Good morning NIGERIANS, welcome to Egalitarian Voice News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 12th January 2023.
1. Details Of What President Buhari Discussed With Catholic Bishops Emerge
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday declared that his government would not take the foot off the pedal in delivering the gains of democratic rule to the people.
Speaking during his meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja with executive members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), President Buhari assured that infrastructure, security, and economy will remain the focus of his administration.
He added that the gains already recorded in several sectors will be consolidated before handing over on May 29, 2023.
On the Northeast, the President said he has received first-hand information that the security situation had improved over the years, and his government will support efforts targeted at rebuilding infrastructure and re-orientation on education.
President Buhari said creditors see Nigeria as credible and loan worthy which is why the country has been able to secure loans for infrastructural developments.
The President stressed the need to break the over-reliance of the government on oil and develop other areas while dealing decisively with saboteurs who are destroying the oil installations across the country.
He pointed out that the destruction of oil facilities slowed the generation of revenues, and the government would be harder on saboteurs.
Buhari said some of the challenges faced in the past, which include coups and counter-coups, and civil war, had prepared Nigeria for survival.
2. Corruption Allegations: Step Down If You Have Shame – Atiku Challenged
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has been challenged to step down from the presidential race if he has any shame.
This comes after Michael Achimugu on Monday opened up on the former vice president’s grand corruption, and further threatened to expose his alleged dark past.
Reacting to the development, All Progressives Congress, Presidential Campaign Council, APCPCC in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the APCPCC Director of Media and Publicity on Wednesday, challenged Atiku “to come clean over two issues clouding his campaign: his health status and his scandalous confession of how he colluded with his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to fleece the Nigerian treasury, using the special purpose vehicles after he became Vice-President in 1999.”
The APC also frowned at the allegation, saying if the PDP candidate “has some modicum of honour, he ought to have stepped down from the race that he is bound to lose again, following the release of his audio clip, in which he provides a vivid explanation into the modus operandi of his legendary corruption.”
The party then challenged Nigerians “to hold Atiku to account over the shocking revelation by rejecting him at the polls in February.”
3. 2023: Lagos, Kano Top List Of INEC’s 93 Million Voters Register
Lagos and Kano States have topped the list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters register.
Naija News reports that Lagos tops the list with 7,060,195 registered voters followed by Kano with 5,921,370.
The breakdown was contained in the final list of registered voters released to political parties by the electoral body on Wednesday at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
INEC in the document reveals that the commission registered a total of 93, 469,008 voters for the 2023 polls.
A further breakdown indicates that men constitute 52.5% of the figure while women make up 47.5 % of the total figure.
4. Nigerians Voting APC In 2023 Election ‘Love Suffering’ – Sowore
The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has opined that Nigerians who have plans to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 election aren’t tired of suffering.
Naija News reports that the AAC flag bearer made the assertion during an interview on ‘The Roundtable’ organized by PUNCH.
Omoyele Sowore said it would be surprising if APC wins the forthcoming election, however, he will analyze the victory based on two factors.
According to the AAC presidential candidate, APC’s win would happen either through rigging or because the people who would vote for them aren’t tired of suffering.
He added that Nigerians are seemly convenient with hardship and it is not a new thing.
5. ‘We Want You To Sweat Very Well, Until I Become President’ – Tinubu To Igbos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has sparked reactions over a derogatory statement to Igbos during his campaign rally in Enugu State.
Egalitarian Voice News earlier reported that the APC presidential candidate was received at the Enugu International Airport by Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and other APC chieftains in the South East.
Tinubu was accompanied by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and his Jagawa counterpart, Abubakar Badaru, alongside other APC national leaders.
At the campaign rally held at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, Tinubu subtly warned the Igbos that they would continue to be marginalized until he gets their support.
The former governor of Lagos State acknowledged that the Igbos are working hard but urged them to work harder because nobody will give them credit until they deliver victory.
According to Tinubu, the Igbos will get nothing but a slight clap or half-soaked slice of bread until he becomes the president of Nigeria.
6. 2023: What Kind OF Miracle Will INEC Perform? – Labour Party Raises Alarm Over PVC Distribution
The Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP PCC) has lamented the lackadaisical attitude of Staff attached to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) saddled with the responsibility of distributing Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).
The party insisted that reports from the field indicate that INEC staff were slowing down the PVC distribution process for reasons best known to them.
Chief Spokesperson of the LP PCC, Dr. Yunusa Tanko stated this in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the LP stalwart, INEC officials were trying to frustrate Nigerians despite the two weeks deadline left to acquire the PVC.
7. I’ll Scrap Senate Or House Of Reps If I Become President – Sowore
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has vowed to scrap the bi-cameral legislative system in Nigeria if he emerges the president of the country in 2023.
Sowore said Nigeria currently runs a democratic system that is too expensive for the country.
As a way of cutting cost, the presidential candidate said he would push for the scrapping of either the Senate or the House of Representatives so Nigeria can run a unicameral legislative system.
He argued that not only the cost of government needs to be reduced but the size of government as well as the overhead costs continue to skyrocket.
Egalitarian News reports he stated this on Wednesday while speaking at ‘The Roundtable’ organized by PUNCH Newspapers.
8. COVID-19: We Need To Go Back To Wearing Face Masks, FG
Intensifies Surveillance
Nigerians have been urged to go back to wearing of face masks, hand washing, and sanitizing as part of efforts to take preventive measures against another outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.
Egalitarian Voice News reports that this is as the federal government has beefed up surveillance at all the country’s international airports and increased the now relaxed scientific approach.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the 17th Edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard on Tuesday said going forward travellers would be asked to fill health forms, in addition to checking their temperatures.
The minister said the move was part of the government’s response to the surge in spread of COVID-19.
9. AGF Malami Calls For Collaboration For Effective Judiciary
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has called on all state attorneys to work with the federal and state governments to promote an effective judicial system.
Abubakar Malami made this call on Tuesday during a discussion geared at creating a synergy between the two levels of government.
While making the keynote speech, Malami, stressed the necessity to assess the elements impeding harmony in the administration of justice.
The Attorney-General said, “The structure and system of governance of our federation are not oblivious of the possibility of having genuine disputes and frictions among the federating units, national and sub-national governments.
“Despite this, our shared values and common resources also make collaboration and mutual relationships necessary and fundamental. This august Body of Attorneys-General, therefore, occupies a critical position in driving national unity and development.
“We need to underplay the culture of mutual mistrust between the federal and state governments, to promote and enhance a symbiotic relationship between the federal and state governments.
10. Tinubu: SDP, Accord Speak On Forming Alliance With APC
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Accord Party have refuted reports of an alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the forthcoming presidential election.
It was earlier reported that a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Adesoji Akanbi, had said the ruling party is planning an alliance with SDP, Accord and other smaller parties to boost the chances of its flagbearer, Bola Tinubu.
Akanbi added that the APC was looking beyond the defection of new members and an alliance with the five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that deals with the smaller parties would assist the party in getting the highest number of votes and the required national spread in the presidential poll.
However, in a chat with The Punch, the SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, denied any deal with the APC or any other political party ahead of the presidential election.
Aiyenigba, who noted that the party’s presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, had gone too far to contemplate treading such a path, said the SDP remained the only party with a genuine plan to reposition the country.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Accord Party, Muhammad Nalado, said there was no negotiation with the APC or any political party at the moment.
He, however, said the party cannot rule out negotiation with other parties, stating that such a move is allowed in politics.
Those are the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Egalitarian Voice News.
See you again tomorrow.
