Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has joined the 2023 presidential election race, declaring his decision to vie for the number one seat. He met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and said he would not be weighed down by Tinubu's entry into the race. He argued that the opposition party was not ready to cede the 2023 ticket to the Southeast, and that he stands a better chance if the APC throws the ticket open. He also proposed a political solution to the prevailing insecurity in the Southeast, which he said should not interfere with the judicial process. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has declared his readiness to contest the APC Presidential ticket in 2023, if the party zones it to the South. He believes his own region, the Southeast, is ripe for the Presidency and has all it takes to match Tinubu's grit for grit and campaign for campaign.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has chosen February 26 for its national convention, but stakeholders have warned against forcing the party to hold an exercise that could further polarise members. Chairman of the CECPC and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, acknowledged the roles played by women during electioneering process, but warned against using the convention as a ruse to create a parallel national executive. The CECPC is planning to have a successful convention, but it is impossible due to by-elections and the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has called for better political deals for women. The APC Rebirth Group has flayed the governors over the circumstances leading to the resignation of the Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Doyin Salami to serve as his first Chief Economic Adviser. Salami, 59, is expected to address all issues on the domestic economy and present views to the President. He is expected to closely monitor national and international developments, trends, and develop appropriate policy responses and make recommendations to the President. He is also expected to pay attention to national economic policies to foster macro-economic stability, promote growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty. Buhari has set a record as the first President since 1999 to have led the country without CEAP. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan all appointed CEAP. BALA Zaka believes the decision is not too late and that if he succeeds, someone else can take over from him.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Trust Fund (NDITF) to support direct investments from Nigerians abroad. He also pledged support for the floating of the Diaspora Intervention Fund to support the commission. He described the 327-page compendium as a "historical record of the worth of our compatriots globally" and reminded Nigerians that it is their duty to extol and celebrate compatriots that excel in their chosen careers and professions. The President congratulated those whose names made it to the first edition of the compendium of excellent Nigerians and encouraged others to work more conscientiously to make the list in the subsequent editions. He also commended the Abike Dabiri-Erewa-led NiDCOM for its energy and innovative steps to ensure better engagements with the Diaspora community. The commission plans to publish the compendium at regular intervals to change the negative stereotypes typified by a few Nigerians who do not represent the country well.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Senator Margrey Chuba-Okadigbo as Board Chairman of NNPC, replacing Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. Other board members include Mele Kolo Kyari, Umar Ajiya, Dr. Tajudeen Umar, Mrs. Lami Ahmed, Mallam Mohammed Lawal, Henry Obih, Constance Harry Marshal, and Chief Pius Akinyelure. The PDP has described the appointment of Dr. Doyin Salami as a "scapegoat" for the APC government's failures. The main opposition party, the APC, has appointed Executive Commissioners of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. These include Francis Alabo Ogaree, Mustapha Lamorde, Mansur Kuliya, Bashir Sadiq, and Dr. Zainab Gobir. New council members for the Midstream and Downstream Infrastructure Fund include Effiong Abia, Bobboi Ahmed, and Abdullahi Bukar.

President Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have paid tribute to Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala, a former Governor of Oyo State, who passed away yesterday aged 71. Makinde abruptly ended the 2022 Inter-faith Prayer Service as the news broke, while Tinubu called for a minute's silence and condoled with the immediate family members of the former governor, his political associates and residents of the state. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chairman of South West Governors' Forum and Ondo State Governor, described the death of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala as a personal loss and urged family and associates to take solace in the good legacies he left behind. He commiserated with Governor Seyi Makinde, the government and people of Oyo State, friends, associates and admirers of the deceased politician, and his Ogun State counterpart, Adegboyega Oyetola, who described the death as a rude shock. Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, also expressed his condolences.

NGF, Labour leaders seek forensic probe of NNPC's figures, alleging fraud. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has presented a bill of N3 trillion for deliberations at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari. This is the amount required to continue to subsidise petroleum products for the 18 months extension recently approved by the Presidency. The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, explained that FEC considered the request so as to make additional funding provisions that will enable government meet incremental fuel subsidy payment in the 2022 budget. However, the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have blamed the NNPC for the mismanagement of the proceeds accruing from oil. The Council directed the ministry to approach the National Assembly for an amendment to the fiscal framework, including the budget.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the military to respond "robustly" to the cases of killings and kidnappings in Kaduna State and to give effect to the strategic objectives through the use of force. He has also set the ball rolling for a major military operation in communities, where bandits and remnants of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists attarks.

President Muhammadu Buhari has given his best for the country and expects Nigerians to acknowledge the same after he leaves office. He plans to take a well-deserved rest after leaving office in 17 months and is looking forward to his exit from office, saying age is telling on him from working long hours every day. He also said no person accused of corruption can go scot-free even if they join his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many Nigerians believe that opposition politicians accused of corruption or on trial for corruption join the APC to avoid being punished. President Buhari argued that corruption is a continuous problem in developing countries, and urged the people to live within their means. He also wanted the people to be given the freedom of choice through direct, indirect and consensus channels. He urged members of the APC to put the party in order ahead of its convention to prevent the opposition from taking over the government.

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he will not interfere in the 2023 Presidential election, expressing his willingness to accept anyone elected by Nigerians. He also admitted to having a favourite candidate among presidential aspirants, but declined to mention his name. He described the PDP as a "failure" and said his government has done its best to maintain security and stop importation of rice and other food items. President Buhari expressed his willingness to sign the amended Electoral Bill he vetoed and returned to the National Assembly if there are choices for political parties to elect their candidates. He also expressed his reservation to the establishment of state police and called on the agitators to define their definition of restructuring. He also urged Nigerians to return to farming to stop importation and provide jobs for the youths.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will not release the 2023 general election timetable until the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is signed into law. President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld assent to the bill due to controversies surrounding the mode of primaries by parties. Yakubu also announced that 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians have commenced the online pre-registration, completed the registration physically or applied for a transfer to new voting locations, replacement of their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) or updated their voter information records. He warned parties to ensure a transparent and rancour-free primary. The Ekiti governorship primaries have been held in the last four days, with seven political parties choosing the last day for their primaries. However, no party has submitted its list of aspirants, the composition of its electoral panel, or the register of members or list of delegates. The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP) have called on the National Assembly and the executive to quickly resolve the contentious issues and pass the new Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which should be signed into law by the President.