Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Monday, 5th April 2021
1. Insecurity: Gumi, Obasanjo Send Message To Buhari’s Government
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, have sent a message to the Federal Government over activities of bandits, kidnappers in Nigeria.
Obasanjo and Gumi in a statement released following their closed-door meeting on Sunday recommended that special courts be established to try bandits, kidnappers, and carriers of unlawful weapons in Nigeria.
Gumi had led some northern religious leaders to Obasanjo’s residence at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on Sunday, April 4 to discuss ongoing insecurity challenges in the country, Naija News understands.
In the 21-point communique issued after the meeting, the leaders urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government to take the issue of insecurity up with the Economic Community of West African States. They also recommended that whistleblowers against insecurity must be protected and rewarded.
2. Embattled CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, Insists ‘Biafra Boys’ Assaulted Him
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, who was seen in a video assaulting a security guard, said the viral video did not show all that transpired.
Recall that Umar last Monday was spotted in a video allegedly assaulting a security guard identified as Clement Sargwak at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The CCT in a statement released through its spokesman, Ibraheem Al-Hassan, noted that Umar was attacked by some ‘Biafra boys’ at Banex.
Speaking in a fresh interview with PRNigeria, Danladi Umar did not deny asking the CCT spokesperson to issue a statement blaming the mob attack on him on ‘Biafran boys’.
He stated that was attacked by a mob that was “chanting secessionist and sectional slogan.”
3. Easter: Jonathan Speaks On How Nigeria Can Overcome Its Challenges
Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to work in love, peace, and unity as Christians mark the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during the Easter season.
Jonathan in his Easter message to the people of Nigeria, noted that apart from working in love, peace, and unity, Nigerians must exercise faith and hope, so as to overcome the current national challenges and build a prosperous nation.
He made the submission in a Twitter statement obtained by Naija News from his personal Twitter page on Sunday.
4. El-Rufai Vows To Prosecute Anyone Negotiating With Bandits For Kaduna
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has denied appointing any individual or group to negotiate with bandits on its behalf.
Naija News recalls that bandits had in March stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state and abducted 39 students comprising 23 females and 16 males.
The gunmen, a few days later, kidnapped teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama, a village in Birnin Gwari LGA of the state.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, warned that the government would prosecute anyone negotiating with bandits on its behalf.
The Kaduna government also urged residents to reports any individual or group negotiating with bandits.
5. Buhari Legacy In Grave Danger, He Is Not The Man I Knew – Bakare
The founder of The Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said the state of Nigeria does not represent the President Muhammadu Buhari he knew.
Speaking in a State of the Nation broadcast, Bakare warned Buhari to wake up from his slumber or his legacy will be confined to an unsavoury side of history.
Bakare said “I am compelled to speak out because this is not the Nigeria General Muhammadu Buhari and I had dreams to create when he invited me to be his running mate in 2011.
“I am compelled to speak out because the state of the nation does not represent the Buhari I knew when we took that solemn journey towards rebuilding Nigeria.
6. Soludo: Gunmen Release Abducted Anambra Commissioner
Gunmen have released the Anambra State commissioner for public utilities, Engr Emeka Ezenwanne who was kidnapped on Wednesday night.
Naija News reports that Ezenwanne was abducted on Wednesday during an attack on a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Chukwuma Soludo, which left three police officers dead.
It was gathered that Ezenwanne was kidnapped after scaling the fence in attempt to escape, but ran into the gunmen.
A source who spoke to Daily Post said, “I just spoke to the commissioner now. He has been freed, and he is in good health too.
“He denied paying any ransom, and also told me that his abductors did not maltreat him in anyway.”
It was gathered that Ezenwanne was released at about 1am on Easter day.
7. FG Asks States To Halt COVID-19 Vaccination Halfway
The Federal Government has directed states administering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to stop vaccination when they use half of the doses allocated to them.
It was gathered that the directive was given by the Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaibu.
This means that a state that was given 100,000 doses would have to stop vaccination once the doses hit 50,000 in order for those who have received their first jab to get their second.
This became necessary due to a possible delay in the supply of the next batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines.
The delay is caused by a surge in the demand by the European Union and a new policy by India which manufactures the vaccine. India had said last week that it would prioritize domestic vaccination for its over 1.2 billion citizens.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, confirmed the new directive to states.
He said states were asked to stop vaccination halfway until more vaccines arrive because it was the smartest thing to do since it is a double-dose vaccine.
8. SERAP Drags Buhari To Court Over ‘Missing N3.8billion Health Funds’
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over his failure to investigate the N3,836,685,213.13 allegedly missing in the health sector.
Naija News reports that the group also joined the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire as respondents in the suit.
According to SERAP, the missing funds are meant for the Federal Ministry of Health, teaching hospitals, medical centres, and National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
9. Nigeria Now ‘Massive Killing Field’ Under Buhari – Bishop Kukah
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has again attacked the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his Easter message on Sunday, Kukah said Nigeria has become a massive killing field, as both government and the governed look on helplessly.
The popular cleric also accused Buhari’s government of rewarding bandits, adding that Nigeria’s current predicament reminded him of Israel’s situation that led to the death of Eli.
Kukah recalled that President Buhari, at his swearing-in as President of Nigeria, said Boko Haram is a typical case of small fires causing large fires but under his watch, the fires are consuming the nation.
He lamented that most politicians hardly think through the long-term effects of “these pyrrhic victories of using religion”.
10. Wakili vs OPC: Gani Adams Asks IGP Adamu To Redeploy Oyo CP
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to redeploy the Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko.
Recall that the Oyo State Police Command had arrested and charged three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) for arresting notorious Fulani warlord Iskilu Wakili and allegedly burning down a house with a woman inside.
Three members of the OPC Awodele Adedigba, Dauda Kazeem, and Hassan Ramon are currently in detention on six counts of conspiracy, arson and murder.
In a statement, on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Gani Adams blamed the Oyo CP for her roles in the detention of the three members.