Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Monday, 3rd January, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 3rd January 2022

1. Presidency Clears The Air On Fight Between Buhari, NASS Leadership Over 2022 Budget

The presidency on Sunday denied any rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leaders of the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila over the 2022 budget figures.

The clarification became necessary following the concerns raised by President Buhari over some adjustments and insertions made on the 2022 budget by the National Assembly after it was presented by the executive.

The presidency explained that the relationship between the executive and the 9th National Assembly unlike what obtained during the 8th Assembly, remains cordial as both parties are working in the best interest of Nigerians.

Naija News recalls the President while signing the bill into law last Friday, expressed deep concern at some of the worrisome changes made by the National Assembly to the document.

But presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu in a statement on Sunday has denied any crisis between the legislative and executive arms of government over the 2022 budget.

He added that what happened is a normal thing in executive-parliamentary relationship and there is no truth in reports that President Buhari blasted or lashed out at the lawmakers though he obviously expressed his reservations.

2. Tension As Sunday Igboho’s Top Lawyer Resigns

All doesn’t seem to be well amongst individuals fighting for the freedom of detained Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.

This is following the resignation of Pelumi Olajengbesi, one of the lawyers representing Igboho in Nigeria.

Trouble seems to have started after the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye had threatened that no governorship election would be allowed to hold in Ekiti and Osun this year.

Not happy with the statement, Olajengbesi had stated that voting remained a human right, adding that Akintoye was not speaking for his client and the people of the southwest.

Reacting, Ilana Omo Oodua group accused the lawyer of trying to please the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement on Sunday, Olajengbesi announced his and his chambers would be withdrawing its legal services to Sunday Igboho.

3. Olubadan Of Ibadan Is Dead

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is dead, Naija News reports.

It was gathered that the Yoruba traditional ruler joined his ancestors in the early hours of Sunday at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State.

This online newspaper reports that the Oba was aged 93-years-old.

Adetunji ascended the throne in March 2016 following the demise of his predecessor Samuel Odulana Odungade.

Prior to his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land

Oba Adetunji, who was the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan, was a successful businessman.

4. Why We Need To Fight Terrorists As Common Enemy – Clark

Popular Ijaw leader Edwin Clark has asked Nigerians to come together and fight bandits and terrorists as a common enemy.
Naija News reports that the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) made this known in his new year message to Nigerians.

Clark stated that Nigerians must therefore all resolve to live together in love and unity as equal partners irrespective of religion, tribe, and ethnic group.

He stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to nip terrorism in the bud because the death of any Nigerian is a loss to all of us irrespective of the family he comes from.

The Leader of the Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF urged Nigerians to in the spirit of the new year irrespective of religion or ethnicity love thy neighbour as thyself and as equal citizens with equal rights void of envy and hatred.

5. Bandits: Matawalle, Two Northern Govs Depart Nigeria To Meet Niger Republic President

Three governors from the Northern part of Nigeria have departed the country to the Niger Republic to seek a solution to bandit attacks across borders of the two African countries.

Naija News understands that the Governors, Hon. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Senator Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, were led by the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

The closed-door meeting with Nigerien President Alhaji Mohamud Bazoum reportedly lasted over four hours.

A communique signed and made available to journalists in Gusau, Zamfara State capital on Sunday by the Special Adviser to Governor Matawalle on Media and Publicity Affairs, Comrade Zailani Bappa, noted that the four leaders discussed ways by which they can jointly end the series of disturbing attack by the bandits.

Naija News understands that the Nigerian governors had arrived in the country’s capital, Niamey, on Friday where they held a preliminary meeting with the officials of Niger Republic.

6. Insecurity: Scores Killed As Bandits Attack Three Kaduna LGAs

No fewer than seven people have been reportedly killed in recent attacks by some unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits in different Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

Naija News understands that the attacks were carried out in Igabi, Chikun, and Zango-Kataf, all local government areas of the state, in the last weekend.

Six casualties, in separate attacks, were reportedly recorded in Igabi alone.

Confirming the sad development in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, January 2, the State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said scores were injured during the attacks.

According to the commissioner, the bandit terrorists first invaded Kerawa, a village in Igabi LG where four people were killed and one injured.

He disclosed the identity of the first four victims in Igabi as Lado Shuaibu, Usman Haruna
Ayuba Muntari and Jafar Abdullahi.

7. Kwankwaso Speaks On Possible Return To APC

Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has hinted about his possible return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with The PUNCH on Saturday, the former defence minister left the door open for a possible return to the APC.

The former Senator added that he is looking at history and projecting into the future, ensuring that this country gets the best leadership in 2023.

Naija News reports that Kwankwaso defected from the APC to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2019 general elections.

8. We’ve Given $300m To Poor Nigerians In Four Years – FG

The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government has disclosed that it has paid about $300 million to poor and vulnerable Nigerians in the last four years.

According to the government, the recipients were captured in its National Social Register through ₦5,000 cash transfers.

The National Coordinator, National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Apera Iorwa, made this known in an interview with Sunday Punch.

He added that the Muhammadu Buhari government has impacted about 10 million individuals through the Social Intervention Programme.

9. Olubadan Of Ibadan Didn’t Die Of COVID-19 – Palace

Adeola Oloko, the spokesman of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has denied rumours that the late monarch died of COVID-19.

Recall that Oba Adetunji died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in the early hours of Sunday. The late monarch was aged 93.

Oba Adetunji was crowned Olubadan after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade.

In a chat with reporters on Sunday morning inside the palace, Oloko said the monarch died after a brief illness and not from COVID-19.

10. Two More Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom

Bandit terrorists have released two more kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School at Maraban Damishi in Kaduna State.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, made the disclosure on Saturday.

He disclosed that one of the students was freed on December 28, 2021, while the other student was released on January 1, 2022.

Hayab stated that only one student is still with the bandits, adding that efforts are being made to secure the release of the student.

The CAN chairman in Kaduna, therefore, revealed that a total of 120 students of Bethel Baptist High School have so far been released by the bandits.

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