TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, MONDAY 

TOP 10 NEWS MAKING THE ROUNDS IN NIGERIA TODAY, MONDAY 

1. Naira Scarcity: 10 Days Is Long Enough To Comply With Supreme Court Order – ACF Blasts Buhari, CBN

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has knocked President Muhammadu Buhari over the continued non-compliance with the Supreme Court order on the old naira notes.

The ACF in a statement on Sunday by its Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu warned that continued disobedience to the Supreme Court ruling which ordered that the old N500, and N1,000 notes should return to circulation could lead to the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria.

Aliyu also berated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) saying the apex bank should have complied with the order of the Supreme Court even as it is clear the policy has brought untold hardship to Nigerians.

The ACF scribe warned that both Buhari and the CBN have so far not demonstrated that they are obedient to court orders which may be sending a wrong message to Nigerians about their respect for the rule of law.

2. Bode George Calls For Sack Of INEC ICT Director, Femi Odubiyi

A call has gone out to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, to sack the Commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Femi Odubiyi.

The call was made by a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, on Sunday.

The PDP chieftain, in a statement on Sunday, alleged that the INEC boss needs to remove Odubiyi because of his closeness to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Goerge said Yakubu should explain how Odubiyi, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology in Lagos State found his as the head of “a critical department before, during and after elections.”

He claimed that Odubiyi was a mole deliberately planted in INEC, to subvert the will of the Nigerian electorate, noting that Yakubu has to just explain to Nigerians how a former commissioner in the employment of Lagos State became a Director of the ICT Department in INEC.

3. No Need To Sack INEC Chairman, 2023 Presidential Election Was Free And Fair – AYCF

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has declared the 2023 presidential election as free and fair, adding that it is the freest since the 1999 election.

The AYCF in a statement on Sunday also berated those calling for the sack or resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Mahmood Yakubu over the conduct of the 2023 polls, describing such calls as unnecessary.

The AYCF statement made available on Sunday was signed by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima.

Shettima described those calling for the resignation of the INEC chairman as agents of destabilization, adding that “there are forces opposed to the commendable effort of INEC and we are aware there is deliberate ploy to distract the electoral umpire.”

He said there is no perfect election anywhere in the world and INEC has done its best with the 2023 presidential election.

4. Naira Crisis: Call Banks To Order – Gov Adeleke Urges CBN

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to order commercial banks to accept the old naira notes from residents of the state.

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The governor expressed his displeasure over what he called the maltreatment of residents of the state by banks who refused to collect old N500 and N1,000 notes.

He said how can banks issue old notes to citizens and refuse to collect them.

Adeleke, in a statement on Sunday issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the State Director of the CBN is specifically requested to direct banks to stop the “unhealthy practice.”

The governor bemoaned how the development has caused pain and suffering for the people of Osun State, adding that it has caused serious economic implications for residents.

The governor insisted that banks should stop issuing old notes withdrawals if they won’t accept them as deposits.

5. Shekarau Breaks Silence On His Meeting With Ganduje

Former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has disclosed what transpired between him and incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje last Friday.

The duo took many by surprise last week after there were seen together after attending the funeral prayer for the late influential contractor, Alhaji Sani Dahiru Yakasai (SDY), at Kano Emir’s palace.

Ganduje and Shekaru are both political rivals. However, Ganduje, the incumbent Governor of Kano State, followed his predecessor to his residence after the burial event of the renowned businessman who died on Thursday night.

Speaking on the development which had set the tongues wagging over the weekend, Shekaru during an interview with Radio France International (rfi), said his meeting with Ganduje was apolitical.

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There were speculations that the unexpected rapport between the duo was political. Also, many had suggested that Shekarau might direct his followers to vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Nasir Gawuna, in the coming Saturday’s poll.

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Giving clarification, however, during the meeting, Shekarau, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one of the directors of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council in the just concluded election, insisted that there is cordial relation between himself and other leaders of the state, adding that he often meets with many leaders, including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP).

Commenting on whether he met Governor Ganduje behind closed doors, Shekarau said, “Oh do you want us to leave the door open while discussing? We didn’t discuss anything political. We were just discussing the death of this man and how our lives should be.”

6. Protest: Wike Is A Drunkard, He Has Abandoned Other G5 Governors – Atiku’s Aide

The Special Assistant to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Public Communication, Prank Shaibu has labelled Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as a drunkard.

