Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Saturday morning
Newspapers
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers
1. Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka (alias Tinka Point), the Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign organisation in Gombe State, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He met with President Muhammadu Buhari at State House, Abuja, on Friday, where he pledged allegiance to the APC.
2. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday demanded the disqualification of President Muhammadu Buhari from the 2019 presidential election.
National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who made the call at the party’s rally in Enugu, accused Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC, of bringing in machineries from Niger Republic to manipulate the election.
3. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday dismissed claims that he would fight to divide Nigeria.
Obasanjo said he is a “strong believer in the non-divisbility” of Nigeria because he fought for the unity of Nigeria and “spit part of my blood in the war front.”
4. President Muhammadu Buhari has said that securing Nigeria’s future was the legacy he desired to leave behind.
Buhari also vowed that he will not shield anyone who is brazen enough to embezzle public funds; or betray peoples trust, adding that such persons will face the music in due course.
5. The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Makurdi, alleged that hoodlums attacked and disrupted its campaign rally in Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma Local Government Area, which is also Governor Samuel Ortom’s home base.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Prof Eugene Aliegba, a member of the Emmanuel Jime/Sam Ode Campaign Organisation, alleged that the hoodlums fired gun shots at the crowd before they were chased away.
6. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has denied alleged plan to shut down internet access during the upcoming general elections.
Spokesman to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Danjuma Reuben, advised the general public to disregard the allegation.
7. The Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have again failed to reach an agreement.
The strike continues as the meeting held on Friday ended without an agreement on the major issue at stake.
8. An Ikeja High Court has told alleged kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans that there was no proof that he was tortured by the police.
Giving a ruling admitting Evans’ June 11, 2017 confessional statement into evidence, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, noted that the 1999 Constitution did not require that statements to the police must be in a specific form.
9. The Legislative Probity and Accountability Project (LPAP), in Abuja on Friday told Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to ignore the summon of the Lagos State House of Assembly to appear before a committee to defend allegations against him or be impeached.
The organisation said he should also not send his appointees as there was no basis for the harassment other than selfish interests..
10. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a secret laboratory in Ibadan, where the production of skushi, a derivative potpourri of illicit and controlled drugs, is done illegally.
The Oyo State Commander, Mr Ralph Igwenagu, disclosed this on Friday in Ibadan during a parade of the four suspects arrested at the laboratory.
