10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Wednesday morning, October 2, 2019

These 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers will make your Wednesday morning.

1. Buhari’s Independence broadcast completely un-presidential, an insult to Nigerians —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day broadcast as an insult on the psyche of Nigerians and a mockery of the nation’s integrity as an independent state. It also said that the speech was “completely un-presidential, lacking in patriotic stance and replete with manifest inconsistencies, contradictions, paradoxes and false performance claims, which further confirm that our dear fatherland is in wrong hands.” This was contained in a statement PDP released on Tuesday through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan.

2. At 59 Nigeria is dying… nailed to the cross of governmental inefficiency —Cardinal Okogie

A former Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lagos, Anthony Okogie, has called on all Nigerians to quit the path of deceit in order to heal the country. Okogie in an article on Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary stated that the country was “wounded, bleeding and dying” due to governmental inefficiency and falsehood. The article entitled “At 59, what will save Nigeria?,” said Nigeria’s allegiance to truth was its greatest undoing.

3. #October1st: Aisha Buhari writes from abroad, explains her plans for Nigeria

The wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha on Monday sent her Independent Day Anniversary message to Nigeria from a foreign land. The First Lady, in the message she sent through her Twitter handle said, “On the occasion of the 59th independence anniversary of our dear nation, I wish to restate my resolve to touch more lives through Aisha Buhari Foundation and Future Assured Programs. “I, however, continue my call on more privileged Nigerians, the private sector and NGO’s to do more in the areas of education, health, empowerment and protection of women and children. It is my earnest belief that the future is bright. “Happy Independence Day Nigeria.” Aisha, since she left the country for Hajj in Saudi Arabia in August is yet to return to the country.

4. ‘We have marked great progress so far,’ Tinubu raises hope for a better Nigeria

National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that despite facing extreme challenges in the past 59 years, Nigeria has marked great progress. He predicted a better future for Nigeria, saying that what the country had overcome in the past had given confidence and courage to believe that it can achieve even more.

5. Presidency reveals Buhari’s mission to S’Africa ahead Wednesday trip

President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Wednesday, depart Abuja on a three-day state visit to the Republic of South Africa. His trip follows an invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. Disclosing this in a statement on Tuesday, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity said Buhari would during the travel; discuss the welfare of Nigerians as well as find common grounds for building harmonious relations between them and their hosts.

Read also: 10 top stories from Nigerian newspapers Tuesday morning, October 1, 2019

6. 6 Nigerians fall into poverty every minute, we’ve more poor people than China, India combined —Obi

Former Anambra State governor, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice presidential candidate during the last general election, Peter Obi has said that Nigeria currently has more people living in extreme poverty than China and India combined. Obi, who also said that six people became poor in Nigeria every minute, regretted that the country “is now the third most insecure place to live on the surface of the earth.” He stated this on Tuesday at The Platform, an annual conference organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos.

7. 75-yr-old guard arrested for defiling 11-year-old girl on school premises

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 75-year-old guard who allegedly raped an 11-year-old girl in a school premises. Superintendent of Police, Ebere Amaraizu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, in a statement on Tuesday said the suspect was caught red handed by a citizen on August 30.

8. Air Force gets first female Air Warrant Officer, Grace Garba

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has approved the promotion of Master Warrant Officer, Grace Garba, to the exalted rank of Air Warrant Officer. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed the appointment in a statement on Tuesday. With the promotion, MWO Garba becomes the first female Senior Non-Commissioned Officer to be promoted to the highest rank in the Non-Commissioned Officers’ cadre in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

9. ZAMFARA: 4 INEC officials in EFCC net for allegedly diverting N84.6m staff allowance

Four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Zamfara State have been arrested for alleged conspiracy, breach of trust and criminal diversion of ad hoc staff allowances to the tune of N84.6 million. They were arrested by the Sokoto zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition alleging disparity in allowances to ad-hoc staff in Zamfara compared to what was given to their colleagues in other states.

10. OYO: Ban on transport union stands, Makinde warns illegal task collectors

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that the ban on activities of transport unions in the state was still in place. He warned that anyone caught issuing receipts and collecting money at the parks will be seriously dealt with according to the law. Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Raphael Afonja, made this comment while representing the governor on inspection to motor parks in Ibadan metropolis.

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