Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. The Big Brother Naija TV show, on Tuesday, witnessed a major twist as two new housemates were brought into the game. The two new housemates are Vendita and Elozanam. Vendita is an actress from Delta State and a mother of two who had featured in different musical videos. Elozanam, 33, is also an actor, and a producer. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu had on Sunday during Live eviction had told viewers to anticipate the biggest twist of the season on Tuesday.
2. Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buahri on Tuesday told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar in the Feb.23 general election was a Cameroonian “flesh and blood.” Kyari who was led through his deposition by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Counsel for the president, insisted that Jada, hometown of the former vice president was in Adamawa Province, an enclave that belonged to Northern Cameroon in 1946 when he (Atiku) was born. He explained that Atiku was already born in 1946 before the plebiscite was conducted in 1961 to balcanize Nigeria and Cameroon where Jada which was part of Northern Cameroon voted to become Nigerian territory. Kyari further said that the plebiscite also resulted in the Southern part of Cameroon officially aligning to becoming Cameroonian territory. 3. President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late MKO Abiola as a bridge builder who could have prevented the religious and tribal issues besetting the country from happening if he had been allowed to rule Nigeria. Buhari spoke in Abuja when he received Elders and Leaders of Thought from Ogun State at the State House. He said If MKO Abiola was allowed to rule, the religious and tribal issues now in Nigeria would not have been as strong, because he ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, chose his deputy from the Kanuri, a minority tribe and because of his personality, he went across Nigeria and was accepted.
4. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he won’t name his preferred successor. He explained that naming his preferred successor now would create problems for him and those making such calls. He spoke while receiving members of a group known as Progressive in Academics, Pro-Acad, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
5. Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on Tuesday, announced Senate standing Committees shortly before he adjourned sitting on Tuesday till 24th September, 2019. Before the announcement, there was high expectations among Senators and those privy to activities of the Senate. The Committees which were 69 in number cut across party divides with Senators of the opposition political parties heading strategic Committees.
6. Britain’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, yesterday, appointed a Nigerian, Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch as Children and Families Minister. The 39-year old Nigerian is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for Saffron Walden. Confirming her appointment, the Nigerian born politician said she was humbled by the development.
7. Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, on Tuesday faulted the proscription of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) by the Federal Government. He said the move to ban the activities of the Muslim group threatens Nigeria’s foreign image. Onaiyekan said there was the urgent need for the government to reaffirm its commitment to respecting the rights of religious groups to exist and operate freely in the country without undue interference. Against that backdrop, he called on the authorities to reverse itself on the proscription of the Shi’ites.
8. President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, said the chamber under him will ensure Nigeria’s budget is treated expeditiously. Lawan said this on Tuesday as the Senate adjourned for a two-month recess which was initially delayed to allow for the confirmation of the 43 nominees of the President for ministerial appointments. Lawan disclosed that the expectation of the lawmakers is that the 2020 appropriation bill will be presented to the National Assembly on their return from the recess in September.
9. President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, said he will assign portfolios when his cabinet is formally inaugurated.
Buhari disclosed this hours after the Senate concluded screening of the 43 nominees he sent to them.
10. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on Tuesday reiterated his support for State Police in Nigeria. He said the establishment of the security arm was necessary because Nigeria was a “large and diverse federation.” Osinbajo spoke while delivering the 70th Anniversary Lecture of the Lagos Country Club, entitled, “Promoting National Cohesion for Progress and Prosperity.”
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