Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers
1. All is now set for today’s governorship election in Ondo State. The State government, under the leadership of Olusegun Mimiko has restricted movement within the state till the election is over.
2. President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to explore the possibilities of piping crude oil from Niger Republic for refining in Kaduna.
According to the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, it was important to explore alternative crude supply to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and age.
3. Former factional governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Jimoh Ibrahim, has admitted deliberately coming into the race to distract Ondo State Governor, Segun Mimiko, from helping his protégé, Eyitayo Jegede to win the election.
In a new footage which emerged Friday, Ibrahim said he was glad that he distracted Mimiko and Jegede, adding that the party will not win on Saturday.
4. A former minister of aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Femi Fani-Kayode has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be ready to welcome dogs of war if today’s governorship election in Ondo state is rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
Fani-Kayode told the electoral umpire that any attempt to rig the Ondo election just like it did in Edo State would have dire consequence.
5. The Nigeria Air Force has set up a seven-man board to investigate the cause of the helicopter accident at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Makurdi on Wednesday.
The Director of Information and Public Relations, NAF, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, said the seven-man panel is headed by Air Vice-Marshall Emmanuel Anebi, adding that what happened was not a crash but an accident which involved the Agusta Westland 101 helicopter as it was taxing after a successful flight in Makurdi.
6. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the 2017 Budget would not be padded like the 2016 budget.
He said he would never allow “rogue projects and figures” to be injected into the financial document again under his watch.
7. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has stresed the need for Nigeria to develop its own plan capable of effectively addressing the current economic downturn.
Fashola, who spoke while delivering a lecture on “Freedom from Fear, Choices before the New Generation” to mark the 42nd convocation of the University of Benin, Edo State, stated that Nigerians must overcome their fears and use their natural resources to create solutions and improve their lives.
8. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday arraigned a former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and two others for alleged N400m fraud.
Ogunlewe, who is the Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, was arraigned alongside the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof. Olusola Oyewole; and the Bursar of the institution, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi, before the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta, on 18 counts, bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretences and abuse of office.
9. The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended a former Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
The factional Chairman of the party in the state, Soji Adagunodo and its Secretary, Bola Ajao in a joint statement, noted that Omisore was suspended for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.
10. Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, has debunked paying some media houses cash to launder the image of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Counsel to the embattled former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Ben Chuks Nwosu, described the report as “highly embarrassing,” stressing that it “did not reflect the testimony and evidence” by the fifth defence witness.
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