TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, TUESDAY

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, TUESDAY

1. Buhari Reacts To Killing Of Nigeriens, Policemen In South-East

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of some non-indigenes and policemen by unknown gunmen in the South East.

Some unknown gunmen last week killed eight Nigeriens living in Orogwe, a suburb community in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Also, four policemen were brutally killed after gunmen attacked a police station in Imo on Saturday.

In a statement signed by his spokesman Garba Shehu, President Buhari said his government will not accept the killing of non-indigenes and security operatives in the South East.

The President vowed to undertake all possible action in conducting a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

President Buhari urged community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings in the region.

2. State Pardon: FG Releases Nyame, Dariye From Prison

The Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye has been released from prison.

This is as former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame and two others were also released from the Kuje Correctional Service in Abuja after many months in detention.

It is understood that the former governors and others were released a few months after Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pardoned them.

It could be recalled that the duo were convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 2018 for fraud.

Nyame was sentenced to 12 years for diverting N1.64 billion during his tenure as governor of Taraba, while Dariye was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for N1.126 billion fraud.

However, the Council of State, led by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 14 approved the pardon of the convicts, a decision which generated outcries.

When contacted, the FCT Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Chukwuedo Humphrey, confirmed their release to our correspondent in a telephone interview.

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3. Wike Talks Tough, Speaks On Who Rivers People Will Support In 2023

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has stated that anyone who undermines the political value of Rivers State in the 2023 elections will be taught a painful lesson.

Wike made the submission on Monday during the commissioning of the Orochiri -Worukwo (Waterlines junction) flyover bridge in the state.

According to him, the people of the state will not just vote for anybody but will give their votes to the person who will benefit them.

He added that gone are those days when the votes of the people are taken as a ‘gift’ without giving anything beneficial to the people.

4. Buhari Approves Seplat’s Takeover Of Exxon Mobil Shares

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved Seplat Energy Offshore Limited’s takeover of the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (Exxon Mobil).

A statement released on the microblogging platform, Twitter, on Monday, by the Presidency confirmed the development, stating that the Nigerian leader authorized the takeover, exercising his power as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The statement noted that Buhari consented to the acquisition to attract foreign direct investment to the country.

He also directed that Exxon Mobil and Seplat mitigate all environmental and abandonment liabilities.

5. Police Officer Caught Beating Civilian With Cutlass Dismissed

An operative of the Nigerian Police Force seen in a viral video beating a civilian with cutlass has been relieved of service.

Nigerians have expressed anger and called for justice after the erring officer, PC Liyomo Okoi, was spotted in the video clip which went viral on July 31, 2022.

Last week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba expressed interest in the case and summoned Liyomo to his office in Abuja.

In a tweet on Friday, the force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the IGP had summoned Liyomo to Abuja on Thursday and condemned him for his actions.

Subsequently, on Monday, Adejobi confirmed that the force has fired the erring officer for his gross misconduct.

6. Biafra: IPOB Names Chika Edoziem As Nnamdi Kanu’s Replacement

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has announced Mazi Chika Edoziem as the replacement for its leader, Nnamdi Kanu pending the time he would be released.

The spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful, in a statement released on Monday said Edoziem would relinquish the leadership role to Kanu when he is released.

Kanu is currently been held in the facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) after being arrested in Kenya and brought by Nigeria.

7. PDP Postpones Caucus, NEC Meetings

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday announced the postponement of its caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The meeting was earlier scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the notice of the postponement signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the PDP cited “unforeseen circumstances” as reason for the shift in date.

He wrote, “This is to inform all members of the PDP National Caucus and National Executive Committee that the meetings of the two bodies earlier scheduled for Wednesday, August 10 and Thursday, August 11, 2022, respectively, have been postponed.

“The postponement is due to unforeseen circumstances. A new date will be announced in due course.

“All inconveniences are deeply regretted.“

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8. Prof. Soyinka Reacts To Viral Pyrates Confraternity Video Mocking Bola Tinubu’s Health

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has described as distasteful a video showing some members of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, mocking the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

In a viral video, members of the Confraternity were seen gyrating to a song that mocked the former Lagos State governor for a speech he made in June in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Tinubu had during the controversial speech stated that ‘Emi lo kan’, meaning ‘It’s my turn’ to get power after President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to the video, Soyinka, who was among the ‘magnificent seven’ that founded Pyrates Confraternity at the University College Ibadan, slammed the Pyrates for mocking Tinubu’s ill-health.

9. Ohanaeze Slams Buhari Over Comments On South-East Killings

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent comments on the killings in the South East.

President Buhari had over the weekend condemned the killing of eight Nigeriens and policemen by unknown gunmen in Imo State.

The Nigerian leader urged community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings in the South East region and to defend the nation’s cultural and religious heritage.

Reacting to the President’s comments in a statement on Monday, Ohanaeze slammed the President for painting the killings of the Nigeriens and other nationalities an ethnic colouration.

The group in the statement issued by its spokesman, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, said the comments made by President Buhari are uncharitable and mischievous to poison the minds of non-indigenes against the Igbos.

Ohanaeze, however, condemned the security situation in the South East, blaming the Buhari administration for the killings and violence in the region.

10. 2023: El-Rufai Speaks On Joining PDP As Party Chieftain Woos Him

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has shut down any possibility of joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

El-Rufai ruled out the possibility of dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP in a reaction shared via his Twitter account on Monday.

Before then, the spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Organization, Daniel Bwala had expressed optimism that El-Rufai will dump the APC for the PDP ahead of the 2023 elections.

But the Kaduna State Governor quickly rejected the idea, saying not even his corpse will be found near the PDP.

He wrote: “Thanks @BwalaDaniel but no, thanks. Never ever, not even my corpse will be found in the vicinities of your new-found political party. I still dey laugh!!! – @elrufai”