Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 3rd September, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 3rd September 2022.

1. Lest Tainted RECs Undermine Credibility Of 2023 Election

As the May 29, 2023 handover date draws nearer, many Nigerians have apparently given up on President Muhammadu Buhari finishing strong in anti-corruption, neither do they see him triumphing over insecurity nor bequeathing a healthy economy. These are the three pillars upon which his administration has hinged since coming into the scene. Although Buhari may be forgiven for disowning the numerous promises he and his party men made as they pounded soapboxes across the country in the build-up to the 2015 election, the President owned up to the above three, yet all indices point to the federal government’s parlous performance in those critical areas. It would therefore be expected that the President holds tenaciously to one aspect that offers a silver lining to his eight-year reign. This is talking about the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2023. This should be the legacy project of the President. Unfortunately, he is bungling with bad choices made on the eve of his departure from office.

So far, there have been loud complaints against Buhari’s devil-may-care nepotistic appointments. Nigerians have taken his parochialism in their strides and are already looking forward to the breath of fresh air that will see the back of the current administration, which seems to be the only consolation. Anything that will foul this anticipated fresh air in terms of compromising the process that will birth the President’s successor is cruel and must not be allowed. It is against this backcloth that the President self-serving and unholy nominations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chiefs on the eve of a critical election like the 2023 polls is one indiscretion too many. In July, the President proposed 19 candidates for the Nigerian Senate to confirm as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). After ferreting the list of nominees, no fewer than nine civil society organizations have identified four persons with questionable credentials regarding their ability to be non-partisan.

2. Buhari Names SGF Mustapha, Lai Moh’d, IGP Alkali, Aregbesola, Others In 2022 Independence Day Celebration Committee

The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has inaugurated a 15-man Inter-Ministerial Committee to organise the celebration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary.

Naija News reports that the Committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Friday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mustapha said the Committee was constituted to plan, organise and execute all approved activities befitting Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Anniversary celebration on 1st October, 2022, as well as document for posterity, all planned activities for the Anniversary.

3. FG Reveals Reasons Nigerians Are Facing Harsh Treatment In UAE

The Federal Government says lack of respect for the immigration laws was responsible for the hostile treatment of Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Naija News reports that the spokesman of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Naija News recalls that a video showing some Nigerians stranded at the Dubai international airport surfaced on social media, with at least 20 Nigerians stuck at the airport and their passports seized.

4. Terrorism: Nigeria Ranked Second Despite N11tn Security Budgets

Nigeria has been rated as the second most attacked country by the Islamic State terrorist group despite the budget allocation for security.

Data released by Jihad Analytics covering January to June 2022, shows that Nigeria recorded 305 attacks with Iraq being first (337) and Syria third (142).

Jihad Analytics specialises in global and cyber jihad, open-source intelligence and data.

The Federal Government of Nigeria from 2015 to 2022 have allocated a total of N11.18tn for security.

5. Nigerians Cannot Go To Farms, Markets Under APC – Makarfi

Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has urged Nigerians to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general election.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, he said insecurity has deteriorated under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Makarfi, who governed Kaduna State, said when PDP was in power, only the Northeast experienced insecurity, but an election was still because of the measures taken by the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

6. 2023 Presidency: The Old Ones Should Fade Away And Allow Young People To Take Over – Abdulsalami Declares

Former military leader of Nigeria, Abdulsalami Abubakar has revealed his stand on the kind of president the country needs in 2023.

Abubakar stated that it is time for the old politicians to step aside and allow the younger generations to lead the country.

According to him, what the older politicians should be doing at this point in time is to encourage and mentor the younger ones.

7. Court Acquits Ex-Plateau Governor, Jang Of N6bn Fraud Charges

A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has discharged and acquitted the former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, of N6.3 billion corruption charges.

The presiding judge, Justice Christy Dabup, in a judgement delivered on Friday, dismised the corruption charges levelled against Jang by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Dabup also discharged Jang’s co-defendant, Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government.

8. 2023: Join The Train Or Be Left Out – Atiku Loyalists Tell Wike

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has reportedly been advised by his supporters to move on with his campaign without the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Wike on several occasions had threatened not to support Atiku if his demands are not met.

Part of the demands of the Rivers State Governor is for the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign and hand over power to someone from the South-West.

Atiku, however, is mindful of calling Wike’s bluff considering his influence among major stakeholders in the party, including some governors.

9. Why I Returned To The PDP – Shekarau

Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau on Thursday stated that he did not resign from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for selfish reasons.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Senator Shekarau slammed those who accused him of indiscipline for moving from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NNPP and now to the PDP within five years.

According to the former governor, he has always consulted with his supporters at the grassroot before making any move from one political party to the other.

10. Just Like Buhari, Tinubu Is Very Healthy – Adebayo Shittu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is very healthy.

Speaking on Trust TV on Thursday, Shittu stated that the former Lagos State Governor does not have any health challenge.

According to the former minister, the APC presidential candidate is as healthy and strong as anybody.