Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 26th October, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 26th October 2021

1. Yoruba Nation: What Buhari Sent Us To Tell Sunday Igboho – Ooni

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has regretted the detention of Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo alias Igboho, in Benin Republic, disclosing that the agitator rejected the advice offered to him by monarchs sent to dialogue with him.

Naija News reports that the pro-Yoruba self-determination activist is currently in a detention facility in Benin Republic after he was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on July 16, 2021, with his wife, while travelling to Germany.

In an interview with the BBC, Ojaja II disclosed that he met President Muhammadu Buhari over Sunday Igboho’s ordeal and informed him about the reasons for Igboho’s agitation.

He quoted Buhari to have responded by saying Igboho needs to be “calm and patient” and sent monarchs in the South-west to advise Igboho against moves that are lawless.

The traditional ruler, who noted that Igboho has a just cause to fight, pointed out that he should have been more diplomatic.

2. ‘Behave Yourself’ – NSA Monguno Issues Warning To IPOB Ahead Anambra Election

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno, has warned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against plans to thwart the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

Naija News reports the separatist group had threatened to lock down the South-east if Kanu is not released from detention by November 4.

The Biafra group stated that the proposed sit-at-home protest would affect the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 6.

Speaking on Monday during a meeting of the Special Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja, Monguno admonished IPOB members to shelve the idea of causing violence during the election.

Monguno noted that security agencies would deal with anyone or group planning to disrupt the election, adding that Federal Government would ensure that the election is successful.

He added that security agencies have been urged to conduct themselves well and exhibit the highest level of professionalism and operate within the confines of the law.

3. Buhari Officially Launches Nigerian Digital Currency E-Naira

Nigerian digital currency, E–Naira has been officially launched on Monday, 25th October at the State House in Abuja.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN had earlier announced that President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday (today) unveil the e-Naira.

Coming to fulfillment, President Buhari has on Monday, declared the official use of the new era electronic version of the nation’s local paper currency.

Present at the unveiling were the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Naija News understands.

The E-Naira will hold equal value with the paper currency and will be issued by the CBN.

Nigerian authorities say the currency is not intended to replace cash but will function as a safe and efficient alternative means of payment.

4. It Will Be Foolhardy To Reject COVID-19 Vaccine – NLC President Says, Urges FG To Engage Workers

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba has called on civil servants in the country to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of how they feel about it.

The NLC President made the call on Monday where he noted that the vaccination is much more than personal feelings but has to do with public welfare and safety.

Wabba said while truly some persons may have valid objections why they don’t want to take the vaccine, scientific evidence has shown that it is safer for them and the general public to get vaccinated.

He made the appeal during a COVID-19 vaccination advisory for federal civil servants in Abuja.

Speaking against the backdrop of the threat by the federal government that workers who fail to show proof of vaccination will be barred from coming to work as from December 1, Wabba urged the government to rather employ the tool of persuasion rather than force.

5. Give Us Project Funds Or Nigeria May Have To Depend On UK To Get Its Own Information Soon – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Monday warned that Nigeria is fast losing its historical information and urgent action must be taken to arrest the situation.

The Minister observed that many historical information that should have been stored digitally are still manually stored and should any disaster such as flood or fire affect them, recovering such information may be impossible.

“Very soon we will be going to the U.K. to get information pertaining to us,’’ Lai Mohammed lamented.

He made the lamentation in Abuja on Monday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value to defend his ministry’s 2022 budget estimates.

Mohammed explained that if full monetary allocations are not gotten to complete the digital switchover so that national archives are no longer stored manually, Nigeria stands the risk of losing valuable information, and generations to come may not have access to them.

He added that the meagre amounts allocated to his ministry and failure to release the little that is allocated is what is responsible for the challenge.

6. Seven Kidnapped, 18 Killed As Gunmen Attack Mosque In Niger

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped seven and killed eighteen worshippers during an invasion of a mosque in Mazukaka village, Niger State.

Naija News reports that the gunmen invaded the worship centre located in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Monday when the worshippers were observing early morning prayers.

According to a resident of the area, the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles and went straight to the mosque, before shooting the worshippers at closed range.

Speaking to reporters, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Kuryas, confirmed the incident and attributed the attack to communal conflict.

The police commissioner added that the gunmen destroyed a property belonging to one Abubakar Maigandus in the village.

7. IPOB Is Very Big Force, Members Not In Nigeria – Senator Warns FG Over Nnamdi Kanu

The Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, on Monday disclosed that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a very big force because the majority of the group’s membership is not in Nigeria.

Noting that Nnamdi Kanu enjoys a huge following in the South-east, he warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to take the IPOB Leader seriously.

Ubah, who is seeking a court order to visit Kanu in DSS custody, explained that he wants to engage the IPOB leader to “get him to talk to his people” about the proscribed group’s stand on the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

8. 2023: North Will Decide Who Becomes Next President – Bakare

Prominent clergyman and televangelist, Tunde Bakare has stated that the Northern region will decide who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

In an interview with ThisDay over the weekend, Bakare stated that any politician that wants to govern the country must negotiate with the North in order to see his or her dreams come true.

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church added that Nigeria is structured in such a way that no region win can an election by itself, saying that negotiation is very key.

Bakare stated that the North is not as viable as it used to be, saying that it is unlikely if the region would willingly give up power.

9. Gumi Warns Against Tagging Bandits As Terrorists

Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, on Sunday warned against declaring bandits as terrorists, adding that the decision will come with a prize.

This is coming after lawmakers in the National Assembly charged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists following attacks in the Northern part of the country.

Gumi in a post on his Facebook account noted that the actions of bandits in the Northwest which has seen innocent people killed is tantamount to terrorism.

He, however, said the moment bandits are declared terrorists, the direct foreign Jihadist movements will set in force, and many unemployed youths may find it palatable and attractive.

Gumi added that nothing stops kinetic actions from going on without the controversy of semantics.

The Islamic cleric charged an Igbo cleric to reach out to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and talk sense to them, while a pastor in the Southwest does the same to bring peace to the country at large.

10. IPOB Sit-At-Home: Anambra Govt Orders Saturday School In Place Of Monday

The Anambra State government has officially approved Saturday as a school day for students and teachers in the state.

The government was forced to take the decision as a result of the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which has disrupted Monday academic and other activities in the state.

To make up for the time usually lost on Monday since the sit-at-home order came in place, the Anambra government has now approved Saturday classes for private and public schools to run from 8am to 1pm.

The Saturday lectures are to resume on 30th October, 2021.

Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.