TOP 10 NEWS MAKINGTHE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  WEDNESDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKINGTHE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY,  WEDNESDAY 

1. President Buhari Meets Tambuwal, Bagudu, Emefiele, Others Over Cash Crunch

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Atiku Bagudu over the scarcity of the new naira note.

The said private meeting was held at the President’s office at the State House in Abuja.

It was gathered also in attendance at the meeting were the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa; as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor.

It was learnt that even though all present at the meeting didn’t disclose the reason for the meeting, sources within the Presidency affirmed that the President was wary about the possible perception of disregard for lawful orders.

However, speculation is that the presence of the CBN boss and Tambuwal might indicate that the meeting might be regarding the issues of cash crunch and frustrations of Nigerians.

2. CBN Won’t Be Used To Disrupt Elections – Emiefele To INEC Chairman

The 2023 general election will not be disrupted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emiefele has declared.

The CBN boss at a meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu and other 11 National Commissioners, pledged that the bank won’t be the cause of any hitches to the coming polls.

He said “The CBN will not allow itself to be used as agents to frustrate the fourth coming election which is a positive assignment.

“If you require cash to pay some of your service providers, we will make it available to you. We will not allow ourselves to be seen as agents that frustrate a genuine assignment.”

His submission follows the request by the INEC boss for the apex bank to make available every cash needed to pay logistics for the success of the elections.

The INEC chairman told the CBN governor the 2023 polls will be the best in Nigeria’s history, but then concerns have however been raised about the processes leading to the elections.

3. Naira Scarcity: Opposition Politicians Have Legally Restrained Buhari – FG

The Federal Government has berated opposition political parties for dragging President Muhammadu Buhari to court in a move to stop the extension of the naira note swap deadline.

14 political parties had on Monday threatened to boycott the February 25 election should the Central Bank of Nigeria extend the February 10 deadline for the currency swap which it had earlier announced.

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Also, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory restrained the President, the CBN, its Governor Godwin Emefiele and 27 commercial banks from suspending, stopping, extending or interfering with the currency swap terminal date.

But speaking at the 23rd edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023), which featured the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said that the political parties were not mindful of the plight of Nigerians due to the cash crunch.

He said, “Recall that after his (Buhari’) meeting with the Progressives Governors’ Forum on Friday, President Buhari urged the citizens to give him a seven-day window to resolve the currency crunch that has emanated from the implementation of the naira redesign policy.

“Unfortunately, on Monday, some opposition political parties ran to court to obtain an injunction restraining Mr President and the CBN from extending the February 10 deadline for Nigerians to exchange their old notes for new ones.”

Mohammed said the court actions by the parties are a clear evidence that the opposition has turned the naira crunch issue into a political game, preferring to make Nigerians suffer more on the altar of an unconscionable political gamesmanship.

4. Shake Up In Police Force As IGP Orders Posting/Redeployment Of DIGs, AIGs, CPs

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has approved the posting and redeployment of some senior police officers within the force.

IGP Baba ordered the posting/redeployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to Departments, Commands, and Formations.

The move is in line with his manpower development policy of placing round pegs in round holes.

A statement on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed the development.

The IGP charged the newly posted officers to hit the ground running to ensure the mission, vision, and policy statements of his administration are effectively complied with in the areas of crime-fighting, public cooperation, and safety.

He also called for support and cooperation from members of the public to enable the newly posted senior officers to perform optimally on their mandate.

The posting is with immediate effect.

5. Why Peter Obi Is Struggling To Catch Up With Atiku – Dele Momodu

The Director of Strategic Communications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Momodu, has stated that the flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is struggling in the presidential race.

The PDP chieftain made this known on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s special election programme, The 2023 Verdict.

Momodu said the LP flagbearer is “struggling” to catch up with the PDP standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, because the presidential race is not a marathon and takes time to build bridges.

The publisher of Ovation magazine also described Obi as one of the leading candidates in the February 25 election, and a third force in Nigeria’s national politics.

6. Wike Reapproves Venue For Atiku Presidential Campaign Rally

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reapproved the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium as the venue for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential campaign rally in the state.

Recall that the governor had on January 31 withdrawn the initial approval of February 11 on the grounds that PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation is working in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The government said it understood that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation was intending to share the approved facility with the APC whose activities are characterised by violence and destruction.

However, speaking at the state PDP Campaign rally in the Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area on Tuesday, Wike said the government reapproved the use of the venue after pleas by many personalities.

