Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 21st July 2021
1. I Was Surprised To Know Only 2.5% Of Arable Land In Nigeria Is Under Cultivation – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State, urged more Nigerians to embrace farming, saying he was surprised to hear only 2.5 per cent of arable lands in the country is being cultivated.
President Buhari told newsmen at his residence, after the Eid-el-Kabir prayers, that the Presidential Economic Advisory Council had notified him that only a small percentage of the land in the country had been used for farming, directing security outfits to work more with communities to create a more friendly environment for farmers.
The President according to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu mandated security outfits to be more relentless in maintaining peace in the country, and ensure a more harmonious relationship with communities so that they can glean intelligence.
2. 2023: Perish Your Hopes Of Taking Over From Buhari – Presidency Tells PDP
The presidency has admonished the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to forget about returning to power when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari expires in 2023.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the submission while speaking on Tuesday after the Eid-el-Kabir prayer in Abuja.
According to him, President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have done so much for Nigerians that the citizens will not vote for another party come 2023 when he leaves office.
He told the PDP and other opposition parties to forget about displacing APC as the ruling party in 2023 because Nigerians will not forget the legacies of the Buhari administration in a hurry.
3. Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Igboho Arrested In Cotonou
Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, has been arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Naija News reports.
He was arrested at the Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport on Monday night while attempting to flee to Germany, a top source familiar with the matter revealed.
Igboho was arrested by the security forces in Benin Republic about three weeks after the Department of State Services declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he has since denied.
4. Police Rescue 100 Captives In Zamfara
The Zamfara Police Command has rescued 100 captives abducted by bandits in the Dansadau area of Maru Local Government Area of the state.
In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, the state Police spokesperson, SP Mohammed Shehu, said the victims were kidnapped at Manawa village on June 8 and kept at Kabaru forest for over 40 days.
Shehu noted that the repentant bandits facilitated the release of the captives through a mediation brokered by the state government.
The police spokesman added that though out of 100 persons, rescued only 80 are with the security agents so far.
Shehu stated that the remaining 20 could not make it to Gusau as they were sick and handed over to their families.
5. Sunday Igboho: Buhari Govt Hopeless Against Boko Haram – Ozekhome
Human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, has reacted to the arrest of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also know as Sunday Igboho.
Naija News had earlier reported that Sunday Igboho was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
He was arrested at the Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport on Monday night while attempting to flee to Germany, a top source familiar with the matter revealed.
Igboho was arrested by the security forces in Benin Republic about three weeks after the Department of State Services declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he has since denied.
Reacting in a statement, Ozekhome asked the government to pursue substance instead of shadow so as to rescue the nation from the claws of kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists.
6. ‘Sunday Igboho Still In Custody, Not Released’
Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, who was reportedly arrested on Monday has not been released.
Naija News had earlier reported that Sunday Igboho was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
He was arrested at the Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport on Monday night while attempting to flee to Germany, a top source familiar with the matter revealed.
Igboho was arrested by the security forces in Benin Republic about three weeks after the Department of State Services declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he has since denied.
But reports emerged on Tuesday evening claiming that the agitator has been released and flown to Germany.
Speaking in a zoom conversation organized by Heritage Multimedia TV, Professor Wale Adeniran dismissed such reports, stressing that Igboho is still being held by the Beninoise authorities.
Adeniran, a member of Ilana Omo Odua, umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, revealed that his lawyer confirmed that the activist is still in custody.
7. Buhari Shocked As Terrorists Shoot Down NAF Jet, Commends Pilot
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock at the news that a Nigerian Air Force Jet crashed after coming under heavy attack by terrorists.
The President expressed his view after he was given a security briefing about the NAF Alpha jet which crashed at the weekend in Zamfara State.
Buhari however commended the pilot that successfully ejected and escaped to safety when the bandits attacked the jet.
According to a statement on Tuesday by his special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, “President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the gallant pilot of the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, who successfully ejected from an aircraft that came under intense ground fire from bandits in Zamfara State, Northwest, at the weekend.
The President, who was briefed on the successful operation by the nation’s defence forces to rescue the pilot, said he was pained by news of the air crash.
“I was shocked by the devastating news of the air crash but felt much relieved, following the successful ejection by the pilot and his eventual rescue. May the injured pilot recover at the earliest time.,’ the President was quoted to have said.
8. CNG Accuses Southern Governors Of Sponsoring Kanu, Arming Igboho
The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) has accused Southern Governors of sponsoring the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and arming Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the group alleged that the governors are sponsoring Kanu and arming Igboho to perpetrate violence against the north and Northern interest in the south.
Reacting to the arrest of Sunday Igboho, the group commended the Federal Government for the arrest of the Yoruba Nation agitator.
The coalition, however, warns that the arrest of Igboho and Kanu will not be the end of the uprising and disturbances in southern Nigeria.
9. 2023: Nigerians Can’t Wait For Buhari Presidency To End – PDP Replies Shehu
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that Nigerians are already tired of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and can’t wait for his tenure to end in 2023.
The PDP in a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said anything that will keep the Buhari government in office longer than May 29, 2023, will be firmly resisted.
The PDP was responding to an earlier report in which the presidency had admonished the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to forget about returning to power when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari expires in 2023.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made the submission while speaking on Tuesday after the Eid-el-Kabir prayer in Abuja.
Replying in a statement titled ‘Buhari Presidency’s 2023 Comments Smacks of Self-Succession Plot’ the PDP said the position of the president’s spokesperson is provocative and suggestive that Buhari wants to cling to power.
It added that Nigerians have suffered enough hardship under the Buhari government and deserve something better.
10. African Charter, 1984 Treaty Makes Sunday Igboho Extradition Impossible – Lawyer
Yomi Aliu (SAN), Lawyer to Yoruba Nation Agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has given reasons why his client cannot be extradited to Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday reacting to the arrest of Igboho and his wife, Ropo Adeyemo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Aliu said the 1984 treaty with Benin on political offenders would not allow his client to be extradited.
Aliu disclosed that they have engaged lawyers in Benin to defend Igboho’s rights against extradition.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News