Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 4th June 2021
1. Nigeria Is Dripping In Bitterness And Sadness – Obasanjo
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, noted that Nigeria is presently dripping in bitterness and sadness.
The elder statesman said even though the country is destined to be a land flowing with milk and honey, bad leadership has made it unachievable.
Obasanjo stated this in Abeokuta while unveiling a book authored by Femmy Carrena in his honour and titled “The Man, The General, The President”.
2. Why I Always Criticize President Buhari And His Administration – Ortom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has revealed that he would not be silenced by critics who want him to stop speaking against the failings of President Muhammadu’s administration.
He said Nigerians are in pains and as an elected representative of the people, he will continue to demand justice and fairness for them.
Ortom added that he won’t stop speaking until the federal government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) wakes up to its responsibility of meeting the needs of the citizens.
The Benue State Governor spoke on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during the commissioning ceremony of the 65km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road at Akinyele local government secretariat, Moniya.
Describing himself as a man who seeks justice, Ortom declared that the only thing that can make him keep shut is for the APC-led federal government to give justice to the people.
3. NYSC Members Can Be Mobilized For War If…. – DG
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim has said corps members can be mobilized for war if needed.
The NYSC boss made the declaration on Wednesday during his appearance on a Channels TV programme, saying the corps members are part of the reserve defence system of Nigeria.
He made the submission as part of his defence on why the NYSC system should not be scrapped.
Naija News recalls a Bill that proposes the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme has passed first reading in the House of Representatives.
The Bill titled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration Bill, 2020 is sponsored by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante, the Member Representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State.
The lawmaker while justifying his reason for sponsoring the bill explained that current developments, devoid of sentiments do not support the continuation of the NYSC scheme as the scheme has outlived its usefulness.
Advancing more reasons why the NYSC scheme should continue, General Ibrahim said the NYSC has united Nigerians more than any other scheme and has produced many marriages including inter-tribal marriages.
4. Despite Mass Campaign, Senate Reveals Why Nigerians Can’t Get New Constitution
The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, dashed the hopes of Nigerians calling on lawmakers to give the country an entirely new constitution.
Naija News reports that groups, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had called for a new constitution that will capture the agitations of many Nigerians, instead of amending the present 1999 constitution.
But speaking at a national public hearing on the alteration to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution in Abuja, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, said Nigerians can’t get a new constituion now.
According to the Deputy Senate President, it would be unconstitutional to embark on any process to provide an entirely new law without prior alteration of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
5. Nigerian Leaders Are Corrupt, Buhari Does Not Listen – Tunde Bakare
The overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, has stated that Nigerian leaders are corrupt.
Speaking with BBC Yoruba, Bakare said Nigerian leaders have steered the country to its current state.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari never listened to his ideas, adding that many people voted for Buhari because they thought that, as a former military leader, he would be able to lead the country on the right path.
6. Why Nigeria Should Legalise Cannabis Cultivation – Akeredolu
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has called for the legalisation of cannabis cultivation in the country for medicinal purposes.
Akeredolu stated this on Thursday on a live interview programme tagged ‘Governor Speaks’, which is part of activities lined up in commemoration of his 100 days of his second term in office.
The Chairman of the South-West Governor’s forum said cannabis could be a strong foreign exchange earner for Nigeria if its cultivation was legalised.
7. Kidnapping, Banditry Has Being Reduced With NIN – Pantami
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, on Thursday said the National Identification Number (NIN) and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) integration exercise has reduced banditry and kidnapping in the country.
The Minister stated this in Abuja while rendering account of his stewardship since assuming office, in 2019.
Pantami noted that before the policy was put in place, criminals working with agents of telecommunication officials engaged in illegally pre-registering sim cards that were sold to criminal gangs to perpetrate crime.
8. Presidency Reacts To Changing Nigeria’s Name To United African Republic
The presidency on Thursday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is not involved in the recommendation for the name of Nigeria as a country to be changed to United African Republic.
The President’s personal assistant on new media, Bashir Ahmad noted that neither the government of Nigeria nor President Buhari personally has any hand in the recommendation for the country’s change of name.
He called on those dragging the president and the presidency into the matter to desist from the act.
9. Declaring Nigeria A Failed State Nonsensical – FG
The Federal Government has berated the Council on Foreign Affairs (CFA) in the United States for declaring Nigeria a failed state on the basis of its security challenges.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this in response to a recent declaration by the council that “Nigeria is at a point of no return with all the signs of a failed nation’’.
Naija News reports that the declaration by CFA that Nigeria was a failed state and would eventually collapse was contained in a research finding recently released through Campbell and Rotberg.
But in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the minister stressed that “Nigeria is not and cannot be a failed state’’.
Mohammed said the declaration by the Council is “preposterous’’, adding that it did not represent an official U.S. policy.
10. Bandits Planning To Attack Kano – Ganduje Raises Alarm
Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has raised the alarm that armed bandits have taken over forests in the state where they may be planning to carry out attacks.
Speaking at the Defence Headquarters on Thursday, Ganduje said the bandits are grouping in Falgore forest, even as his government is working hard to open up the forests.
While meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, Ganduje pleaded with the Nigerian Army to hasten work training Depot at the Falgore forest so that the military can take over the forest.
He, however, assured residents of the state of the commitment of his administration and the security agencies to sustain the relative peace in the state.
The governor noted that the prevailing peace in the state is due to the cordial relationship between the government and security agencies.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
The article was originally published on Nigeria News