Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Monday, 13th December, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 13th December 2021

1. Buhari To Ebonyi: You Are Talking Rubbish, IPOB Can Do Nothing – Umahi Roasts Emma Powerful

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has lambasted the spokesperson of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Emma Powerful, over his recent comments.

Naija News reports that Powerful in a statement had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel his planned trip to Ebonyi State.

The outlawed group’s spokesperson stated that Buhari cannot visit the southeast when its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is still in the detention of the Department of State Service, DSS.

Reacting during a Thanksgiving service on Sunday, Umahi slammed Powerful for his statement, stressing that IPOB cannot do anything to stop Buhari from visiting the state.

He said Powerful lacked the capacity and the warfare prowess to stop Buhari from visiting the state.

2. Presidency Reveals Three Things Buhari Govt Is Doing About Insecurity In Nigeria

The presidency has declared that it is unfair to say life in Nigeria has lost its value under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This is as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement on Sunday maintained that dealing with insecurity remains a top priority for the current administration.

He said the President views the situation with all seriousness and is sparing no effort towards ensuring the challenges are dealt with.

The statement comes as a reaction to a newspaper editorial which accused the Buhari government of not doing enough to tackle the insecurity plaguing the nation, Naija News reports.

However, in its response, the presidency submitted that while the current security situation is not acceptable, the challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria.

It highlighted three major things the government is doing to address the situation.

Firstly, it says the Nigerian Military has continued to press and remains unrelenting in dislodging the criminal elements.

Secondly, the presidency statement said the government is working towards economic empowerment and job provision which will make terrorism and criminal activities less attractive to the youths.

On a third note, the government says it is aggressively lobbying its western allies to proscribe some groups such as Boko Haram and IPOB accused of causing insecurity in Nigeria.

3. Buhari Govt Bans Flight From UK, Canada, Others

The federal government of Nigeria, effective from Tuesday, December 14, has banned flights from Canada, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina.

The Minister of Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, made the announcement on Sunday, December 12, in Lagos.

He said the decision was made due to the ban on destination flights into the said countries because of the Omicron variant.

4. Obasanjo Vs Buhari: You Are A Liar – Timi Frank Tackles Bisi Akande

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has berated Chief Bisi Akande over his claim that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo opposed the Presidential ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Recall that Akande, in his memoirs titled: “My Participations” had alleged that Obasanjo worked behind the scene to stop APC from fielding Buhari as its presidential candidate.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Timi Frank describes Akande’s claim as contrived lies aimed at gaining political mileage for his preferred presidential aspirant ahead of 2023 general elections.

He recalled that being one of the youngest among prominent leaders that worked for Buhari’s emergence as President, he is aware of the critical roles played by Obasanjo and other prominent leaders to make the APC win the presidency in 2015.

The former APC spokesperson wondered why the former Governor of Osun State failed to name the presidential aspirant that Obasanjo backed after his alleged opposition to Buhari’s emergence.

5. 2023: PDP Will Win 25 States, National Assembly Seats – Ayu

The new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has set a tall order for his party ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

Ayu on Sunday said the PDP will win at least 25 states and a majority of the seats in the National Assembly.

He made the declaration at a Thanksgiving Service/Reception held in his honour at the Aper-Aku Stadium in Makurdi, the Benue State capital following his inauguration on Friday.

Ayu on Sunday said the practice of politicians dumping the PDP for other parties would also be stopped.

The PDP national chairman stated that reclaiming the lost seats will start from the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states which the party plans to win by fighting tooth and nail.

He added that the PDP has learnt from its past mistakes and is determined to recover lost grounds.

6. President Buhari Urges Stronger Partnership Among ECOWAS Countries To Tackle Challenges

President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday in Abuja called for stronger partnerships among ECOWAS leaders to tackle challenges facing the region, noting that the political, economic, security and Covid-19 issues will require collective action.

The President, who spoke at the 60th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said the region faces renewed threats with the Covid-19 pandemic, political tensions, terrorism and economic challenges.

The President noted that challenges of COVID-19 and the catastrophic consequences hoisted on socio-economic environment had continued, adding that the regional resilience, determination and resolution of working together, in solidarity with each other, assisted greatly to lessen the burdens of the Pandemic.

7. Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ajagungbade Is Dead

The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, has died at 95-year-old.

Naija News reports that the first class traditional ruler died on Sunday morning after over forty years on the throne.

Following his demise, several tributes and condolence messages have been pouring in for the family, the people of Ogbomosho, and the Oyo State government.

8. Northern Governor Withdrew N60b Cash – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that a Northern Governor personally withdrew cash of N60 billion from his state treasury.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in a story published on the agency’s magazine, EFCC Alert.

While refusing to give out his name, he disclosed that the governor is from the North Central part of the country.

9. Atiku Camp Fires Bisi Akande, Describes Him As Tinubu’s Lapdog Who Is Suffering From Selective Amnesia

The media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe has described as mischievous, the claims by Chief Bisi Akande that Atiku begged for money from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Mr. Ibe was responding to claims by Akande in his biography where he insinuated that Atiku Abubakar, demanded financial support from the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

According to Akande in his biography titled “My Participations”, the former Vice President made the financial demands when he took a shot at the presidency in 2007 under the Action Congress party.

But the Atiku camp has in reply, accused Chief Akande of choosing to be Tinubu’s lapdog and twisting what actually transpired at that time.

Ibe retorted that it was normal for Tinubu to fund party activities at that time as he was the leader of the party. He, however, said other members including Atiku made funds available to run party affairs, negating the suggestions by Akande that Atiku who was the AC presidential candidate, and other party members had to go cap in hand to beg for money.

Ibe added that whatever money Atiku collected at that time was to fund party activities, and not for personal use as his principal and Tinubu were working towards a common goal at that time and it wasn’t unusual to fund party activities.

He accused Akande of trying to be mischievous and mislead the public with what he claimed in his book.

10. NFF Sacks Rohr, Appoints Eguavoen Super Eagles Interim Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation on Sunday ended rumours as it announced the sacking of the nation’s football team coach, Gernot Rohr.

Naija News understands that there have been rumours of the German being sacked, a development which was debunked in several notifications by the NFF.

However, the football federation today made it public it has sacked Rohr and appointed Augustine Eguavoen, the current NFF Technical Director, as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis.

The statement quoted the General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, as commending the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for collaboration and guidance all through.

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