Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 8th October, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 8th October 2022.

This Flooding Demands A State Of Emergency

The wrath of nature raging across the country calls to mind an assertion made last year by the Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development, Engr Suleiman Adamu to wit: “No power on earth can prevent hydro pressure; no power can stop water. The power of water is stronger than an atomic bomb”. Nigeria is currently grappling with the worst flooding in a decade, with those hitherto emotionally divested or passing interest in flooding issues now realizing that this force of nature takes no prisoners. Two days ago, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority explained that the return of long queues in fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory is the result of the submerging of the major artery into Abuja by the unprecedented flooding in Kogi State.

Before those outside the FCT continue playing the Ostrich, the point must be made that the attendant famine from this flooding will spare no one. At a time thousands of farmers have been pushed off their land owing to widespread insecurity, this flooding will in no small measure worsen the starvation in the country. Olam Nigeria Limited recently highlighted this after the submerging of the company’s 4400-hectares farmland in Nasarawa State. It has warned that the price of rice will go up in the country by December as massive flooding from River Benue damaged its crops and infrastructure. The agribusiness firm added that the flooding affected the company’s $20 million investment and about 25 percent of Nigeria’s rice needs.

We Parted With $200,000, Arrested Tukur Mamu Frustrated Our Moves – More Details Emerge On Released Abuja-Kaduna Train Victims

A member of the presidential committee that negotiated and secured the release of abducted Abuja-Kaduna train victims from terrorists, Dr. Abdulmalik Atta has shed more light on what transpired before they could achieve success.

According to him, the terrorists were not demanding money initially but it was the now-arrested ‘negotiator’, Tukur Mamu, the aide of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi that influenced the terrorists to make monetary demands because of his own selfish reasons.

Naija News recalls the remaining 23 kidnapped train passengers regained their freedom around 4:00 pm on Wednesday after being in captivity for six months.

Sharing some details of the process that culminated in their release, Atta whose father was also among the victims told Channels Television in an interview that the committee under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor made several sacrifices including sleeping in the bush and dialoguing with the terrorists despite the risks.

He however lamented that Mamu attempted to frustrate their efforts towards the rescue of the victims because of his own selfish reasons.

Appeal Court Orders ASUU To Resume Work Immediately

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been ordered by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja to resume work immediately.

The Court of Appeal gave the directive on Friday while granting leave to ASUU to appeal the interlocutory injunction of Justice Polycarp Hamman of the Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on September 21, 2022, asking members of the union to resume work.

The presiding Judge, Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, warned that if ASUU fails to resume, it will automatically lose its right to appeal against the ruling of the lower court.

Justice Barka struck out the application by ASUU for a stay of execution of the order of the Industrial Court, based on the motion by the applicant’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), for the withdrawal of the application.

The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Barka, ordered ASUU to file its notice of appeal on the ruling of the lower court within seven days.

PDP Crisis: Wike’s Camp Lists Conditions For Peace, Accuses Atiku Of Breaking Promises, Tackles Lamido, Aliyu

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his allies have insisted that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, must resign for peace to return to the party.

Naija News gathered that the aggrieved governor made this known when he met with select members of the PDP Board of Trustees in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Recall that the Acting BoT Chairman, Adolphus Wabara; former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Tanimu Turaki; ex-Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris, and four others were in Port Harcourt earlier in the week in search of peace following a lingering crisis that showed no sign of abating.

According to sources, Wike told the BoT members that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had serially failed to fulfill all the promises he made to the five governors who are insisting on the removal of the party chairman.

Speaking on behalf of other aggrieved PDP governors, Wike claimed that Atiku disappointed the Southern bloc of the party over and over with many unfulfilled promises.

Tinubu To Meet Presidential Campaign Council, APC Govs, Others Over Contentious List

Following his return to the country on Thursday evening, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, will start to engage in a series of political consultations.

Naija News reports that while Tinubu was out of the country, there were issues regarding the party’s constituted Presidential Campaign Council list.

It was learned that some aggrieved governors and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were angry and dissatisfied with the 422-member campaign council.

