Newspaper Review For Tuesday 1st, September

1. PDP List Achievements at 17

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s oldest political party, yesterday, marked 17 years of its existence with a low-key event at its Wadata Plaza, Abuja National Secretariat. Briefing Journalists in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who catalogued the achievements of the party in its 17 years of existence, said it lost some of its founding and leading members because they could not withstand what he termed, stiff competition within the party and some mistakes the party made. Metuh who tagged his speech, ”PDP At 17..Still The Only True National Party”, said that in spite of the exit of some of its founders and leaders, the party is still in line with the vision and mission of its founding fathers.

2. Court Strikes Out Forgery Suit Against Saraki, Ekweremadu

Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, struck out the suit that sought to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu from office on the premise that the Senate Standing Orders 2015, that produced them, was forged. Justice Adeniyi terminated further hearing on the matter after the plaintiffs who are five Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuni, applied to withdraw the suit.

3. Amaechi Challenges Wike to Publish Statements of Govt Accounts

Former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has challenged his successor in office, Governor Nyesom Wike to publish the statements of government accounts with Skye Bank, FAAC, Zenith Bank and Access Bank, insisting that about N7.5 billion cash was left as balance in the state Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, as at May 29, 2015, alongside money in other accounts, totalling N8 billion.

4. China Supports Nigeria’s Bid for UN Permanent Seat

The People’s Republic of China has endorsed Nigeria`s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said the Chinese gave their nod for Nigeria`s quest to occupy a permanent seat on the UN security council during a meeting between him and the Chinese officials at the United Nations, New York.

5. Ikedife Urges Igbo to Remain Calm Over Buhari’s Appointments

Former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, has urged the Igbo to remain calm and not to over react to the recent appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari. Ikedife said Buhari should not abuse the confidence and respect Nigerians have for him while distributing his appointments. Dr. Ikedife, in Nnewi, yesterday, said Buhari should see himself as the President of all Nigerians both the good, the bad and the ugly. He was of the view that the President should use what he described as the period of honeymoon to enlarge the scope of confidence and respect Nigerians had for him and advised him not to abuse it.

6. Bayelsa Guber: You’re a Sinking Man – Bramaifa Tells Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson on Monday came under fire when a group under the auspices of Friends of Timi Alaibe visited the APC National Secretariat Abuja to purchase the governorship nomination on behalf of the former NDDC boss. Dickson had before now described PDP defectors to APC as hungry politicians in dire need of employment. He also said they constitute no threat to his ambition.

7. 3 Feared Dead as Pro-Biafran Group Clash With Security Operatives in Anambra

Three members of a group campaigning for a Republic of Biafra have been reported dead following a clash with Naval officers from the Onitsha out-post in Anambra State. The clash which reportedly took place on Sunday evening also led to the hospitalization of other 20 members of the group, following various degrees of injuries they sustained during the clash. The self-determination agitators were allegedly operating as “Independent People of Biafra.”

8. EFCC Commences Full-fledged Probe of Ex-oil Minister

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a full-fledged probe into the activities of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The commission constituted a four-member committee of crack detectives to probe all the NNPC accounts which were supervised by the former minister.

9. Kogi Guber: I’m Confident We’ll Win the Forthcoming Election – Wada

Kogi State Governor Idris Wada in this interview with select journalists recently expressed confidence in returning victorious in the forthcoming election in the state. He also spoke about the socio-political developments in the state as well as his chance of re-election in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

10. It’s Too Early to Judge Buhari – Lai Mohammed

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said it is too early to judge the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari based on few appointments made so far. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Mohammed said he believes the President will make the right decision on appointments and he will be gender-friendly.