Shaibu in a statement on Sunday accused Wike of speaking, acting, and dancing under the influence of alcohol.

The media assistant to Atiku made the statement on Sunday while reacting to the trending video of Wike in which the Governor stated that he was drinking a 40-year-old whiskey while he was watching members of the PDP protesting at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

Wike said this on Friday while addressing supporters at the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and the video has since gone viral on social media.

However, in response, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, attacked Wike, saying the drinking has affected his voice, demeanour, and thinking faculty.

He added that the PDP protest occurred around 11.30 am and it is unacceptable for any one, talkless of a Governor to be drinking alcohol at such a time.

7. ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram Terrorist Arrested For Drug Trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a man who confessed to being a repentant Boko Haram terrorist with illegal drugs.

Alayi Madu was among other criminals apprehended recently by the federal government agency.

During its recent operation across the country ahead of March 18 governorship election, NDLEA said it arrested Madu and the traditional ruler of Kajola, a border community between Ondo and Edo state, Baale Akinola Adebayo at Lagos Airport.

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In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said that officers of the agency, in the early hours of Friday, stormed Kajola forest in Kajola community, a border town between Edo and Ondo state where they destroyed three cannabis farms measuring 39.801546 hectares.

According to him, the owner of the farms who claims to be the Ba’ale of Kajola, Akinola Adebayo, was arrested on the farm at 2:30 am, while two other suspects believed to be his workers: Arikuyeri Abdulrahman and Habibu Ologun were also nabbed in a hut near the farms.

Madu was among the 37 persons arrested. Over 2.2 tons of illicit drugs were reportedly seized by operatives during the raid across 12 states in the past week.

In his confession, Madu revealed that he was a rehabilitated ex-fighter of the Boko Haram terror group. He disclosed that he was a Boko Haram fighter for 15 years before surrendering to the Nigerian military in 2021.

8. I Am Shocked And Saddened – Peter Obi Reacts To Kaduna Killings

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has condemned the terrorist attack in Kaduna State which resulted in the killing of several residents.

Obi in a statement on Sunday evening said he is shocked and saddened by the reports of the attack in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State which has resulted in the death of many people.

Updates from the attack at Ungwan Wakili community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State reveal that the death toll from Saturday’s attack has risen to 17.

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As a result of the violence, the Chairman, Zangon Kataf LGA, Yabo Chris Ephraim, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, Ungwan Wakili, and Zangon Urban communities with immediate effect.

Reacting to the sad incident, Obi while condemning the attacks, called on the government to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book and Nigeria is better secured.

9. 2023 Election Results: Labour Party Reveals Next Step If The Courts Don’t Meet Its Demands

The Labour Party (LP) has stated that the youths will be mobilized to take to the streets in protest if the courts fail to deliver justice over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The Special Adviser to the Labour Party on Public Affairs, Dr. Kachi Ononuju who stated this however maintained that the party would not be part of any insurrection but the youth protest would be done to call attention.

The  LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi came third with about 6.1 million votes according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obi and his party however disagreed with the results and claimed they won the election but the results were manipulated in favour of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the matter already in court.

But Ononuju said the party is ready to launch street protests if the court does not do the right thing and ensure justice prevails.

In a chat with Nigerian Tribune, the LP chieftain said: “If they don’t want to respect the vote, we will turn it into a civil right movement. I’m telling you this.”

He alleged that the permission granted by the court to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconfigure the BVAS devices ahead of the March 18 governorship polls might lead to tampering with evidence and make it difficult to get justice.

10. APC Reacts As LP’s Rhodes-Vivour Alleges Threat To Life

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, over an alleged threat to life by the ruling party.

Rhodes-Vivour had claimed in an interview with Arise TV on Sunday, that suspected APC thugs attacked his campaign train In Epe area of the state.

The LP flagbearer said the timely intervention of the Police and the operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) who were on his train helped to prevent the incident from turning into chaos.

But in a statement on Sunday, the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Seye Oladejo, described the allegation as irresponsible and an attempt to heat up the polity.

Oladejo stated that the LP flagbearer should not only make allegations but should formally complain to the appropriate security authorities over the alleged attack.

The APC spokesman added that Rhodes-Vivoir has been exposed as a tribal bigot and a religious fanatic who is determined to divide Lagos along ethnic lines.