Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 23rd March, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 23rd March 2023

1. Why I Told Voters To Take Money From Politicians And Vote Their Consciences – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed the reason he asked Nigerian voters to collect money from politicians who came to buy their votes and elect the candidates of their choice.

Recall that Buhari, while speaking with reporters after voting in Daura, Katsina State in Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections, asked voters to collect any money offered by politicians and vote according to their consciences.

Speaking on Tuesday, President Buhari said he told voters to collect money from vote buyers because the electorates have the power to decide who wins or loses any election, noting that cases of vote-buying were not recorded in most parts of the country.

The Nigerian leader stated that he was inspired by the fact that voters were able to make their own decision, and are capable of choosing who leads them without anyone coercing them.

Buhari made these known in a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, at the State House in Abuja.

Buhari said he was quite impressed with the passion for democracy exhibited by Nigerians which was reflected in the choices they made during the elections, stressing that Nigeria’s democracy has truly matured.

Buhari said he was happy with his own role in the election process by staying above board, without meddlesomeness or any form of interference.

2. Tinubu Must Not Be Sworn In – Baba-Ahmed Says, Knocks Buhari, INEC Chairman

The vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has rejected the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the just concluded presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed stated that Tinubu must not be sworn in.

According to the Labour Party chieftain, Nigeria cannot swear in an illegitimate President.

While describing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, and President Muhammadu Buhari as incompetent for overseeing a flawed election, Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians couldn’t be fooled.

The LP chieftain accused the electoral umpire of failing to obey its own guidelines, faulting the usage of BVAS and IRAV during the February 25th presidential election.

He wondered why Nigeria blessed with citizens of good character, would have a President allegedly indicted in drug trafficking in the United States.

3. I Can’t Wait To Hand Over And Focus On My Farms – Buhari

Following the conduct of the 2023 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he is eager to hand over power to the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The Nigerian leader stated this on Tuesday at a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Buhari said he cannot wait to retire to his hometown in Daura, Katsina State, to look after his farms and take care of his cattle, adding that he plans to be a big landlord back at home.

“I plan to be a big landlord back at home, working on my farms and tending to more than 300 animals. I am eager to go,” he said.

Buhari lauded the outgoing ambassador for the enormous achievements recorded in Nigeria-US relations in the three-and-half years she had been here.

In her remarks, the American ambassador said she was impressed with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations in those three–and–a half years.

4. Sultan Announces Date For Start Of 2023 Ramadan Fast In Nigeria

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has announced Thursday, March 23 as the start date for the 2023 Ramadan fast in Nigeria.

The Sultan who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) made the announcement in a broadcast on Wednesday evening.

The announcement signals the commencement of the 2023 Ramadan fast in Nigeria.

5. Alex Otti Wins Abia Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the Abia State governorship election.

Naija News reports that Alex polled 175,467 votes to defeat Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 88,529 votes.

Alex Otti is now the 4th democratically elected of the State and the first candidate to be governor from a political party that’s not PDP since 1999.

6. Why Tinubu Travelled Out Of Nigeria After Election – Media Aide Confirms

The media aide to Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Tunde Rahman has confirmed that his principal has travelled out of the country to Europe.

A statement issued by Rahman in Abuja on Wednesday said Tinubu travelled out of the country on Tuesday night to rest and participate in lesser hajj.

Some earlier reports had suggested that the President-elect travelled to Europe on Tuesday after falling ill on Saturday. However, Tinubu’s media aide said the former Lagos State Governor only decided to take a break after a very hectic campaign and election season.

He confirmed that Tinubu left Nigeria on Tuesday to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj).

During the foreign trip, the President-elect would also plan his transition programme, the aide added.

7. Naira Scarcity: NLC Orders Nationwide Shutdown Of CBN Offices By Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed workers in the country to shut down all the offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nationwide starting from next week.

The directive was given by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

He disclosed that the action became necessary due to the naira scarcity and the attendant challenges it has brought the way of Nigerians.

Ajaero gave the directive following the expiration of one-week ultimatum given to the apex bank and the commercial banks in the country to make cash available for Nigerians.

The NLC leader said workers would be directed to stay at home if the CBN failed to make the naira notes available to Nigerians.

He also lamented the lingering petrol scarcity issues in the country and the attendant challenges it has brought the way of Nigerians.

8. G-5 Governors Never Agreed To Support Peter Obi – Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has revealed that the aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not agree to support the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, in the just-concluded presidential election.

Naija News reports that Wike made this known on Wednesday during a live media chat in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The Rivers governor stated that the G-5 governors only reached an agreement and formulated strategies to ensure the emergence of a Southern President.

Wike stated that the aim of PDP governors was equity, fairness, and justice, saying that they are happy that a Southern president has emerged.

Speaking further, Wike said some of his colleagues such as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Samuel Ortom of Benue, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia made huge sacrifices to ensure the emergence of a Southern President.

He said though Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state won his re-election, he had earlier said he would not mind sacrificing his second term in the interest of the unity of Nigeria.

9. Nigeria Has No President-elect, Swearing In Tinubu Is Like Bringing Back The Military Regime – Datti Baba-Ahmed

The Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate in the February 25 elections, Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed, has declared that Nigeria has no president-elect.

According to him, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu can’t be seen as the President-elect because the certificate of return he holds is a dud certificate with no value.

The Labour Party vice presidential candidate added that swearing in Tinubu will be contrary to the provisions of section 134 of the Nigerian constitution.

Baba-Ahmed who made his view known on Wednesday during an interview with Arise TV said swearing in Tinubu as Nigeria’s president is as good as swearing in a military regime.

10. Electoral Offences Commission Bill To Be Passed Before End Of 9th Assembly – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the Electoral Offences Commission bill would be passed before the end of the 9th assembly.

This is as the speaker spoke about how the 9th assembly contributed to the improvement of the 2023 general election.

Gbajabiamila admitted that the election was not perfect, but he asserted that it was progressing in the country’s efforts to ensure credible polls.

Naija News reports that the lawmaker made this disclosure in Abuja as he welcomed his colleagues back from the break of the governorship and state assembly elections.

The speaker assured that the House would ensure passage of the Electoral Offences Commission bill before the expiration of its tenure in June.

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

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