General News of Thursday, 5 September 2019

Source: dailypost.ng

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Thursday morning -

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Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama to discuss next step on Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. Nigeria also boycotted the World Economic Forum on Africa 2019 holding in Cape Town, South Africa.

2. Federal Government on Wednesday vowed to go ahead and probe the gas pipeline deal between previous administration and an Irish firm, Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID), which triggered the decision of a United Kingdom court to ask the company to seize $9.6bn in Nigerian assets. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Tuesday in a meeting with newsmen in Abuja. The Minister, who insisted that the judgement, which the government has described as dubious, would not stand the tests of morality and law, said the probe was an apt decision because of government’s strong belief that the controversial contract was characterized by underhand dealings.

3. The younger brother of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Engr. Musa Wada, yesterday emerged winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary held in Lokoja ahead of the 16th November election. Engr. Musa Wada scored 748 votes, followed by Abubakar Idris with 710 votes, the former governor Captain Idris Wada came third while Senator Dino Melaye came fourth. Musa Wada, from Dekina Local Government area of Kogi State is said to be former governor of the State, Captain Idris Wada’s younger brother and also in-law to another former governor, Idris Ibrahim.

4. The Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial district, Douye Diri on Wednesday emerged winner of the 2019 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship primary election in Bayelsa State. The PDP primary election was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the current governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and other major stakeholders of the party. Out of a total of 1,244 accredited delegates, Douye Diri secured 561 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, who pulled 365 votes. The chairman of the electoral committee and Governor of Taraba state, Darius Ishaku, declared Diri winner of the election having met all the conditions and got the highest number of votes.

5. The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday advised applicants of ongoing recruitment of 10,000 police constables to disregard a list in circulation released by the Nigerian Police Force. The Commission said that the list was compiled solely by the Nigeria Police Force without the involvement of the Police Service Commission, the body that has the constitutional mandate for appointment.

6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced that Air Peace Airline would commence the evacuation of Nigerians in South Africa from Sept. 6, following recent attacks on Nigerians in that country. The Ministry said that Allen Onyema, Proprietor of Air Peace Airline, volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday, Sept. 6, to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return free of charge.

7. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, revealed that it has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and his wife. The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Usman Imam, made this known in Enugu while briefing reporters on the activities of the commission in the last eight months. Imam said that the commission also obtained a similar order on a property traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter.

8. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered water-tight security around embassies, foreign missions, foreigners and their businesses within the country. The order was against the backdrop of the unfortunate attack on Shoprite outlets in Lekki Area of Lagos Sate, on Tuesday.

The police said miscreants attacked and looted the Malls ostensibly under the pretext of protesting against the incessant xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

9. The Federal Government on Wednesday declared that it had drawn a battle line with South Africa over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, stated this after a closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Onyeama said a red line has been drawn between Nigeria and South Africa over the lingering attacks, noting that African countries have built consensus against the attacks. The minister confirmed that the Ambassador of Nigeria to South Africa would soon be recalled for consultation.

10. Chief David Lyon, on Wednesday emerged the standard flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the November 16 Bayelsa State Governorship election. According to the results announced by the Collation Officer, Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, the oil magnate, Chief Lyon polled a total of 42,138, votes to defeat five other aspirants. Mrs Desiye Nsirim, came a distant second with 1,533, while Chief Ebitimi Amgbare came third with 633 votes. The immediate past Minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, polled 571 votes to come fourth while Prof Ongoebi Etebu and Prince Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes respectively. Senator Ocheja said he was standing in for the Returning Officer and Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam, whom he disclosed was unavoidable absent.