Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 12th October 2022
1. President Buhari Confers National Honour On 7 Foreigners, 440 Nigerians
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday conferred some Nigerian citizens and foreigners with national honours. Naija News reports that the event held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja. This follows the release of the final list of persons proposed for various distinguished honours. Recall that the amended final list was made public in a statement on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Ibiene P. Roberts. This was against the previously leaked list which contained the names of 437 persons that was subsequently denied by the government. The new list now contains 447 names out of which seven are foreigners, Naija News understands. The event is part of a series of activities to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary. Present at the event was the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was said to have arrived at the venue at exactly 10:13 am. There was a heavy security presence at the premises of the ICC and all the adjoining roads leading to the venue as top government officials, political big wigs and foreign citizens attended the event.2. Lagos State Gets FG’s Approval For Lekki International Airport
The Lagos State government has today (Tuesday) gotten approval from the Federal Government for the construction of the Lekki International Airport at the Lekki-Epe axis of the state. Recall that the Lagos State Government, last Friday, announced the construction of the airport slated to start in 2023. It said that the new airport would be constructed on 3,500 hectares of land in the Lekki-Epe area. Naija News learnt that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who spoke at the Lagos Economic Summit, Ehingbeti 2022 in Lagos, noted that Muritala Mohammed Airport is congested and that the creation of the new airport in Lekki is apt to the innovations in that part of Lagos. On his part, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that he was happy about the project and that with the airport, Lagos will be better accessible for the businesses within it. He said the real beneficiaries of the airport will be the citizens and the businesses as it offers them a platform to thrive.3. Strike: ASUU To Hold Emergency Meeting On Thursday
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly scheduled Thursday for an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The leadership of ASUU is expected to review the positive response from the federal government to its demands. The NEC meeting is expected to be held at the union’s headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Naija News had earlier reported that ASUU directed its zonal branches to collate the views of members through votes during meetings which will be held on Wednesday (tomorrow). The outcome of the meeting would determine if ASUU would call off the strike late on Thursday or Friday morning. Meanwhile, the President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke has denied the report that the union has called off the lingering industrial action. There had been reports online claiming that ASUU directed its members to resume academic activities on October 17. Osodeke, while speaking on the report, said the strike which is almost eight months is yet to be suspended. He, however, stated that ASUU is working towards the suspension of the industrial action, adding that the suspension would be dependent on the views of members from the zonal meetings.4. Atiku: “It’s Very Selfish, Wrong, And Bad For Politics” – PDP Chieftain Knocks Wike
A former Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen has knocked the decision of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike not to support the campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Iduoriyekemwen in his submission stated that Wike’s action is unbecoming of a leader and politician of his calibre, arguing that the Rivers Governor had made his stand known and should have left the stage when the ovation was loudest. The Edo State politician added that the PDP has always given Wike the platform to actualize his political ambitions and the first time a ticket he wants would go to another person, the Governor wants to tear the party apart. Wike and his loyalists including some state governors had vowed not to participate in Atiku’s presidential campaigns except Iyorchia Ayu resigns as the PDP national chairman. They argued that Atiku’s emergence as the PDP flagbearer has put the major leadership positions in the north which negates the principle of justice and fairness. However, asked about the development and how it would affect the fortunes of the PDP in 2023, Iduoriyekemwen during an interview with Punch blamed Wike for the crisis which he described as unnecessary. He questioned Wike’s action saying it was probably because he lost the PDP presidential ticket.5. 2023: Tinubu Presidential Campaign Team Member Speaks On APC Sidelining Osinbajo
Kano politician, Senator Kabiru Gaya has debunked reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been sidelined in the composition and activities of the presidential campaign team of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gaya who served as the Director-General of the support groups of Osinbajo when the vice president was seeking the APC ticket for the 2023 presidential election said Osinbajo remains an integral part of the Tinubu/APC campaigns for 2023. He added during a chat with journalists in Kano State that Tinubu has the full support of Osinbajo in the race for the 2023 presidency. According to Gaya who is now a member of the Tinubu campaign team the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari for Osinbajo to stay away from the political activities of the APC for 2023 and oversee the running of the government is why the Vice President has been relatively silent. The lawmaker added that there is no form of division between Tinubu and Osinbajo.6. Sam Amadi Rejects Appointment Into PDP Campaign Council
A former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi on Tuesday rejected a role as director of research in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council. Amadi in a letter forward to the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed the reason for his decision. The former NERC Chairman in a letter dated 10th of October, 2022 noted that he belongs to several non-partisan organisations. He, however, stated that his decision to reject the appointment is not a vote of no confidence on PDP.7. Al-Mustpha: I’ve Never Stolen Money, Yet Was Treated Like An Animal For Challenging Obasanjo, Abubakar
The Presidential Candidate of the Action Alliance, Hamza Al-Mustapha, on Tuesday reflected on his past ordeal as an ex-convict. The former military officer who was released from the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos, in July 2013 following his discharge and acquittal of a murder charge by the Court of Appeal, said he has never stolen money before, not even N10 but yet was treated like trash by some persons. Naija News recalls that a death sentence was earlier passed on Al-Mustapha and Lateef Sofolahan, an aide to the late Kudirat Abiola. However, the appellate court sitting in Lagos upturned the sentence and the former military officer was released afterwards. Speaking at an interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm aired on Tuesday, Al-Mustapha said he faced torture for 15 years, yet he was found not guilty of the charges against him. Al-Mustapha said contrary to the accusations against him, he (Al-Mustapha) refused to compromise despite what he described as the heat of pressure mounted on him by some persons.8. President Buhari To Confer Award On Wike
President Muhammadu Buhari is set to confer the honour of “Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery” on Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Naija News reports the award is to be presented at the forthcoming Nigeria Excellence in Public Service Award put together by the Federal Government. As contained in a letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha which was signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) in the SGF’s Office, Dr. Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, the award ceremony is billed to hold on October 21 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Some of the infrastructural achievements that have earned Governor Wike the recognition for such an award include investments by his administration in projects in the healthcare, education, health, sports, and agriculture as well as the construction of twelve flyovers in the state. The commitment has earned him the nickname Mr. Project with Wike vowing to continue until his last day in office.9. “Ortom Is Trapped” – PDP Senator Reveals Why Benue Governor Didn’t Attend Atiku’s Campaign Launch
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator representing Benue North Senatorial District, Emmanuel Orker-Jev has explained why Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom could not attend the official flag-off by the party for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign. Speaking during a TV interview, Orker-Jev said Ortom is trapped between a rock and a hard place as touching the crisis rocking the PDP. He explained that the Benue Governor doesn’t want to go against the collective decision of the Governors and at the same time, can’t openly antagonize the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu who is from the same state as him. The Senator said this on Channels TV’s Politics Today while speaking about the failure of Ortom and some other loyalists of Governor Nyesom Wike to attend the PDP presidential campaign flag-off in Akwa Ibom on Monday.10. APC Campaign Council Denies Report Of Division In South-West Over Tinubu’s Candidacy
The Director of Media and Publicity for All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has denied reports that there is a division in the South West over the candidacy of Bola Tinubu. Onanuga was reacting to a media report (not Naija News) that the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, by the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, had created a divide among the Yoruba people. In a terse statement on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Onanuga described the report as false and a calculated attempt to cause disaffection in the South West. He said Afenifere’s endorsement of Obi is a ruse and was done by one man who has no electoral value. He said, “This story is not true. There is no division in the South-West over Tinubu’s candidacy. The Afenifere endorsement of LP’s candidate is a ruse. It was an endorsement by one man with no electoral value, either in his Ijebu Igbo village or Lagos.”Those are the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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