R
Richard Ogunsile
Guest
Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 24th August 2024.
1. Tinubu Cancels Return Trip To France
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided to cancel his return to France, Naija News understands.
President Tinubu was expected to return to France after arriving in Nigeria on Friday to swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
According to the Guardian, a flight tracking service had indicated that his aircraft was scheduled to depart for Nice, France, on Friday afternoon.
However, a review has shown that the flight plan for the presidential aircraft has been called off.
A close aide to the President disclosed that Tinubu is presently at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“President Bola Tinubu will no longer be going back to France. He is presently in Aso Rock,” a source told reporters.
2. Tinubu Swears In Kekere-Ekun As New Chief Justice Of Nigeria
On Friday, President Bola Tinubu swore in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
She was sworn in at about 11:38 am at the State House in Abuja, making her the second Nigerian female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, the Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November 2014.
She will operate in an acting capacity until confirmation by the Senate.
Naija News reports Justice Kekere-Ekun takes over the new role following her recommendation for the position by the National Judicial Council and the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Among the dignitaries who witnessed the swearing-in event were other Justices of the Supreme Court; the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the House of Representatives, represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu; and immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
3. 1999 Constitution Is A Fraudulent Document, I Don’t Think Even Obasanjo Knew The Content Before He Took Office – Dickson
Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, has alleged that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, did not know the content of the 1999 Constitution when he took office.
Senator Seriake Dickson said the 1999 Constitution was a fraudulent document from the military regime that has stalled the country’s growth.
The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) explained that Nigeria needs a people’s oriented constitution. He stated that the argument for a new constitution for the country was right.
The Bayelsa West Senator said this on Thursday in an interview with Arise TV.
“This country needs a people’s constitution, a constitution that emanates from the people, a constitution that will lay the groundwork for unity.
“The constitutional foundation, the superstructure, is what determines even the economic structure that will build on it, the political systems that will build on it, the legal system, and then dealing with the overriding issue of integration and cohesion in this country. We believe that the existing constitution is not a people’s constitution.”
He argued that all political officeholders in 1999 did not know what was contained in the constitution. The former governor of Bayelsa added that Obasanjo knew the constitution’s content after he took office.
Dickson decried that the military leaders kept every Nigerian in the dark about the constitution.
He maintained that the amendment process cannot correct the 1999 Constitution.
4. What Tinubu Can Do To Stop Seizure Of Presidential Jets – Former Envoy
A former Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Usman Sarki, has shared his thoughts on how the seizure of Nigerian jets by Chinese firm Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited can be stopped.
Naija News reports that a French court recently ruled in favour of the firm and granted the seizure of the presidential jets belonging to the Nigerian government.
Speaking on the development, Sarki advised the federal government to take some diplomatic steps.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as soon as possible to resolve the conflict.
The diplomat stated this on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television.
Sarki also advised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to exchange notes with the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and meet with the Chinese ambassador in Nigeria to de-escalate the matter and end the “embarrassing” seizures.
5. PDP Govs Back Fubara In Feud With Wike
The Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their full support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State amid his ongoing conflict with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
This renewed backing for Governor Fubara comes in light of a contentious party congress during which he was excluded from participation.
The governors have urged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to reassess the proceedings of Congress and ensure that Fubara is granted his rightful position within the party’s leadership structure.
These decisions were part of the resolutions made during Friday’s PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The forum addressed significant intra-party issues and governance challenges that impact their respective states and hold national significance.
A communique released at the end of the meeting said: “The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State, where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.”
6. Atiku Would Have Collapsed If He Had Emerged President – Bode George
A prominent Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has expressed concerns about the state of the party and the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
In an interview on Friday on Arise TV’s Morning Show, George remarked that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, would have been overwhelmed if he had won the election and emerged as the country’s president.
Speaking candidly about the internal crisis plaguing the PDP, George highlighted the significant challenges the party is facing.
He warned that these issues, if not addressed, could have serious implications for the party’s future.
George said the tilt of the party towards the north in the last election was fundamental to the problems in the party, mentioning the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate was responsible for completely disorganising the party.
He said by the time the former national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, left, it was too late to solve the problems, saying he (Ayu) reneged on the agreement to resign as chairman should the presidential candidate emerge from the north.
7. PIDOM Is In Police Custody, He Is Alive – Hundeyin
Nigerian Investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, has confirmed that the missing whistleblower, PIDOM, is alive and in custody in Abuja.
Naija News had reported that PIDOM, a whistleblower who had leaked many government memos to expose corruption, was arrested by suspected agents of the federal government.
On Friday, Hundeyin stated that police confirmed that the whistleblower is detained at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.
Hundeyin said police admitted this following the intervention of the Nigerian public and some rights activists, including the former presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) Omoyele Sowore.
8. Nigerian Football Club, Heartland Involved In Ghastly Bus Accident, Lose Coach Christian Obi
Former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Heartland were involved in a ghastly bus accident which claimed the life of their head coach and former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Christian Obi.
Naija News reports that the accident happened in Umunna, near Okigwe in Imo State, while Heartland players and coaching crew were en route to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, for the Ifeanyi Ekwueme TICO/SELECT preseason tournament.
Some players and officials sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, coach Christian Obi was confirmed dead at the hospital.
The initial statement released by the Imo State-owned club on Friday, August 23, claimed that no life was lost in the accident but it was later confirmed that the 57-year-old retired goalkeeper had passed away following the crash.
9. Dangote Refinery Begins Petrol Production Test-Run
The Dangote refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is currently conducting test runs for producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol or fuel, with full operations anticipated by mid-September.
A report from industry analyst IIR Energy noted that the $20 billion facility developed by Aliko Dangote has primarily produced diesel and other distillate fuels to date.
Naija News reports that initially, the refinery had projected that petrol deliveries would commence in July, having previously aimed to begin production of the motor fuel in May.
“It is possible that there could be further extensions”, IIR said in a note to clients.
Upon reaching full operational capacity, the refinery is poised to transform the fuel trade between Europe and Africa while diminishing Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined products.
Earlier this month, a committee established by the Federal Government to facilitate the sale of crude oil to local naira refiner reached a consensus with Dangote Petroleum Refinery regarding the commencement of petrol distribution in September of this year.
The report indicated that the Federal Government also announced that the sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other domestic refineries is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2024.
10. Diri Vs Sylva: Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On Bayelsa Governorship Election
The Supreme Court on Friday, August 23, confirmed the election of Douye Diri as the Governor of Bayelsa State.
In a ruling on Friday, the highest court dismissed the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Garba Lawal, who authored the lead judgment, stated that the appeal from Sylva and the APC was not only devoid of merit but also represented a significant misuse of the judicial process.
The apex court’s unanimous ruling upheld the prior decisions made by both the Court of Appeal and the Election Petition Tribunal.
On July 18, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously supported the Bayelsa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ruling, which confirmed Diri’s reelection on November 11, 2023.
A three-member appellate court panel had previously dismissed the appeal lodged by Timipre Sylva and the APC, which sought to overturn the Tribunal’s decision.
Naija News reports that the tribunal, presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, dismissed the petition submitted by the APC and its candidate challenging Governor Diri’s reelection on May 27, 2024, citing a lack of merit.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
The post Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 24th August, 2024 appeared first on Naija News.