Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Friday, 5th February 2021
1. Buhari Gives Fresh Appointment To All Immediate Past Service Chiefs
President Muhammadu Buhari has recommended the appointment of all immediate past service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.
To this end, the President has forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation, Naija News reports.
Buhari’s letter to Senate President Ahmad Lawan on this development reads: “In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”
The nominees are: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
2. President Buhari Extends Tenure Of IGP Mohammed Adamu
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu by three months.
This development was disclosed on Thursday afternoon by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He noted that the extension of the IGP’s tenure by the president is to allow enough time to select a new police boss.
3. Katsina Government Paid Us N30m Ransom For Release Of Kankara Schoolboys — Bandits Leader, Awulu
Katsina State government has been accused by Awulu, a top commander in the banditry group that abducted over 300 schoolboys in Kankara Local Government Area of the state of paying them the sum of N30 million as ransom before the boys were released.
The development is contrary to the statement released by Zamfara, Kastina, and the Federal Government that no ransom was paid to release the students.
According to SaharaReporters, in a leaked telephone conversation between Awulu and a former council boss in Katsina State, the bandits’ commander admitted the group collected N30m from the state government.
4. Varsity Workers To Commence Indefinite Strike
The Joint Action Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has asked their branches to begin strike from today.
Naija News reports that the directive was issued in a statement signed by the leaders of both university staff associations on Thursday.
Part of the notice read, “In view of the outcome of the meeting, the leadership of JAC of NASU and SSANU at the branches are hereby directed to commence joint general meetings on Friday to give reports on the outcome of the conciliation meeting and pass resolutions on the way forward.
“In the meantime, the nationwide strike takes effect from 12 midnight, Friday, February 5, 2021, pending any contrary resolution by the branches.”
5. Security Situation Has Never Been This Bad – Tunde Bakare
The General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Thursday said the security situation in Nigeria has never been this bad.
The cleric while speaking on Arise TV on Thursday called on the government to attend to security issues in the country.
Bakare further stated that it’s about time the issues of disintegration are addressed directly.
6. 2023: Why Nigerians Will Vote APC Out – Wike
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday said the insecurity issues in the country and corruption will force Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress in 2023.
The Peoples Democratic Party Governor noted that the economic issues and insurgency has made Nigerians realize that they made a mistake voting for APC.
Wike stated this after inspecting the Greater Interchange and Underpass being constructed by Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, in Yola.
7. Why APC Is Doing Membership Revalidation – Buni Fires Back At Akande
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni has explained that the membership revalidation exercise embarked upon by the party is very important.
Buni made this view known on Thursday in response to a position by the APC pioneer national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande who had earlier argued that the exercise is an aberration and a waste of resources.
Akande questioned the decision of the party leadership to call for a re-validation of the party’s membership register less than ten years after the party was initially formed in 2014.
However, Buni, who is also the Yobe State Governor in a reaction to Akande’s submission said the ongoing nationwide membership revalidation exercise is a strategic move by the APC.
8. Why Ganduje Barred Me From Preaching In Kano – Islamic Cleric Reveals
A Kano-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, has accused Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of banning him from preaching because he worked against him during the 2019 general election.
The election, which was keenly contested, led to a runoff before Ganduje, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Abba Kabir Yusuf, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival.
Reports reaching Naija News at the moment confirmed that heavily armed officials of the Department of State Security, DSS, has been deployed to the Sheikh’s mosque and house to ensure there was no violation of the directive earlier issued.
The State government had earlier banned Kabara from leading prayers or preaching in the state over his messages which are considered to be inciting.
9. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Speaks On Eviction Notice To Northerners In Southeast
The alleged eviction notice reportedly issued to the northerners in the Southeast has been described as a mere rumour by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural group in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, said no one is sending away non-indigenes from the region.
Ohanaeze warned elites from the two regions to shun inflammatory statements and activities that could incite ethnoreligious violence.
The group, however, expressed its dissatisfaction with the activities of certain herdsmen instigating crisis in the region and many other parts of the country.
10. Maina’s Son Faisal Flees To U.S
Faisal Maina, son of the former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has fled to the United States of America (USA).
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mohammed Abubakar, disclosed this to Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday.
The EFCC lawyer noted that the anti-graft agency learned that Faisal sneaked to the USA through the Republic of Niger.