TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, THURSDAY

 TOP 10 NEWS IN NIGERIA TODAY, THURSDAY

1. Senate Confirms Buhari’s Ministerial Nominees

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the ministerial nominees sent to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Red Chamber on Wednesday confirmed the seven nominees after they were screened and subjected to a series of questions by the Committee of the Whole.

The ministers-designate will replace former ministers who resigned to pursue their political interests in the 2023 election. Those who resigned are Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, Emeka Nwajiuba, and Tayo Alasoadura, among others.

The ministers confirmed on Wednesday are Henry Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom), Ekuma Joseph (Ebonyi), Goodluck Nana Obia (Imo), Umar Ibrahim Yakub (Kano), Ademola Adewole Adegorioye (Ondo), and Odo Udi (Rivers).

During the screening, Ikoh said one way of tackling employment in the country is to make technical graduates job creators.

On his part, Umana said the country could boost its foreign exchange earnings with its free trade zones, adding that the free zone is a platform that can drive production because when you produce for export, you earn foreign exchange.

Nakama said the federal government must be ready to make some compromises to end the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The remaining four nominees were asked to “take a bow and go” on the grounds of their experience.

2. 2023: I’m Waiting To Hear From God Before Supporting Atiku – Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said that his support for the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, depends on the instruction from God.

The Benue state stated that he is still waiting to hear from God before he can support Atiku in the 2023 Presidential election, adding that he is fasting and praying about the issue.

Ortom stated this while speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday morning.

The governor added that the party’s best choice for the Vice-Presidential candidate would have been his Rivers state counterpart, Nyesom Wike due to his commitment to the PDP.

Ortom disclosed that he expects Atiku to meet with Wike and other governors to explain his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.

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3. ‘South Or Nothing’: Fayose May Dump PDP, Atiku, ‘Back’ Tinubu Presidential Bid

A former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayodele Fayose, may not back his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The former Ekiti State governor gave a hint in the post on his verified Twitter page on Wednesday.

According to Fayose, it was the turn of the South to produce Nigeria’s next president after Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term as president.

Using a Yoruba slang now attached to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Fayose said it is the turn of the south or nothing.

The PDP chieftain promised to give Nigerians more details on his tweet soon.

4. PDP Speaks On Suspending National Chairman, Ayu

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has denied the suspension of its party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu following the crisis bedevilling the party.

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesman, in a statement disclosed such reports were “fake news.”

The statement said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was aware of the absence of our National Chairman and that Damagun will be performing the duties of the National Chairman in Acting capacity pending Ayu’s return.

He then urged all members and supporters to disregard the said report as “fake news.

5. Bola Tinubu Rejects Ahmad Lawan, Yahaya Bello As Running Mate

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has rejected the chance to pick Senate President Ahmad Lawan or Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as his running mate.

Tinubu had defeated the duo in the presidential primary of the ruling party.

The former Lagos State Governor had submitted the name of Ibrahim Masari to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as his running mate, in what many believe to be a ‘placeholder’ capacity.

According to Daily Independent, Lawan and Bello have been lobbying President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail over Tinubu to pick them as his running mate.

A source told the publication that Tinubu rejected both as they are direct contestants with him.

6. Senate Sets Up Delegation To Visit UK Over Ekweremadu, Wife’s Arrest

The Nigerian Senate has made fresh moves to intervene in the arrests of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice in the United Kingdom over alleged organ harvest.

Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arraigned at the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in London on conspiracy charges and organ harvest last week after they were arrested.

The upper chamber of the national assembly, however, on Wednesday discussed on the controversies surrounding the arrest of the senator and his wife.

The lawmakers set up a high-powered delegation that would go abroad to liaise with the Nigerian High Commission in London to get briefs on the controversial matter.

President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmad Lawan while addressing the press shortly after the plenary today said the delegation of the Upper Chamber would be made up of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs led by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Bauchi North.

7. Court Takes Decision On Impeachment Of Oyo Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has stopped the Oyo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan.

In a ruling on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola barred any removal process the state assembly may want to initiate.

According to the judge, the assembly should maintain a status-quo pending the hearing of the application for interlocutory injunctions before it.

Recall that the case which came up on Tuesday was adjourned till Wednesday due to the absence of the legal counsel to the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House and Clerk.

Olaniyan had dragged the parties to court to seek an injunction to stop what he described as the “faulty process” of his impeachment.

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8. Nigerian Army Reacts As Officers Reportedly Plan Protest In Abuja

The Nigerian Army has described as untrue, reports from certain quarters that some officers and soldiers are planning to storm Abuja in protest of their poor working conditions, non-payment of entitlements and other issues.

The Army in a statement on Wednesday signed by its spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu said the allegations could have been ignored but the clarification became necessary because of the weighty nature of the claims made and the need to tell Nigerians the truth.

He told members of the public to ignore the reports of any planned protest.

Nwachukwu in debunking the report, argued that the Nigerian Army has never had it this good in terms of welfare and equipment for the personnel which has in no small way contributed to the victories recorded against bandits, terrorists and other criminals.

He said generally, working conditions have improved while new measures are constantly being introduced to make life easier for the soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army under the current leadership of Lt. Gen Farouk Yahaya.

According to him, some faceless persons who want to cause disaffection are the ones behind the reports of a planned protest.

9. Wike, Tambuwal, Others Shun PDP Inauguration Of Osun Governorship Campaign Council

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was conspicuously absent on Wednesday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) inaugurated its campaign council for the July 16 Osun State governorship election.

This development occurs at a time there are suggestions Wike may not be on good terms with the party leadership after losing out on the 2023 PDP presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar and also losing the Vice Presidential slot to Ifeanyi Okowa.

Others absent during the event were Douye Diri who is the Chairman of the council, as well as Governors Seyi Makinde, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Okezie Ikpeazu, Emmanuel Udom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Godwin Obaseki, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Bala Mohammed who were all listed as part of the 128-man campaign council.

Only Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa who is the PDP vice presidential candidate and Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba were present at the event.

The council was however inaugurated by the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum.

Speaking at the event held at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, Damagum charged members of the party to work for victory in Osun State, saying there is no reason why PDP can’t win the election.

10. 2023: PDP Has Treated Wike Badly – Ortom

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has charged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to meet with the Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike over his grievances.

Ortom advised that calling the presidential aspirant on phone to resolve the issue in the party would not be resourceful.

He further stated that when others left PDP, Wike remained and also brought him back to the party when he was treated unjustly.

According to Ortom, the leadership of PDP has treated Wike badly and they need to meet with him to appeal to him.