Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday 19th October 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 19th October 2022

1. Buhari To Inaugurate APC Campaign Council, Unveil Tinubu’s Manifesto On Friday

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday inaugurate the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 elections.

Naija News recalls that the inauguration which was earlier fixed for Monday, September 26 was shifted to Wednesday, September 28, before it was postponed indefinitely.

Speaking during an interview, the Spokesman of the ruling APC, Felix Morka, said the campaign council was postponed indefinitely in order to accommodate new members.

Morka stated that the council has been expanded which would guarantee the success of its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 elections.

However, in a terse statement on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Gboyega Akosile, said President Buhari will inaugurate Campaign Council at the State House in Abuja.

Aksoile also stated that the Nigerian leader will unveil the manifesto of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

2. Northern President: Atiku Won’t Apologize, We Need To Move Beyond Political Gimmicks – Aide

A former Minister of Aviation and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, Osita Chidoka has declared that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar won’t apologize for his ‘northern president’ statement.

Chidoka on Tuesday submitted that those making noise about the statement by Atiku are only trying to twist his words and play political gimmicks.

Naija News recalls Atiku while addressing the Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna State on Saturday had submitted that “an average Northerner does not need a Yoruba or Igbo president, but a northern President who is a pan Nigeria.”

His comment has sparked reactions and condemnations from various quarters.

But Chidoka who is a special adviser to Atiku, during Tuesday’s interview with Channels TV said those expecting an apology should move on as they will deal with constant disappointment.

He maintained that it is clear the former Vice President and PDP candidate was making reference to the need for a pan-Nigerian leader with the ability to unite all parts of the country but political opponents are only trying to change the narrative.

Chidoka went ahead to praise Atiku describing him as the leader Nigeria needs in 2023.

3. Contesting Against APC’s Sanwo-Olu In Lagos A Waste Of Time – Wike Warns Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour, Others

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday openly endorsed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for a second term in office.

Naija News reports that Wike endorsed Sanwo-Olu despite his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fielding Olajide Adeniran, also known as jandor, as its governorship candidate.

The Rivers Governor pitched his tent with his Lagos counterpart while speaking at the 22nd National Women’s Conference organized by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

The event, with the theme: “Spring Forth, Stand Out,” was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Another PDP leader and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, accompanied Wike to the event.

While rating Sanwo-Olu high in performance, Wike noted that the Lagos Governor had raised the standard of governance with the quality of projects delivered across Lagos.

According to him, any political party contesting against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos would be wasting time, as Sanwo-Olu’s performance would outshine anyone campaigning against him.

4. Members Of State Assemblies Have Turned To Governors’ Puppets – Omo-Agege

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has claimed that members of the various State Houses of Assemblies have become puppets of the Governors.

Naija News reports that Omo-Agege, who is the Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, made the claim on Tuesday at a media briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The lawmaker stated some governors are working to turn state assemblies into their political puppets in order to control them to do their bidding.

Omo-Agege also accused some governors of frustrating the efforts of the constitutional amendment process through the speakers of the state houses of assembly.

The lawmaker said only 11 out of the 36 states have considered the constitutional amendment bills which were transmitted to houses of assembly in March.

5. Wike Is Not A Lost Cause – Atiku Camp Gives Update On PDP Crisis

A special adviser to Atiku Abubakar and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council, Osita Chidoka has declared that the pain points of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike need to be understood.

He stated this on Tuesday during a Channels TV interview where he was asked about what Atiku and the PDP are doing to bring peace after the declaration by Wike and his loyalists not to support the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar except Iyorchia Ayu resigns as the party’s national chairman and is replaced by a southern candidate.

He said Wike and his allies are not being considered a lost cause but Atiku and the PDP must find a way to sit with them and understand what they truly want.

He suggested that there is a trauma that comes with the last days in office and that may be part of what is affecting Wike.

6. ISWAP Establishing Camps In Gusau Local Council – Zamfara Govt Raises Alarm

The Zamfara State Government has said that members of the Islamic State in West African Province (ISWAP) have been setting up camps around Mutu village in Mada District, Gusau Local Government Area of the state.

The Chairman Committee on Prosecution of Banditry-Related Offences, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, made the disclosure during a press conference on Monday in Gusau, the state capital.

