Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 4th February 2021
1. Buhari Govt Approves Establishment Of 20 New Private Universities
President Muhammadu Buhari through the Federal Executive Council has approved a memo from the Ministry of Education for the establishment of 20 new private universities across the country.
Naija News understands that the 20 new private universities are to be given provisional licenses to run for three years while the ministry monitors and evaluates their growth.
This will bring the total number of private universities in Nigeria to 99, Channels Television reports.
2. Why VP Osinbajo Should Resign – Tunde Bakare
Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church in Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has asked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to resign if President Muhammadu Buhari does not allow him to perform.
Speaking during an Instagram Live interview with the publisher of Ovation magazine, Chief Dele Momodu, Bakare stated that he does not believe reports that Osinbajo was being handicapped in office and not allowed to perform his constitutional role.
He said, “I do not know if that statement is true that he is not allowed to perform because the constitution is very clear on what the role of the vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is, especially as it relates to steering the economy of the nation.”
3. APC Membership Revalidation, Caretaker Committee, Not Good Signs For The Party – Akande
The pioneer national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, Wednesday faulted the decision to set up a national caretaker committee for the party.
He also 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.
Akande in his submission while speaking at the APC (2021) membership registration and revalidation exercise in Ila Orangun, Osun State, noted that if not properly managed, handpicking the leadership of any political party might spell danger for such a party.
He added that calling for an update of the membership register less than ten years after the formation of the party is an aberration that should not be taken lightly by the leaders.
4. 2023: Lamido States Position On Possibility Of Jonathan As APC Presidential Candidate
Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido has lambasted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), pushing to have former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Lamido in his submission said such persons are nothing but hypocrites.
Explaining his submission, Lamido said the APC members were those who tagged Jonathan as weak and clueless when they wanted to push him out of power in 2015, so for them to want to pick him as their candidate leaves a question on whether APC does not have any qualified person to present in 2023.
5. Buhari’s Successor Will Spend Tenure Fixing Problems Created By APC – Wike
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been condemned by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for worsening state of insecurity and tension in the country.
Wike in his statement noted that Buhari’s successor will spend his tenure fixing the ethnic, religious and socio-economic problems created by the All Progressives Congress-led government.
He further stated that the current government has created religious intolerance and ethnic divisions since taking over power in 2015.
6. 2023: The North Should Rest And Allow South Produce Next President – Ex-Kano Governor
A former Kano State Governor and current Chairperson of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabiru Gaya has stated that the North should take a break from the presidency.
This is as he declared that personally, he would support the southern region for the 2023 presidency for the sake of equity.
Gaya made his position known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Tuesday where he submitted that in the spirit of fairness, the south should produce Nigeria’s next president while the north should produce the vice president.
7. Biafra: Facebook Blocks Nnamdi Kanu’s Account
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday, condemned Facebook for blocking the account of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The group reacted in a statement released through its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, on Wednesday.
Powerful in the statement said Kanu’s Facebook account was blocked after his live broadcast on Tuesday night.
Powerful described the attitude of Facebook as oppressive and prevention of information flow, which he said was similar to how the British government prevented information from Biafra from going out during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 — 1970.
8. #EndSARS: CNN, Amnesty Guilty Of Double Standard – Lai Mohammed
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has accused CNN and Amnesty International (AI) of double standards on their position on the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria and the Capitol Building invasion in the USA.
Mohammed said what happened during the Capitol invasion in the USA is similar to the Lekki Toll Gate incident during the #EndSARS protest in Nigeria but the two organizations chose to treat the American version differently.
He blamed CNN for relying on concocted social media lies to blame the federal government for the Lekki Tollgate incident with security operatives, insisting the incident is part of why the government is insisting on regulating social media.
9. Benue: Ortom Stops Aides From Campaigning For 2023 Or Resign
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has asked all his appointees to halt any form of campaign for themselves or for others ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Ortom stated this during a discussion with newsmen at the Benue Government House on Wednesday.
The governor stated that it was too early for any of his appointees to engage in campaigns or political consultations, as the 2023 election was still far.
He warned that any of his appointees who fails to obey the directive will have to resign and concentrate on campaigning for 2023.
10. EFCC Questions Former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday interrogated former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari over alleged illegal financial dealings.
Naija News reports that the former governor was questioned that the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that the ex-governor was grilled at the Lagos office of the commission, adding that he has been released to go home.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on January 26, 2021, ordered the final forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari domiciled in Zenith and Polaris Banks.