Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 26th August 2021
1. We Are Not Discouraged: Hours After Bandit Terrorists Attacked NDA, President Buhari Breaks Silence
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday told terrorists that attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy on Tuesday that their end is near.
The President in his reaction after Tuesday’s brazen attack by the terrorists said the morale of the Nigerian Military is not dampened by the incident.
While commiserating with the families of the victims of the attack, the Nigerian leader vowed that terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and all other criminals will be squarely dealt with by the security agencies.
He also cautioned those gloating over the incident to desist and join hands with the government in tackling insecurity and making Nigeria a better place for all.
Buhari made the submission in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
2. You Are Not Fit To Hold Any Public Office, Leave Buhari Alone – Presidency Blasts Ortom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom is a very unprincipled man who is only motivated by the lust for personal gains, the presidency has declared.
This is why he has changed political parties several times during his ‘undistinguished career.’
These are part of the submissions made by the presidency on Wednesday evening in a response to recent attacks by the Governor against President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.
Naija News recalls most recently, Ortom labelled Buhari as the worst President to ever rule Nigeria, adding that the President is grossly incapable of managing the affairs of the country.
He added that Buhari is trying to implement a secret Fulani agenda in Nigeria and cares more about cows than the people he is expected to lead.
But in a response contained in a statement released on Wednesday evening by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the Buhari camp said Ortom is only attacking the President to save his failing political career and remain relevant.
The presidency alleged further that Ortom is not a person fit to be trusted with holding any political or public office.
The statement warned Governor Ortom to stop playing the cards of ethnicity and religion which it noted is capable of tearing not only Benue State but the entire Nigeria apart.
3. APC, PDP Lack Capacity To Lead Nigeria To The Promised Land – Baba-Ahmed
The spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria’s failure.
He accused the two major political parties of not thinking of ending insecurity for their selfish interest.
Baba-Ahmed stated this while speaking on Wednesday at the 2021 Ripples Nigeria Dialogue.
Baba-Ahmed, who recently joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), accused the APC and PDP of lacking the thinking capacity to lead Nigeria to the promised land, stressing that they can’t provide the kind of leadership Nigeria needs.
He however stated that Nigerians must unite to chase out these parties as secession is not a choice.
4. Lalong Re-Imposes 24-Hour Curfew In Jos Communities
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has re-imposed a 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area following the massacre of 35 people in Yelwa Zangam village.
Recall that the governor had earlier imposed a curfew on the local government and two others in the wake of the massacre of some innocent travellers along Rukuba road in the state a few weeks ago.
In the early hours of Wednesday, bandits attacked the village, burned some family members alive and shot at others during the attack.
Lalong, in a statement by his spokesman, Makut Simon Macham, said the curfew begins from 4 pm on Wednesday and will remain in place subject to further review by the State Security Council.
5. Presidency, Govs, Senators Are Boko Haram Sponsors – Ex-Naval Officer
A former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi has observed that Presidency officials, Governors and high-ranking Senators have been fingered to be Boko Haram sponsors.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Olawunmi disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents gave out the information during interrogation by the Nigerian military.
He alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to go after the government officials and politicians mentioned.
According to him, the government is slow in fighting the insurgency because some of those backing Boko Haram are now top-ranking government officials.
Olawunmi berated the Federal Government for failing to prosecute some arrested Bureau De Change operators suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists.
The former naval officer alleged that the current government is shielding the suspects and playing politics with the case.
6. Buhari Is Nigeria’s Number One Enemy – Pa Adebanjo
The Leader of Afenifere socio-cultural organization, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has identified President Muhammadu Buhari as the number-one enemy of Nigeria, disclosing that the trust that used to be among the diverse ethnic nationalities of Nigeria has been eroded under his administration.
Naija News reports that the nonagenarian stated this on Wednesday during the ‘Ripples Nigeria Dialogue, titled: Rebuilding Trust in a divided Nigeria; Advancing the Conversation’.
He stated that the actions and inactions of Buhari are unwittingly maligning his ethnic group, and wondered why people from his ethnic group are not calling the President to order.
The elder statesman, who said he has been in the struggle for a better Nigeria for over 70 years, pointed out that the herdsmen menace is not a new phenomenon but came to a climax under the current dispensation of President Buhari
7. Insecurity: Declare State Of Emergency In The North Before We Perish – Gov Matawalle Cries Out
Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has lamented that the current wave of insecurity can sink the North if urgent solutions are not deployed.
To this end, the Governor has called for a state of emergency to be declared in the north by the federal government.
Matawalle made the call on Wednesday when he received the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 10, Ali Janga at the Zamfara Government House, Gusau.
In his view, the security situation in the region is getting overwhelming and in need of urgent action.
8. What Gov. Uzodinma Said About IPOB Controlling People Of Imo State
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has declared that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu can not control the people of his state.
Uzodinma while re-affirming that he remains in charge of the affairs of Imo said the residents of the state didn’t obey the sit-at-home order issued recently by the group.
The Governor made the observation on Wednesday while answering questions from state house correspondents shortly after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
According to him, the people of Imo State will only respond to government-issued orders, boasting that apart from such orders, no individual or group can force them to stay away from home or shut down their businesses.
9. North Paying The Biggest Price For Buhari’s Failure – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed
The spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has stated that the north keeps paying for the failures of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Naija News reports that he stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the 2021 Ripples Nigeria Dialogue.
Baba-Ahmed dismissed insinuations that the northerners are quiet over the failures of Buhari’s administration, stressing that they were the first to tell the president he is wrong.
He stated that northerners have long realized before the southerners that the country has the wrong person at the Villa.
10. Gov Okowa Identifies Who Should Be Nigeria’s President In 2023
The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has stated that at no time in the chequered history of Nigeria has the country been as divided as it is presently, adding that never before has there been such magnitude of mistrust of ourselves and of the country.
Naija News reports that the Governor stated this on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the Ripples Nigeria Dialogue entitled: Rebuilding Trust in a divided Nigeria; Advancing the Conversation’.
He maintained that “a huge trust deficit and sharp divisiveness still prevail in the Nigerian polity. The common index of these is the various agitations for secession from different parts of the country”.
Okowa pointed out that leadership is key to building trust in a united Nigeria, adding that as the 2023 general election approaches, “the focus should be on electing a pan Nigerian as president, a person with the capacity and charisma to cast a vision for Nigeria and rally all Nigerians behind it.
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 Naija News