Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. Suhaila Zakzaky, daughter of Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, has reacted to the group’s suspension of the usual street protests calling for the release of her father. Suhaila declared that the protest would continue until her father was released.
2. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the reported secret burial of 1,000 Nigerian soldiers killed by Boko Haram and ISWAP. He said the Wall Street Journal report on the matter was saddening and that the attempt to hide the true state of the war on terror was heartbreaking and shocking.
3. Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Thursday, rubbished a report by the Wall Street Journal which claimed that 1, 000 soldiers in the North-East were secretly buried under the cover of darkness after being killed by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents. The Director of Defence Information, Onyema Nwachukwu, insisted that the Nigerian Armed Forces does not engage in the secret burial of soldiers but accords fallen soldiers a befitting military funeral of international standard.
4. President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, have closed their defence at the Presidential Tribunal. Buhari and APC defended Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s petition challenging their victory at the Tribunal. Buhari’s lead lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and lead lawyer to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi announced that the 2nd and 3rd respondents were closing their defence in the case.
5. The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Thursday, adjourned to August 21 for the adoption of final addresses over the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate Atiku Abubakar challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23, presidential election. This development followed the separate oral applications by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, leading the legal teams of Buhari and ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, respectively.
6. The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of “doing all kinds of things that can divide the country.” Afenifere said this in response to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that those seeking the dissolution of Nigeria should look at the case of Sudan which broke up yet the problems still lingered. Afenifere said federal government’s action can “make the breakup inevitable.”
7. Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr will take place at a neutral venue. He also said that in the next 48 hours, Ruiz’s team will be alerted to where this fight will take place. According to Hearn, Cardiff is still the frontrunner and also the favourite to host the rematch fight between the two boxers.
8. The embattled Deputy Governor of Kogi state, Elder Simon Achuba has raised the alarm over alleged mobilization of gunmen by his boss, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to attack him with an appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to come to his rescue. The Deputy Governor cried out over the ugly development at a press briefing held at his residence in Lokoja, the state capital on Thursday. Achuba said that information at his disposal revealed that Governor Yahaya Bello has mobilized gunmen to attack him over his perceived lingering anger on him.
9. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, restated the commitment of his administration to creating jobs for the youthful population of Nigeria. Speaking Thursday in Abuja during an audience with Guy Ryder, the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), President Buhari said: “In the last four years, this government prioritised Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure development. Our focus in these areas was to create jobs today and ensure peace and equitable prosperity for future generations.”
10. Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has revealed that cattle rustlers and arm bandits have been granted amnesty by the Northwest governors. According to him, this was part of measures to restore peace in the zone.
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