Shinkafi, a member of the State Committee on Security and Intelligence Gathering, stated that the government received intelligence that the terrorists are in the state and establishing camps.

According to Shinkafi, the ISWAP members entered the state through the Danjibga-Kunchin Kalgo axis in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

The aide to Governor Bello Matawalle disclosed that hundreds of armed men had pencilled down several towns and villages for attacks in recent times.

7. Northern President: Arewa Committee Disowns Atiku, Says He’s On His Own

The Arewa Joint Committee has stated that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar is on his own regarding the statement about 2023 northern presidency.

The Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mallam Murtala Aliyu submitted while speaking to journalists on Tuesday that Atiku’s view does not represent the position of the group.

Naija News recalls Atiku while addressing the committee in Kaduna State on Saturday had submitted that “an average Northerner does not need a Yoruba or Igbo president, but a northern President who is a pan Nigeria.”

He said this in response to a question on why he should get the votes of the people of the region.

However, his statement has attracted widespread criticism from many stakeholders in the political sphere of the country.

Addressing journalists on the matter, Mallam Aliyu said whatever the presidential candidates say during their interaction is purely their personal opinions and not that of the group.

He, therefore, called on Atiku to clear himself with Nigerians.

He said, “Atiku should clear himself. The same question asked by the Committee was administered to other presidential candidates too. So we have no business with the opinion expressed by our guests.”

8. Your Labour And Achievements For Nigeria Are Underrated – Tinubu Tells Buhari

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that many Nigerians may not fully understand or appreciate the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking at the ministerial performance review retreat held at the presidential villa in Abuja, Tinubu stated that the administration of President Buhari has done a lot but because the President is a selfless worker who doesn’t blow his own trumpet, the public may not appreciate his efforts.

He added however that no one can take his achievements away from him and he would honour the legacies of Buhari if elected President in 2023.

“May I say this to you, to the entire team, the things you have done are important and enduring, try as they might, no one can take those achievements away from you,” Tinubu said.

He added that Nigerians would in the future see Buhari as their hero when the things he has done begin to manifest.

9. I Am Too Cultured To Disobey The Law – Peter Obi Fires ‘Petty’ El-Rufai

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has slammed Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State over his alleged failed attempt to incite the audience at the Arewa Confab. against him.

Naija News reports that El-Rufai, at an interactive session organised by the Arewa Joint Committee, claimed that he was arrested and detained for 48 hours in Anambra State in 2013 on the orders of Obi who was the then Governor of the state.

The governor stated that he was arrested when he visited Anambra on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to monitor the state’s governorship bye-election.

Governor El-Rufai, however, said he now has all the security architecture at his disposal now that the LP candidate is in his state for consultations.

El-Rufai noted that he has all the mechanisms to arrest and detain anyone if he wished, but that he is civilized and would not do such.

Reacting to El-Rufai’s claim, Peter Obi’s Media Aide, Tai Emeka Obasi, in a statement sent to Naija News on Tuesday said the former Anambra governor is too cultured to break the law.

He stated that the Kaduna State governor failed in his attempt to incite the audience against the Labour Party presidential candidate.

According to Peter Obi’s aide, the audience admirably showed that they had not only outgrown such ethnic pettiness but also very interested in what is best for their country.

10. 2023: Your Ranting Didn’t Come As A Surprise – Lagos PDP Slams Wike For Endorsing Sanwo-Olu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over his comment endorsing his counterpart in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Naija News reports that Governor Wike had earlier endorsed Sanwo-Olu for another term in office. This he did on Tuesday when he visited the state.

The Rivers State Governor shunned PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adeniran, also known as Jandor, saying that contesting against the incumbent governor of the state is nothing but a waste of time.

Wike pitched his tent with Sanwo-Olu while speaking at the 22nd National Women’s Conference organized by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

According to him, the Lagos Governor had raised the standard of governance with the quality of projects delivered across Lagos.

Reacting, to Wike’s claims, PDP in a statement issued on Tuesday evening by its Publicity Secretary in Lagos, Hakeem Amode, said the Rivers State Governor’s rant didn’t come as a surprise.

The party leadership said it would have been disappointed if Wike had attended any event “without his usual rant of a drowning man who will clutch at a straw.”

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