The governors were said to have tabled their grievances before the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and the national chairman of the APC, Adamu Abdullahi.

Also, the NWC led by the APC National Chairman had accused Tinubu of breaching the agreement he had with the NWC with regard to the composition of the presidential campaign council.

In a leaked letter, Adamu said the presidential candidate is operating a one-man show whereas winning elections is supposed to be a collaborative effort.

The NWC had made some recommendations to Tinubu before the announcement of the council, but the presidential candidate had refused to follow those recommendations.

Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu’s Suit Against High Court Chief Judge

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court on Friday struck out the suit instituted by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho on the secret trial of terrorism charges policy of the court.

The suit, which has only the Chief Judge as the sole defendant, was thrown out following its withdrawal by Kanu himself.

Kanu was reported to have sued the Chief Judge before the court following the adoption of a Practice Direction that directed the trial of terrorism-related charges to be done in camera.

He agitated that the secret trial policy which was implemented shortly after the Federal Government slammed 15-count treasonable felony charges against him was an infringement of his fundamental rights to a fair trial.

Naija News gathered that at today’s proceedings when the hearing was to start, the Biafra Nation agitator through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, announced that he was no longer interested in continuing with the suit.

FG Budgets N470bn To Address One Of ASUU’s Demands

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has budgeted the sum of N470 billion to address one of the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Federal Government in the 2023 budget which was presented to the National Assembly on Friday budgeted N470 billion for university revitalisation.

ASUU, which has been on strike since the 14th of February, requested funding for the revitalisation of public universities

President Buhari, while presenting the N20.15 trillion budget on Friday, appealed to lecturers in universities to show a better appreciation of the country’s current economic situation and return to the classroom.

He further stated that universities must seek a means of generating funds to run their structure, rather than depend totally on the government budget.

ASUU which is demanding N1.2 trillion had earlier rejected a proposal of N150 billion by the federal government for the first quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal is expected to rule in the appeal filed by ASUU against the Federal Government today.

APC Is A NGO Not A Political Party – Dino Melaye Mocks Ruling Party

The presidential campaign spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye on Friday described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and not a political party.

Melaye in a statement released on Friday said the ruling party remains formless, unstructured, uncoordinated and unorganised.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari is the life wire, navigator and camp commandant of the party who approved the coronation of the party Chairman for mere formalization.

According to the former lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial district, the APC whom he said in the last 10 years has no Board of Trustees (BoT) is unprepared to lead Nigeria.

The former legislator said APC without the BoT remains rudderless, floundering, reactive, and retrogressive.

Tinubu: APC Strips Senator Abbo Off Membership List

The Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in Adamawa State, Ishaku Abbo has been expelled from the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Adamawa.

Naija News reports that Abbo’ was expelled after some party members on Friday accused him of anti-party activities.

Recall, Abbo described Bola Tinubu’s decision to pick a Muslim as his running mate as irresponsible.

According to a press statement issued by the APC spokesperson in Mubi North, Adamu Umaru, accused Abbo of making disparaging remarks on AIT against the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

He further added that the executive committee of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Mubi North approved the expulsion of Senator Elisha Abbo from All Progressive Congress(APC) from today the 7 day of October, 2022.

Football Fixtures: Top Weekend Matches You Cannot Afford To Miss

After an impressive performance in the European League, football teams will be looking to continue their impressive performance in their various domestic league.

While Barcelona shockingly slipped, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and even Chelsea looked to climb up in their various groups.

There will be fireworks across all leagues as football clubs will be looking to give their fans a good show and as well, claim all useful three points from their opponents

Naija News will certainly keep its readers updated on the most recent fixtures as the club football action picks up this weekend.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Chelsea will be looking to give their football supporters another reason to celebrate after surviving crystal palace at Selhurst park. The London club will welcome The Wolves to Stamford Bridge.

After thrashing Manchester United and Copenhagen, Manchester City will be looking forward to overtake Arsenal this weekend

Arsenal will be looking to build on the Europa league victory when they welcome The Reds to Emirate, while Erik’s men will answering the puzzling questions on their supporter’s minds when they take on Everton.

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