Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 20th May 2022
1. President Buhari Leaves Abuja For UAE On Two-Day Visit
President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today (Thursday).
In a statement released by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the President while in the UAE would meet its new president, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The statement added that Buhari will also extend his congratulations to Al Nahyan and renew bonds of the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and the UAE.
It also disclosed that the President will convey his condolences on the passing of the former president and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
2. Terrorists Responsible For Violence In South East – FG
The Federal Government says terrorists are responsible for the widespread violence and killings in South East.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, made this known on Thursday at the ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja.
Dingyadi stated that the unknown gunmen killing innocent Nigerians in the South East are terrorists and are being dealt with decisively by the military.
The minister added that the intelligence community of the government have been able to identify the unknown gunmen causing violence in the region.
3. 2023: You Don’t Deserve PDP Ticket – Wike Blasts Atiku, Saraki, Others
Rivers State Governor and 2023 presidential hopeful, Nyesom Wike has submitted that some persons within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don’t deserve the party’s ticket.
He stated without mentioning specific names that such persons abandoned the party back in 2015 when it lost the presidential pols while some others in the same category worked against the PDP to install President Muhammadu Buhari who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike is believed to be making allusions to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Bukola Saraki who are also seeking the PDP ticket of the 2023 presidency.
Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Wike told party delegates in the state that he has always remained with the party and urged them to give him their support.
4. Boko Haram, Ansaru Terrorists Are Now In Kaduna – El-Rufai Raises Alarm
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has raised an alarm over the presence of the Boko Haram and the Ansaru terrorists in the state.
El-Rufai disclosed that the terrorists have established their camps in Birnin-Gwari and Giwa Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that while the state is still battling bandits, the presence of the terrorist groups in the state shows that the problem of insecurity has moved from the North-East to the North-West.
The governor called on the military and other security agencies to quickly address the presence of the terrorists and not allow them to move their base to the North West.
He said the government got the information about the presence of the terrorists in the state from one of the kidnap victims that was released recently.
El-Rufai stated on Thursday this while receiving the 2022 First Quarter Security Report from the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
5. FG Too Powerful, Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution Needs Amendment – Akeredolu Opens Up
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has lamented that Nigeria is not practising true federalism the way the country runs currently and has called for true restructuring.
Akeredolu, who is also the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) in a statement issued on Thursday in Akure, therefore called for an amendment to the 1999 constitution which the country uses at the moment.
He said the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended) does not reflect true federalism. Particularly, he lamented that there is too much concentration of power in the central government which ought not to be.
According to the Ondo State Governor, for Nigeria to make developmental progress, the constitution must be rejigged in such a way that the states will have better stakes in how decisions are made and enjoy greater autonomy.
6. Tambuwal Tackles Jonathan, Blames Former President For Not Restructuring Nigeria
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan had the opportunity to restructure Nigeria but failed to do so.
Tambuwal who is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives said on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State that during his time in charge of the Green Chamber, the lawmakers made an attempt to amend the country’s constitution but Jonathan failed to sign the necessary bill.
He said the issue of restructuring could have been attended to if former President Jonathan had permitted their recommendations to scale through.
Tambuwal, a 2023 presidential hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) therefore blamed the former President for not carrying out restructuring when he had the opportunity.
According to him, the agitation for restructuring in Nigeria would have become history and the many of the challenges facing the country could have gotten solutions.
7. Biafra: Stay Away From South-East – IPOB Issues Stern Warning To Pastor Kumuyi
The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked Pastor Williams Kumuyi of Deeper Life Bible Church to cancel his scheduled crusade in Abia State.
The pro-Biafra group issued the stern warning in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Thursday.
IPOB asked the cleric to cancel the planned crusade because any attack that leads to bloodshed would be planned on the group.
According to the group, Kumuyi and other clerics should pray for an end to killings in the South-East.
8. Magu Retired Before Promotion Was Approved – Dingyadi
The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi on Thursday disclosed that the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu had retired before his recent promotion.
Dingyadi disclosed this during a weekly ministerial briefing by the Presidential Communication team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Naija News had earlier reported that the former EFCC boss was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday approved the promotion of Magu just about when his retirement from the Police was due.
Dingyadi when asked why Magu was promoted, said it is the responsibility of the PSC, which is under the Presidency to provide the answer.
He, however, stated that the former EFCC boss has retired, adding that being retired will not stop him from any disciplinary measures should the need arise.
9. Section 84(12): Supreme Court Fixes New Date To Hear Buhari, Malami’s Case Against National Assembly
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed May 26 for hearing the suit filed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami on the controversial section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Naija News recalls that the apex court had fixed today to hear a suit filed by the President and Malami voiding the provisions of the controversial section.
In the suit filed on April 29 and marked SC/CV/504/2022, Buhari and Malami listed the National Assembly as the sole defendant.
However, during the continuation of the hearing today, the Supreme Court granted the application by the Rivers Attorney General and Speaker to be made defendants in the suit.
Lawyer to the new defendants, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) said his clients believed they needed to be made a party in the case because they would be affected one way or the other by the outcome.
A seven-member panel, led by Justice Musa Dattijo Mohammed, granted the application of the Rivers officials and included the two as defendants.
10. Troops Kill B’Haram Spiritual Leader, Terrorists’ Commander
A Boko Haram commander, Abubakar Sarki has been killed by troops of the Nigerian military attached to Operation Hadin Kai.
Sarki was killed by military officers attached to Operation Hadin Kai.
Armed forces in joint operations carried out by the land and air troops also killed the Amir and spiritual head of the Gaita general area, Mallam Shehu and some of his foot soldiers.
The spokesman of the Military High Command, Maj.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Onyeuko gave updates on the successes of military operations across the country between 28 April and 19 May 2022.
Those are 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