Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 28th September 2021
1. 2023: Northern Governors Reveal Their Position On Zoning Presidency To The South
Governors from the Northern region of Nigeria on Monday rejected the idea of zoning the 2023 presidency to the southern part of the country.
They also condemned the position earlier adopted by their southern counterparts, arguing that zoning is not a constitutional issue.
The Northern Governors made their position known in a communique at the end of their meeting in Kaduna State which was signed by Simon Lalong, the governor of Plateau and chairman of the forum.
In condemning the demand of their southern counterparts for a southern person to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the Northern governors said no such provision is contained in Nigeria’s constitution hence the demand stands rejected.
2. Killing Of 34 Persons In Southern Kaduna Barbaric – El-Rufai
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has described the gruesome murder of 34 persons in the Madamai community in Kaura Local Government Area of the state as barbaric.
Naija News earlier reported that the victims were killed and seven other persons sustained injuries following fresh attack by gunmen on the village.
Some houses were also set ablaze by the gunmen suspected to be bandits during the operation which occurred on Sunday night.
In a statement through his Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the governor condemned the attack on the village and the killing of innocent citizens.
El-Rufai further described the attack as an unspeakable display of wickedness, meriting the severest form of punishment.
The governor said troops mobilized to the location engaged the bandits in a gun battle before the assailants withdrew after intense pressure.
3. Navy Makes Discovery In Chad That Explains Why Nigeria Is In Deep Crisis
The Nigerian Navy on Monday urged the Federal Government to build a wall across the country’s borders to stop the proliferation of arms and ammunition which, it said, has landed Nigeria in deep crisis.
This was disclosed by Commodore Jemima Malafa, who represented the Nigerian Navy, during an interactive session on four bills pending before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence in Abuja.
Naija News reports that the four bills – the first is a bill for an act to establish the National Commission against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Others are a bill for an act to repeal the Explosives Act, and a bill for an act to make provision for the integration of private Close Circuit Television (CCTV) into the national security network in Nigeria.
The last one is a bill for an act to designate the month of November as the National Appreciation Month for Security Agencies.
4. 2023: Nigeria Is Bigger Than Any Political Party – Saraki Urges NASS To Work Based On National Interest
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has urged members of the National Assembly to put the interest of the country first as they put finishing touches to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The former lawmaker also charged them to fast-track their work so that the final copy of the bill can be available, signed, and made active before the 2023 general elections.
Saraki made the call on Monday in a statement signed by the head of his Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu and sent to Naija News where he observed that the success of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria is largely hinged on enabling and guiding laws which the citizens expect the lawmakers to provide.
He, therefore, called on the current members of the National Assembly including members of the Conference Committee working on the bill to set aside partisan politics and put national interest first in their decision on the bill.
The immediate past Senate President submitted that this is the way to ensure a credible, free, fair, and peaceful election in Nigeria come 2023.
He also argued that the adoption of electronic transmission of results will strengthen our nation’s democracy and serve as a great legacy for transparency.
5. Suit Challenging Atiku’s Eligibility To Contest For President Adjourned
A suit challenging the citizenship of the former Vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has been adjourned till December 6, 2021.
Naija News reports that a group, Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa, had filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging Abubakar’s eligibility to contest for president in the 2019 presidential election.
The plaintiff had told the court that considering the provisions of sections 25(1) &(2) and 131(a) of the constitution and the circumstances surrounding his birth, the former vice-president cannot contest for the top office.
Co-defendants in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
In an affidavit to support the suit, Malami had said Abubakar was not a Nigerian citizen by birth and therefore, not eligible to run for president in Nigeria.
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, had in July, granted the prayer of the Adamawa state government to be joined in the suit.
6. Court Orders AGF To Prosecute Former Imo Governor Over Nude Photos Of A Businesswoman
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over on Monday by Justice Taiwo Taiwo has ruled that former Imo Governor, Ikedi Ohakim has a case to answer over alleged threats to release nude photos of a businesswoman.
This follows the attempt by the Nigeria Police Force to discontinue the case against the former Governor but which was rejected by Justice Taiwo.
The Judge held that the matter has become a criminal matter and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice should take over the prosecution.
But on Monday, 27th September, the police attempted to discontinue the case but Justice Taiwo disagreed with the Force, ruling that the move to stop the case lacks merit.
He then adjourned till October 21, 2021, for Ohakim’s arraignment on the charge filed by the police.
7. IPOB Sit-At-Home: Hoodlums Burn Bus Carrying Foodstuffs In Enugu
A Ford van conveying vegetables, tomatoes, and other perishable food items was on Monday morning set ablaze by unknown hoodlums in Enugu for allegedly violating the suspended every Monday sit-at-home order.
This came as residents have continued to abide by the stay-in-door exercise, defying even the orders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leaders who had severally but unsuccessfully tried to halt the action.
The van, which was reportedly coming from the Ugwogo end of the Opi/Enugu bypass was blocked and set ablaze at Edem junction, Ibeagwa, Nike, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State around 5:45 am
Naija News reports that sympathizers were said to have put a call to the State Fire Service, prompting a quick response by the Ogui Road fire service station.
8. Security Beefed Up At National Assembly As Legislative Aides Protest
Security agents have beefed up security around the National Assembly over the planned protest of legislative aides.
It was gathered that security personnel including anti-riot and regular policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) personnel and Sergeant-at-Arms have surrounded the complex.
Doors leading to the foyer at the White House from the Senate and House of Representatives chambers have not only been shut but being guarded by security operatives.
This is due to the planned protest of Legislative aides, under the auspices of Salary Arrears Affected Legislative Aides (SAALA).
They had vowed to ground activities at the National Assembly beginning from today over alleged non-payment of their 2019 salary arrears and allowances in the sum of N3.1 billion.
But the Chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), Salisu Zuru, had described their planned protest as illegal, the Nation reports.
9. October 1: IPOB Has Declared ‘War’ On Nigeria And Must Be Checkmated – Igbokwe
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe has warned that the threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) must not be taken lightly.
This is as he declared that the threat by IPOB to remove all Nigerian flags in the southeast on October 1 is equal to a declaration of attack on the sovereignty of Nigeria as a nation.
Naija News recalls the IPOB group, led by Nnamdi Kanu had declared October 1, a day that marks Nigeria’s independence from Britain, a sit-at-home.
This was made known on Saturday in a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
The outlawed pro-Biafra group also placed a ban on the Nigerian flag across the South-East zone of the country.
Reacting to the statement, Igbokwe in a post on his Facebook account warned that there is the need to check the excesses of the IPOB group.
He said such threats must not be treated with kid gloves as it portends grave danger to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
According to him, the views of IPOB do not represent that of others in Igbo land and all leaders of the region must rise up to condemn the declaration, adding that any attack on the Nigerian flag is an attack on the nation itself.
10. Nigeria’s E-naira Platform Goes Live
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has launched the official website for the upcoming digital currency, eNaira.
The development is coming exactly a week to the planned launch of the initiative.
According to analytics monitored by This Day, the website has recorded over one million hits in the last 24-hours.
The traffic which has been spotted on the website shows the level of interest in digital currency.
The website promises easier financial transactions for users of eNaira, offers opportunities for peer-to-peer payments which allows users to send money to one another through a linked bank account or card.
It allows customers to move money from their bank account to their eNaira wallet with ease; can monitor their eNaira wallet, check balances and view transaction history; and make in-store payments using their eNaira wallet by scanning QR codes.
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