The governor also spoke on the crisis in the PDP, even as he faulted the comment by the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu that a member of the G5 visited him (Ayu).

Wike said the claim was false as no member of the group of five PDP governors advocating for the Southern Chairmanship of the party will visit Ayu.

7. 2023: ‘Tinubu Not On The List Of Favoured Candidates To Succeed Buhari’

The National Vice Chairman, North West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman has revealed that the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu is not on the list of favoured candidates to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

He made the revelation in a statement on Tuesday titled “Electoral Contests and Public Expectations: Matching Hopes with Realities.

According to him, that is the reason some prominent people within the political circle and the presidency have not been openly supporting Tinubu’s ambition.

He listed the preferred candidates to include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele and former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Lukman who is a member of the APC National Working Committee added that Senate President Ahmad Lawan was picked as a fallback option to suit the sentiment of the northern region.

In his revelation, the APC chieftain said those behind the plot were not card-carrying members of the APC but forces outside the party and their plan had been set in motion as far back as April 2022.

The APC National Vice Chairman listed those behind the plot to include the publisher and owner of This day Newspaper and Arise Television, Nduka Ogbaigbena, 14 current governors, 13 former governors as well as three former senate presidents.

He said however when their plan for a consensus candidate failed and Tinubu emerged as the APC presidential candidate for 2023 thanks to the fairness of President Buhari in the process, they unleashed the cashless policy/naira swap policy of the CBN to damage the candidature of Asiwaju Tinubu.

8. “We Must Say No To Them” – Tinubu Sends Fresh Message To Nigerians Over Fuel, Naira Scarcity

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to resist the antics of enemies of democracy who want to create a state of national siege and tension through the scarcity of fuel and the new naira notes.

Tinubu who made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians to remain calm over the current hardship caused by the scarcity.

He lamented that the situation has brought untold pain and hardship to many Nigerians but appealed to them to remain calm as the government and relevant agencies continue to work out solutions.

The statement which was signed and made available by the Director, Media & Publicity

APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga said the current fuel and naira scarcity has affected many people, particularly the downtrodden masses who have been made to bear the brunt of the new naira policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)and irregular supply of petrol.

Tinubu pointed out that the two have combined to inflict avoidable pains on the masses and therefore called on the CBN not to be dogmatic in the deadline it has fixed for the transition from old Naira notes to the new one, especially as the unintended consequence of the policy has been massive pain on the people.

READ ALSO: New Naira: Banks Send Message To All Nigerians

He commends the NNPC Limited for the fuel supply relief being enjoyed in the Federal Capital Territory and urges the company to step up its act to bring relief around the country.

The former Lagos State Governor said he is distressed by the news of cash-strapped farmers having to sell their products excessively cheap to avoid losing all.

The APC candidate went further to assure Nigerians that the current challenges will soon be over and pleaded that people should avoid anything capable of causing unrest in the country even when they are justifiably angry.

9. Naja’atu Accuses El-Rufai Of Attempting To Replace Late Abba Kyari As Cabal

The Former Director of the Civil Society Organization in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign council, Naja’atu Mohammed has laid an allegation against the Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai.

Mohammed in an interview with Arise TV claimed that El-Rufai at a time attempted to be part of the cabal at the Aso Rock.

According to Mohammed, El-Rufai’s plans were written in one of the memos of the governor after the late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari died.

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She claimed that the cabal snubbed the Kaduna State Governor, adding that this is why El-Rufai is combatting them.

She called on El-Rufai and other governors elected on the platform of the APC to be concerned about the Nigerian people who are suffering and not about the election.

Mohammed alleged that their fight against the alleged cabal is for their personal interests and not for the masses.

10. NNPCL GM, Kyari Reveals When Fuel Scarcity Will Ease, Begs Nigerians

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has disclosed that the lingering fuel scarcity will ease off from next week.

In a video broadcast on Channels Television on Tuesday evening, Kyari, however, said he could not assure that the queues at the fuel stations would disappear.

The NNPCL boss that there would be significant improvement in the next one week

He said, “Now within the next one week, I’m not saying that you’re going to have zero queues within the next one week, no, because a number of things are out of our control, and of course the market forces will determine some of these issues.

“But I believe that we’re going to see substantial and relative ease compared to today in the next one week.

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“I apologize for the situation on behalf of all of us in the oil and gas industry.”