Top Newspaper Review for Tuesday, 21st July, 2015

1. APC and PDP Governors clash over choice of Fayose as NGF vice chairman 

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have given an indication that they will oppose the nomination of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State as Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). 

Thisday gathered that possibility of Fayose emerging as the deputy chairman of NGF  is already generating controversy based on the alleged role of the Ekiti State governor in the rancorous 2015 presidential campaign against the APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

But Fayose has fired back, saying it was the consensus opinion of his PDP colleagues to nominate him, adding that the APC has no reason to interfere since PDP did not dictate their choice of the chairman of NGF.

2.  HRW urges Obama to Press for repeal of same sex prohibition act in Nigeria 

While the body enjoined Obama to encourage Buhari to keep his commitment to ensure that government security forces respect human rights and to address the endemic corruption that has deprived many Nigerians of their basic rights, the Washington Director for HRW, Sarah Margon, also implore Obama to implore Buhari to repeal the Same Sex Prohibition Act contrary to views expressed by larger majority of Nigerians.

“Human Rights Watch also urged Obama to raise corruption issues with Buhari as well as the need to repeal the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which became law during the administration of Nigeria’s previous president, Goodluck Jonathan. The law criminalises public displays of affection between same-sex couples and penalises organisations advocating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people,” she said.

3 Why I won't appoint minister till September - Buhari 

Nigerians are to wait till September to know their ministers.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday confirmed that ministers will not be appointed until September.  He said the delay in naming members of the yet-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC) is to allow for critical reforms which will guide the  conduct of the ministers when appointed.

President Buhari dropped the hint in an article published by the Washington Post. He said it will  neither be prudent, nor serve the interest of sound government to have hastily made ministerial appointments immediately after coming into office without the necessary reforms

4. Bidden to Buhari: Military option alone can't win terror war 

United States (U.S.) Vice President Joe Biden yesterday urged the Federal Government to introduce socio-economic support programmes to its strategy against Boko Haram.

Biden offered the advice at a breakfast meeting to which he hosted President Muhammadu Buhari at his official resident .

Drawing experience from counter-terrorism battles, the U.S. Vice President said military option alone cannot guarantee victory.

5 Alhaji Gay murdered in Lagos  

Razak Adetunji Adeniyi, popularly known as ‘Alhaji Gay’ has been reportedly killed by unidentified individuals.

Alhaji Gay, as he is fondly called, who is usually connected with hunting internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) with an identity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was on Monday stabbed to death.

In spite of his success in arresting the fraudsters on different accounts, the EFCC has denied any connection between the late Alhaji and the commission.

6. Nigeria oil revenue may drop to $52b says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) Article IV Consultation Staff Report has shown that Nigeria’s oil earnings would drop to $52 billion this year, from $88 billion it was the previous year.

This represents a reduction of six percentage points in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and would reduce its external current account balance as well as international reserves

7. Jonathan approved #1.45b legal fee BPE tells EFCC 

Detectives probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) have got some key documents which will help them get to the root of the matter, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The BPE is insisting that the legal contract was valid because ex-President Goodluck Jonathan approved it, based on a memo from ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was the chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

8. Ondo workers begin strike on Wednesday 

Civil Servants in Ondo State have decided to proceed on strike over non-payment of their salaries and allowances.

The Sunshine State workers, who were being owned three to four months salaries and areas, have vowed to down tools by Wednesday if the State government led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko refused to pay them all outstanding and deductions from their salaries.

9. Borno: New CoAS promises Boko Haram hard times 

The new Chief of Army Staff, Major General T.Y. Buratai has said that with the renewed approach by the military in tackling Boko Haram in the northeast, the war would be taken to the doorsteps of the insurgents until they are uprooted for good.

Buratai, who was speaking yesterday, in Maiduguri also requested and appealed to all and sundry to give the new operation maximum cooperation.

10. Suicide Bombers attack police checkpoint in Damaturu, kills five

A suicide bomb attack has just occurred at a police checkpoint in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, killing at least five persons with those injured already taken to the Damaturu Specialist Hospital.

It was learnt that the suicide bombers, who came in a Highlander SUV detonated Improvised Explosive Devices at the checkpoint on Monday afternoon.