Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 14th September, 2024.
1. Edo Poll: I Will Not Support Obaseki, PDP Gov Candidate – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ahead of the September 21 Edo State governorship election, has said he wouldn’t support Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Wike stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He also pledged not to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who has the support of the outgoing Edo State Governor.
The FCT Minister also described the governor as an ingrate.
He revealed that Governor Obaseki, approached him to seek support for his preferred successor, Ighodalo, but he told him to his face he would not because his support for Obaseki in the past earned him nothing but unending insults.
2. Fubara Lied Against Me, I Can Never Support Him Again – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of lying against him.
Wike, who made the declaration on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, vowed never to support Governor Fubara in his political life again.
According to him, Governor Fubara would not have emerged victorious at the polls if not for the labour of those who supported him and built structures.
During the interview, Wike also refused attempts by the anchor to describe Governor Fubara as his political godson.
The Minister denied allegations of demanding funds from Fubara or the Rivers State government, adding that the Governor has abandoned those who worked for him and spreading lies about him demanding money.
3. 2027: I’m Willing To Be Vice President – Peter Obi Gives Condition
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he would not mind collaborating with other politicians ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking in an interview with News Central, Peter Obi said he was ready to collaborate with any politician, including the former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
He, however, noted that the focus of such collaboration must be on helping the citizens and not just to win elections.
4. Niger Lawmaker, Sduzaof Is Dead
The Niger State House of Assembly has been struck by tragedy with the death of Comdt. Joseph Haruna Sduzaof, the member representing Munya Constituency.
Naturenex learnt that Sduzaof passed away on Friday evening following a brief illness.
The late Sduzaof, who served as the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Security and Intelligence, was a prominent figure in the assembly.
His death has been confirmed by Farouq Isah, the Head of Media and Public Relations of the Niger State House of Assembly.
The assembly and the wider community are in mourning, reflecting on Sduzaof’s contributions and leadership in the state legislature.
5. ‘Price Revealed As Petrol From Dangote Refinery Hits Market On Sunday’
The much-anticipated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol from Dangote Refinery, is set to hit the Nigerian market by Sunday, 15th September.
According to inside sources quoted by Businessday, the refinery, located in Lagos State, is set to commence the distribution of its refined petrol to marketers across Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth transition, marketers have been instructed to start sending their trucks to the refinery today (Friday) to facilitate the lifting process. The move is expected to significantly boost the country’s fuel supply, reduce dependence on imported fuel, and alleviate the challenges faced by consumers.
Naturenex, however, understands, according to the sources that the price of petrol in the market would not change yet despite the expected introduction of PMS from Dangote Refinery with the initial daily allocation of 25 million litres, set to be delivered through the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Trading Limited.
6. Dino Melaye Is Not Suspended, The Letter Was Forged – PDP
The Ijumu Local Government Area chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, has rubbished the earlier suspension of Senator Dino Melaye.
The chapter, in a statement released on Friday and signed by the PDP Chairman in Ijumu Local Government Council, Olorunmaiye Olabode, said the earlier-announced suspension of Melaye was done by external enemies of the party.
He added that the letter of suspension was forged and that those behind the purported suspension do not have the powers to suspend such an important member of the party as Melaye.
According to the statement, the move to suspend Melaye was hastily made in order to execute the malicious and mischievous plan of those behind the suspension.
7. FG Has Not Removed Subsidy – APC Chieftain Discloses
A former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, has lamented that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not making the right moves to assuage the suffering of the people.
He asserted that short and medium-term measures have not been provided by the Federal Government to relieve the economic pains of the people 15 months after the abrupt removal of petrol subsidy.
The APC chieftain stated this during an appearance on Channels Television.
He argued that the petrol subsidy could not be completely removed, urging the President Bola Tinubu administration to take prompt remedial actions to mitigate the economic crisis in the country.
8. Tinubu’s Govt Is Running Multiple Budgets – Lukman Alleges
A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has raised concerns about the financial operations of President Bola Tinubu‘s administration, claiming that multiple budgets are being managed concurrently.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Lukman, a vocal critic of the current government, alleged that the simultaneous running of different budgets could potentially escalate corruption in the country.
“For the first time, we are having a situation where about two or three budgets are being run concurrently at the federal level and what that means is that the chances that corruption may increase are higher,” the APC chieftain alleged.
However, Lukman did not provide specific data to support this assertion.
Lukman also criticized the ruling party’s inability to address the nation’s pressing issues, particularly security.
He noted that despite the APC’s initial promises to tackle corruption, revive the economy, and improve security, the situation has deteriorated under the current administration.
9. Edo Election: Police Has Morphed Into An Armed Wing of APC – Obaseki
The Deputy Director-General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council, Pedro Obaseki, has accused the Police of aiding the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the Edo governorship election.
Pedro Obaseki alleged that there are plans by the APC to use the Police to rig the September 21 election.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated that most of the party’s supporters were arrested by the police.
10. Edo Election: Monday Okpebholo Sued For Alleged Age Falsification
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo State governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, has been sued for alleged age falsification.
The suit was filed by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Honesty Aginbatse, at a Magistrates Court, in Abuja
According to Daily Nigerian, Monday Okpebholo was charged with alleged forgery and perjury.
In the suit filed on Thursday, he claimed there were discrepancies between the birth dates on the nomination forms and other documents submitted by the APC governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the suit, Aginbatse also alleged that the APC candidate’s date of birth on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate and the one on his voter card did not match.
Aginbatse alleged that Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form has his birth date as March 29, 1970; while his 2024 governorship nomination form has his birth date as August 29, 1970.
The PDP chieftain also claimed that Okpebholo’s West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate has August 29, 1972, as his birth date.
Mr. Aginbatse further alleged that Okpebholo, has August 1, 1977 as his date of birth on his Voter Card.
