Good morning NIGERIANS, welcome to Egalitarian Voice News roundup of top newspaper headlines review in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 3rd January 2023
1. He Is Jealous And Frustrated – Presidency Attacks Obasanjo
The presidency on Monday attacked former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him as a frustrated and jealous individual.
The position of the presidency was contained in a statement by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.
The statement alleged that Obasanjo has the habit of attacking past leaders because he believes no one is better than him.
The statement however boasted that President Buhari is far ahead of Obasanjo in terms of achievements in office as well as international acceptance.
The response from the presidency comes a few hours after Obasanjo said Nigeria has become a living hell under the leadership of President Buhari.
2. PDP Crisis: ‘Wike Is Alone, Other G5 Governors Will Dump Him’
A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Capt Tunji Shelle has submitted that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike is alone in the fight against the PDP’s presidential ambition.
According to Shelle, the other four members of the aggrieved Governors of the party popularly called G5 Governors are not totally with Wike but will work for the PDP presidency in 2023.
Egalitarian Voice News recalls the G5 Governors; Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) took a stand against supporting the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
They insisted on the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu from office and his replacement with a southerner as the only condition to support Atiku’s 2023 bid.
However, despite several meetings and entreaties on how to resolve the disagreement, Ayu has refused to step down and the Governors have also not changed their position.
With a few days to the 2023 presidential election, there are fears the G5 Governors may endorse another party’s presidential candidate.
Speaking on the development during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, Shelle said Wike is alone and the other G5 Governors are just playing along.
He said only Wike is not contesting any elective position in 2023 and the others fully understand what is at stake and how it may affect their own ambitions if they don’t work for the PDP and its presidential candidate.
3. Peter Obi: You Create A Problem For Us And Act Like You Want To Solve It – Ex-Minister, Akinyemi Blasts Obasanjo
A Former Minister of External Affairs, Prof Bola Akinyemi, has condemned former president Olusegun Obasanjo for suggesting a presidential candidate for Nigerians in the upcoming 2023 elections.
Obasanjo, in a New Year letter to the Nigerian youths, endorsed Peter Obi as the most qualified candidate to lead Nigeria into a new beginning.
He noted that none of the presidential candidates are saints, but when compared in terms of knowledge, discipline and what they can offer, Obi has an edge.
However, Akinyemi, while reacting to the former Nigerian leader’s endorsement on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics. Insisted that Obasanjo is not in the position to recommend a candidate for Nigerians.
According to him, Obasanjo is part of those who brought the country to ruin and ought to keep his political opinion to himself.
He advised the former president to go home and retire like Yakubu Gowon and Abdusallami Abubakar, who no longer meddle in the country’s affairs.
4. Gunmen Launch Bomb Attack On Ohakim’s Convoy, Kill Four Policemen
A convoy of a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim was attacked by fleeing gunmen on Monday.
Egalitarian Voice News learnt that four police orderlies were killed in the attack on the former governor.
The incident happened at Oriagu in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state.
It was reported that Ohakim escaped the incident by whiskers after his backup vehicle was bombed.
The bombing led to the death of the four policemen in his convoy.
According to Punch, the gunmen struck when the former governor of Imo State was returning from a visit with two of his children.
A source that spoke with the platform disclosed that Ohakim escaped the incident due to the bravery of his driver.
A further report had it that a reinforcement came from Owerri, the state capital and escorted the former Governor of Imo State to his house.
Ohakim in reaction to the incident expressed sadness, following the death of the police operatives.
5. Wike Reacts As Obasanjo Snubs Atiku, Endorses Peter Obi For President
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s endorsement of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
Egalitarian Voice News reports that Obasanjo made a public declaration of his support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) on Sunday, January 1, 2023.
The development has since generated mixed reactions among political actors and supporters of the opposition camps.
Reacting to the move by the former leader, Wike, who was speaking on Monday during the flagging off of a road project in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, said something must be wrong with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for Obasanjo to have snubbed him for Obi.
Recall that Atiku was Obasanjo’s Vice from 1999-2003.
Wike said he had hoped that Obasanjo would not say anything about his preferred candidate, but that it came as a shock to him after the former leader announced Obi as his preferred candidate for the top Nigerian job.
6. Peter Obi – You Believe Too Much In Yourself, Can’t Impose President On Nigeria – Atiku Camp Fires Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been accused of trying to impose a president on Nigeria with the endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The accusation was levelled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council spokesperson, Daniel Bwala.
Egalitarian Voice News recalls Obasanjo in his new year message to Nigerians on Sunday, openly endorsed the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Obasanjo in a letter he personally signed, which he addressed to Nigerian youths, titled “My Appeal to all Nigerians, particularly young Nigerians,” described Peter Obi as “a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost”.
Reacting in a statement, Bwala berated Obasanjo for trying to force his own candidate on all Nigerians.
He cautioned the elder statesman against thinking too highly of himself and attempting to rubbish the country’s democracy which gives Nigerians the right to determine their leaders.
7. 2023: Real Reason Tinubu Visited Obasanjo Revealed
The real reason the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in August 2022 has been revealed.
Recall that the former Governor of Lagos State visited Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta last year August despite their political difference and ideology.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, a spokesman for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Kehinde Bamgbetan, said his principal’s visit was a show of peace.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain added that the visit was for diplomatic reasons.
He said: “That is what you call diplomacy with elder statesmen. It’s a normal diplomatic move that will show that you’re not out to fight anybody”
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