Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers of Tuesday 16th May 2023
1. Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, did not put down any statement on his first day in detention, according to sources. The musician, who is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for assaulting a policeman in Lagos State, insisted on seeing Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), before writing any statement.
2. President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the newly-elected and returning governors to deliver on their campaign promises or get ready to be voted out in the next elections. Buhari spoke on Monday during the induction of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) organised ahead of the May 29 inauguration.
3. Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the study leave purportedly granted to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. In a statement, the Governor said Emefiele does not deserve to go on such leave due to his monetary policy.
4. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a five-day warning strike over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands. The resident doctors said the strike will commence on Wednesday, May 17, and end on Monday, May 22.
5. The military and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba on Monday read the riot act to individuals and groups opposed to the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29. The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau re-echoed the military’s warning to dissident groups that any threat to the transition programme would be crushed.
6. The Federal Government, on Monday, described as “unworkable”, a bill currently being considered by the National Assembly seeking to restrict the migration of Nigerian doctors to climes perceived to be greener pastures. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, revealed this while fielding questions from journalists after the extraordinary Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
7. The North Central governors have rejected the zoning of the 10th National Assembly leadership released by the ruling All Progressive Congress. The governors have also scheduled a meeting with the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu.
8. The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has declared “null and void” the suspension of a former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi. The PDP Tudun-Wada ward in Kaduna State had on Sunday, suspended Makarfi for alleged anti-party activities.
9. The United States has imposed visa restrictions on politicians and people who were involved in undermining the just-concluded Nigeria’s 2023 elections. According to Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, in a statement on Monday, the US said it is committed to supporting Nigeria’s aspirations to solidify the democratic process and rule of law.
10. Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci has set a new world record of 100 hours cook-a-thon, making her the new record holder. The latest Guinness Book record holder broke the record of 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds set by chef Lata Tondon in Rewa, India, in 2019.
