Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 14th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 14th August 2023.

1. Defence Headquarters Deny Receiving Request For Coup Against President Tinubu

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied reports in certain quarters suggesting the Nigerian Military received a request to stage a coup against the democratic government in the country.

DHQ in a statement on Sunday signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau clarified that the Armed Forces of Nigeria did not receive any request to effect a change in the country’s political leadership.

He added that those spreading such reports are people who don’t wish the country well.

Additionally, the DHQ spokesperson pledged the allegiance of the Nigerian Military to President Bola Tinubu and urged members of the public to ignore the falsehoods being peddled as the military is committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

2. FG Denies Setting Up Panel To Reconstitute Boards Of Parastatals

The federal government of Nigeria has denied setting up a panel to reconstitute boards of parastatals.

The denial was made in a statement on Sunday from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume in reaction to a report from a section of the media.

The statement signed by a director of information, Willie Bassey said there is no truth in claims that the government has set up an ad-hoc committee as alleged to review the resumes of individuals who would fill such board appointments.

It added that the visit of the former Governors of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru to the office of the SGF on Friday was about their recent ministerial appointments and not about the purported ad-hoc committee.

3. ‘We Have Agreed’ – Niger Coup Leaders Give New Update After Meeting Council Of Ulamas

The coup leaders in Niger Republic have agreed to open dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the current political situation in the country.

This is based on the outcome of the negotiations between the coup leaders led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani and a delegation of Nigerian Islamic scholars led by the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the two groups met on Saturday in Niamey to discuss the political crisis in Niger Republic.

Following the deliberations, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, was quoted to have said General Tchiani gave the green light for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic the talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.

He also expressed optimism that the sanctions against the country would be lifted.

Furthermore, a statement by the leader of the Ulamas from Nigeria, Sheikh Lau as made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, confirmed that Tchiani told them the coup leaders were open to dialogue in resolving the issue.

According to the statement, the Islamic clerics held several hours of meeting with the coup leaders and agreed to explore dialogue in resolving the situation.

4. “Kill Corruption Not Nigerians” – Tunde Bakare Tells President Tinubu

Senior Pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as the Latter Rain Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, voiced concerns about the detrimental economic effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians during his Sunday sermon.

At his church in Lagos, Bakare implored President Bola Tinubu, stating, “Mr. President, kill corruption, and not Nigerians. No economy can thrive on impunity.”

The senior pastor also expressed skepticism about ECOWAS’s proposed military intervention in the Niger Republic.

Expressing optimism that God will move in Nigeria after his State of the Nation broadcast, he said: “We must share what the Lord has said to us and what he has shown to us. Today’s State of the Nation broadcast is a by-product of what we have seen and what we have heard.

“You’re going to see God’s move in our nation after this State of the Nation broadcast. Today will mark the time, day and season that God intervened in Nigeria’s affairs.”

5. Niger Coup: Lamido Calls President Tinubu “Novice” In International Diplomacy

The former governor of Jigawa State, Mr. Sule Lamido, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the situation in Niger.

In a Facebook post titled “Nigeria/Niger face-off,” Lamido voiced his concerns about the president’s recent actions.

Lamido suggests that President Tinubu leans on the experience of Nigeria’s previous leaders to navigate the crisis effectively.

6. Niger: Why We Refused To See Gen Abubakar And Sultan Of Sokoto – General Abdourahmane Tchiani

The leader of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has explained why they refused to see the delegation sent by President Bola Tinubu in the wake of the military coup in the country.

He said at that point they were angry.

Naija News recalls as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu had dispatched a delegation to Niger to end the ongoing political crisis.

The delegation was led by former Nigerian military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, and included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray.

However, the military coup leaders refused to see the delegation, and the members were forced to depart empty-handed.

Speaking in a statement on Sunday after their own meeting with the coup leaders in Niger, the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau who led a delegation of Nigerian Islamic scholars to negotiate with the junta leaders said General Tchiani narrated that they were hungry.

According to him, General Tchiani explained that it was painful that ECOWAS did not even try to hear their side of the story before ordering sanctions against them and issuing an ultimatum for them to leave office.

The coup leader added that they were angry but he however apologized to President Tinubu.

7. ‘APC Popularity Diminishing’ – Tunde Bakare Warns Party

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sternly warned by the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

The cleric on Sunday submitted that the party needs to watch it because the outcome of the 2023 general election had revealed that the APC is losing its fan base and becoming unpopular as compared to previous polls 1n 2015 and 2019.

Bakare, who was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC for the 2023 presidential election, made this observation during a State of the Nation Broadcast at the church at Ikeja, Lagos.

The cleric asserted that it was apparent the APC has become a platform for politicians “with no ideology” and has deviated from the principles it was founded on, Naija News reports.

While speaking to the speech-themed, ‘Vice, Virtue & Time: Three Things That Never Stand Still,’ Bakare said the APC is no longer the party he joined as a foundational member.

8. Ondo Government Reveals Status Of Governor Akeredolu

The Ondo State government has revealed that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is still on medical leave and is yet to return to Nigeria.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, in a statement on Sunday, said Governor Akeredolu was still in Germany and on his way to full recovery.

The clarification became necessary after a video of Governor Akeredolu disembarking from a helicopter went viral on the internet. The video was captioned ‘welcome back’ giving the insinuation that Akeredolu has returned to Nigeria.

However, Akeredolu’s spokesperson explained that the video in circulation was captured during the Governor’s campaign tour in preparation for the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He expressed optimism that the Governor would soon return to Nigeria.

9. Niger Coup: Peter Obi Reacts Amidst ECOWAS Call For Military Standby

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has suggested the engagement of a diplomatic resolution with Niger coup plotters amidst directives by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for troops to be on standby.

The LP candidate made the plea shortly after the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government hosted by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, in a decision taken at an extraordinary summit attended by top diplomats from the United Nations, African Union and the regional bloc ordered the commencement of preparations for the possible mobilization of troops and equipment for a possible confrontation with coup leaders in the Niger Republic.

Taking to the micro-blogging platform, Twitter on Sunday, Peter Obi emphasized that primacy must be given to diplomacy of resolution with minimal disruptive impact on Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

He further applauded efforts by the former Kano Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in their respective role in seeking resolution with the leader of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

10. ‘Don’t Make Emefiele A Scapegoat’ – Tunde Bakare To FG

The serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has appealed to the Federal Government not to make the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, a scapegoat.

The cleric, as gathered by Naija News, argued that the suspended CBN boss might have made wrong judgment calls in the management of Nigeria’s monetary policy. Still, he should not be used as a scapegoat.

Bakare, during a State of the Nation broadcast on Sunday addressing recent happenings in the country, opined that events before the 2023 presidential election pointed to the direction of political vendetta against the suspended CBN governor by President Bola Tinubu.

He, however, observed that Emefiele should be prosecuted if found guilty of any crime.

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