Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 9th October, 2024

1. Japa: Place Love Of Your Country Above Financial Gains – Akpabio Begs Nigerians

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to place their love for the country above financial gain.

Akpabio spoke on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

The Senate President asserted that the country would be better if citizens who are skilled in various fields stayed back in the country.

Akpabio said the massive migration of Nigerians has adversely impacted the country’s health sector.

The Senate President said the National Assembly would continue to do its best to better the lives of teachers so that they could stay back and impact future generations.

2. I Owe No Apologies For Working Against PDP In 2023 Presidential Election – Wike

Former Governor of Rivers State and the incumbent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said he owes no apology for his actions against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

Naija News reports that the FCT Minister made this remark on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

Wike faulted the accusation against him, saying that he engaged in anti-party activities by refusing to support Atiku Abubakar, the then-PDP presidential candidate.

According to him, he only supported equity, fairness and justice.

Naija News recalls that in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, Wike, who was the governor of Rivers State at the time, allied with four other dissatisfied governors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP): Samuel Ortom from Benue, Seyi Makinde from Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu.

These five governors consistently insisted that Senator Iyorchia Ayu resign from his position as the national chairman of the PDP as a prerequisite for their support of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

3. Kogi, 15 Other States Want Supreme Court To Declare EFCC Illegal, Curb Its Powers

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for October 22 regarding a suit filed by 16 state governments contesting the constitutionality of the laws that established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and two other agencies.

A seven-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, set the date after granting leave for the states to be joined as co-plaintiffs and for the consolidation of the case, initially filed by the Kogi State Government through its Attorney General.

The states participating in the suit, marked SC/CV/178/2023, include Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Anambra, Plateau, Cross-River, and Niger.

The states contend that the constitution is the supreme law of Nigeria, asserting that any law inconsistent with it is void.

They cite a precedent set by the Supreme Court in the case of Joseph Nwobike vs. Federal Republic of Nigeria, which established that the UN Convention against Corruption was incorporated into the EFCC Establishment Act without adhering to the necessary constitutional provisions.

The plaintiffs argue that the enactment of the EFCC Act in 2004 did not comply with Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

This section requires that a majority of the state Houses of Assembly must consent to bringing any convention into Nigerian law.

The plaintiffs assert that such consent was not obtained, rendering the law, as enacted, inapplicable to states that did not approve it.

4. Fubara Is Responsible For Violence In Rivers – Wike

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of being the architect of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

Wike stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to the former Rivers governor, a situation whereby verdicts of the court are disregarded would lead to the invitation of anarchy.

5. Airline Operators In Nigeria To Buy Jet A1 Fuel From Dangote Alone – Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that Nigerian airline operators would now buy Jet A1 fuels exclusively from Dangote Refinery.

According to Keyamo, the decision is based on an agreement with the airline operators, which has his blessings.

The Minister made the revelation during an interview with Channels TV, which aired on Tuesday.

He explained that the new development, coupled with the government’s naira for crude agreement with Dangote Refinery, will ease the pressure on foreign exchange.

Keyamo added that the timing of the agreement is right and would also shield airline operators from the impact of crude oil price fluctuations, ultimately reducing their operational costs.

6. Head Of Service Reintroduces Civil Service Anthem For Federal Workers

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, has reintroduced the civil service anthem for workers in the Federal Civil Service.

Speaking during a parley with newsmen in Abuja, as detailed in a transcript made public on Tuesday, Walson-Jack explained that the anthem is part of the reforms to be introduced into the service to enhance creativity and innovation.

According to her, the anthem will be sung by all civil and public servants.

She added that the reforms are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and she looks forward to what can be achieved in her first 100 days in office.

7. Fubara: Wike Reveals What Will Bring Peace In Rivers

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, asked the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara to follow the rule of law for peace to reign in the state.

Wike spoke on Tuesday when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The former governor of Rivers State said, “There is peace when you obey the rule of law. There is peace when you obey court judgements.”

Wike’s comment came in the wake of the crisis in Rivers State.

The state has made headlines in recent months owing to a feud between Wike and Fubara. That dispute escalated some days back in the lead-up and aftermath of the local government elections in the state.

A court verdict had mandated the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) not to provide security for the election. It also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the exercise.

But the Fubara-led government insisted on the local government election and conducted same on Saturday.

However, Wike said, insisted that Fubara should follow the court verdict to bring peace to the state.

8. Peter Obi, Otti Suffers Setback As Court Upholds Julius Abure As Labour Party Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must officially recognise Julius Abure as the legitimate Chairman of the Labour Party.

In a decision delivered on Tuesday, Justice Nwite affirmed the leadership of the Abure faction of the party and validated the March 2024 Nnewi convention that established the current national leadership, directing INEC to acknowledge this authority.

Naija News recall that the Abure-led faction accused Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of betrayal.

This allegation arose after INEC declared it did not recognise Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

In response to a lawsuit from the Labour Party contesting its exclusion from a refresher training session for party agents in preparation for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, INEC filed a counter-affidavit at the Federal High Court.

The electoral body asserted that the party’s leadership, including Abure, was illegitimate, claiming that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

9. Nigerians’ Deposits Are Safe, CBN Declares In Response To Withdrawal Rumors

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured citizens that all funds deposited in Nigerian banks remain secure, emphasizing its commitment to a stable financial system.

In a statement on Tuesday, Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Ali, affirmed CBN’s dedication to ensuring the resilience and reliability of the country’s financial sector, following public concern triggered by rumors of some banks facing license revocation.

This reassurance comes in response to recent concerns on Monday, where rumors circulated advising customers of certain banks to withdraw their funds, claiming that CBN had revoked these banks’ licenses.

10. Rivers Poll: Stop This M@dness, Nigerians Are Recording These For You – Ugochinyere To Tinubu

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to put an end to the crisis in Rivers State.

He lamented that supporters of a serving Minister in Tinubu’s government were alleged to be busy burning the headquarters of another arm of government while the Police looked the other way and failed to stop them.

He argued that such an action shows that Nigeria is finished.

The statement comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State following last Saturday’s Local Government election.

Naija News reported on Monday that a section of the Eleme Local Government secretariat was set on fire shortly after the arrival of newly-elected chairman Brian Gokpa.

But in a post on his X handle, Ugochinyere claimed that Nigeria had worked such paths before and that the consequences were enormous.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.

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