissioner for health, Saka Haruna made the disclosure on Monday, adding that rollout will begin shortly after.
This development comes after the State Governor, Yahaya Bello had initially insisted the state had nothing to do with the virus and had more important issues to deal with.
But Haruna in an update, confirmed that the state will receive the vaccine and allow residents of Kogi unhindered access to it.
The commissioner was however unable to confirm if the state governor will receive the vaccine or not after he had previously boasted that the coronavirus doesn’t exist.
9. One Killed, Several Injured As Police Attack Shiites Protesters In Abuja
An unidentified man was allegedly killed on Monday when policemen reportedly opened fire at members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), otherwise known as ‘Shiites’ protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
Naija News reports that El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat have been in detention since 2015 despite various court orders directing the government to release them.
It was gathered that the protesters took off from the Transcorp junction and were heading towards the National Human Rights Commission office when policemen opened fire at them.
According to SaharaReporters, three protesters sustained gunshot injuries from bullets fired by the police and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Members of the sect had on Monday staged a protest to mark the 70th birthday anniversary of their leader.
10. Why My Wife Was Missing At My Colloquium In Kano –Tinubu
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, on Monday, disclosed why his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, was absent at the 12th colloquium to celebrate his 69th birthday in Kano State.
The former Governor of Lagos State noted that his wife was absent because she was attending to guests at his Bourdillon residence in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.
Tinubu, “My wife is dealing with the crowd now in Bourdillon and she is probably not even watching (online) but without her permission, I couldn’t be here, without her collaboration, I won’t have peace to be standing here before you. A very gracious woman.”