Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. Leader of Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau, on Thursday, dismissed claims by President Muhammadu Buhari that the group has been flushed out of Sambisa Forest, insisting they are still in their hideout in the forest. In a new video, Shekau insisted he and his members were safe, stressing that their location cannot be revealed.
2. The Adamawa State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla, has alleged that Boko Haram fighters fleeing Sambisa Forest are attempting to infiltrate his state. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Engr Martins Babale at a security meeting, the governor claimed that the fleeing terrorists were trying to infiltrate some communities in the state so as to continue with their campaign.
3. The Nigerian Army has refuted claims by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau that the insurgents were not displaced from the Sambisa Forest. The Army in a statement said while efforts were ongoing to subject the video for further forensic analysis, it wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa Forest. The Army insisted that the video was a mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people so they can remain relevant.
4. A phone conversation on the Rivers Rerun, that allegedly transpired between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Ayodele Fayose, has been leaked. In the audio, both Governors were allegedly heard boasting about how Wike stormed a collation centre. Wike also claimed that the Nigerian Army does not exist anymore.
5. Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has accused the Department of State Service (DSS) of recording telephone conversations of Nigerians perceived as critical of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) government, editing the conversations and leaking same to the media. The governor urged the Federal Government to rather engage in fruitful ventures that will be of benefit to the country instead of monitoring people’s conversation.
6. The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has alleged plot by his political enemies to bomb his plane. While speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, at an end of year party organized by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Governor stated that there was an alleged plot to bomb his plane in order to eliminate him.
7. There was tension at the Garki Area of Enugu State on Wednesday following a deadly clash between some Fulanis and the Igbos. Two persons were confirmed killed during the bloody clash. The deceased persons were identified as one Ali, a Fulani and Ifeanyi Ifeacho, an Igbo person.
8. The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the total victory over the Boko Haram militants in the one-time dreaded Sambisa forest. The group, therefore, enjoined the president to embark on restructuring of the country, as recommended by the 2014 national confab.
9. Reacting to the allegation by Governor Nyesom Wike that his political enemies were plotting to bomb his plane, President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, has said his principal will not join issues with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, as he cannot descend to Wike’s level.
10. A report by bloomberg Lp put naira as one of the world’s four worst performing currencies in 2016. The naira was said to have lost 36.68 per cent of its spot returns for the year, while the Egyptian pound, Surname dollar and Venezuela bolivar’s currency spot returns dropped by 58.84 per cent, 46.68 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, for the period. The five best performing currencies of the world are the Russian ruble, Brazilian real, the palladium, the Iceland krona, and silver, which appreciated by 21.31 per cent, 20.96 per cent, 20.08 per cent, 14.42 per cent and 14.41 per cent, respectively, in terms of spot returns.
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