Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 25th March 2022
1. APC National Convention: Buhari Issues Fresh Directive To Party Leaders
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja told leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid squabbles and disagreements.
He added that any action that will jeopardize the chances of the party during the 2023 elections must be avoided.
The President spoke while hosting leaders and members of the APC from the National Assembly at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
He said the leaders and members of the APC must avoid every form of distraction in the build-up to the party’s National Convention on Saturday as well as the 2023 general elections.
2. Peter Obi Joins Presidential Race, To Tackle Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal For PDP Ticket
The former vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Peter Obi, has declared interest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Naija News reports that he declared his ambition while addressing traditional rulers at the Anambra State Government conference hall Agu- Awka, Anambra State.
According to Peter Obi, his decision to declare his ambition before traditional rulers was done to get royal blessings.
3. Political Appointees Won’t Vote At APC National Convention – Party Declares
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that political appointees who were elected as delegates for the party’s national convention on Saturday won’t be allowed to vote.
They would however be allowed to attend the convention as observers, Naija News reports.
The position was announced in a statement on Thursday via the official Twitter handle of the APC National Convention which is managed by the digital communications sub-committee of the party’s planning committee.
It noted that the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni gave the directive.
According to the statement released, this is to avoid any legal issues as a result of the controversies surrounding Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
4. Niger Now Safe, Bandit Terrorists No Longer In Charge Of 12 LGs – Gov Bello
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has declared that bandit terrorists have been silenced across twelve local councils of the state.
Naija News recalls that Governor Bello had earlier made a public announcement that terrorist groups including the dreaded Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers have taken over at least 12 LGAs in the state.
He lamented the situation and assured residents of his government’s commitment to deal with the situation with the help of security agencies.
Governor Bello who spoke last week Saturday during a visit on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at the Gwada camp, Shiroro LG, Bello revealed that 12 councils out of 25 have been affected by the activities of the criminals.
However, speaking today Thursday while playing guest on Arise TV in Abuja, Governor Bello said security has been beefed up in the affected areas and locals would be able to return to their homes soon.
According to him, the presence of security operatives in the affected local government areas have significantly reduced the attacks except for isolated cases in the councils.
5. 2023: PDP Entertaining Nigeria With Tales By Moonlight, Can’t Challenge APC – Okechukwu
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as a party entertaining Nigerians with Nollywood actions.
Okechukwu, a known chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the submission on Thursday while speaking with newsmen at his office.
He blamed the PDP for the current challenges facing the country including the collapse of the national grid as well as the acute fuel scarcity and other economic woes, submitting that the wasteful years of PDP in power are still affecting the APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Okechukwu went on to describe the recent meeting held by the PDP governors in Abia State as a jamboree, saying the party has nothing to offer Nigerians in 2023.
According to him, PDP did nothing in its sixteen years in power apart from embezzle money and sell off national assets to associates at ridiculous prices.
6. “I Just Don’t Understand” – Soyinka Reacts To Protest By Ife Indigenes Over New OAU VC
Professor Wole Soyinka has condemned the attitude and actions of some indigenes of Ife over the non-emergence of a native as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The Nobel Laureate made his mind known when he was asked for a reaction to the matter at the University of Pennsylvania, the United States where he spoke on a lecture titled, ‘The Politics of Black Intellection and Creativity.’
Soyinka who described the situation as crazy, wondered why there must be a Vice-Chancellor from Ife before the University can function.
7. FG Reveals Amount Spent On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 2nd Niger Bridge
The Federal Government has disclosed that N310 billion was spent on completing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while N206 billion was used to build the Second Niger Bridge.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, made this known on Thursday in a chat with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Fashola disclosed that N797 billion was spent constructing the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, adding that N1.3trn was spent on the three projects.
The minister stressed that the three projects were executed by the Ministry of Works and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).
Fashola said Lagos Ibadan Express Way and Second Niger Bridge will be completed this year 2022, while the main Carriageway of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway is scheduled for completion by Q2 2023, adding that ancillary works will be completed later.
8. APC Convention: Buhari Meets Osinbajo, National Assembly Leaders
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the Leadership of the National Assembly and some principal officers ahead of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress.
Buhari who is also the national leader of the ruling party presided over the meeting to ensure a successful event and outcome.
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari were at the meeting which was held in State House.
The National Assembly leaders in attendance include Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, House of Reps Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Senator Ajayi Boroffice and other selected lawmakers were also in attendance.
9. Fayemi Rejects Consensus Agreement, Buhari’s Directive
The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has denied supporting consensus candidates endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress.
President Buhari in a meeting held with Governors elected on the platform of the APC had called for stakeholders to adopt consensus for peaceful convention.
According to Buhari, choosing the party leadership through consensus is consistent with the spirit of democracy, the Party’s Constitution, and the Nigerian Constitution.
He directed the leadership of the party to return the fund of aspirants who have been dropped from the race.
Fayemi while speaking at a high-level policy dialogue organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), on Thursday, however, denied supporting candidates endorsed by the president.
10. 2023: Ayu Speaks On PDP Zoning Presidential Ticket
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, on Thursday noted that the main opposition party will not abandon its zoning tradition ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to Ayu, any presidential aspirant who does not get the ticket of the party should wait until another presidential election in the country.
The PDP Chairman stated this on Thursday while inaugurating the 37-person zoning committee of the party at its national secretariat in Abuja.
Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News