Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Henzodaily roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 11th January, 2025.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, to participate in the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025).
Henzodaily reports that the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, invited President Tinubu to attend the Summit, which would take place in the emirate from January 12 to 18.
A statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Summit would bring together global leaders to accelerate sustainable development and advance socioeconomic progress.
The event, ‘The Nexus of Next; Supercharging Sustainable Progress,’ would enable policymakers, business, and civil society leaders to explore pathways to fast-track the transformation to a sustainable economy and evolve a new era of prosperity for all.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week has been held annually for over 15 years. It provided a global platform to foster multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing global challenges and accelerating growth.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has barred the Federal High Court in Kano from presiding over the legal dispute surrounding the Kano Emirate, ruling that the federal court lacks jurisdiction to handle matters of chieftaincy in Kano State.
In a split decision delivered on Friday, two out of three justices on the panel held that the Federal High Court had overstepped its boundaries by entertaining the case.
Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole, who delivered the lead judgment, stated, “The Federal High Court has no business adjudicating over chieftaincy matters. Such issues are under the exclusive purview of state high courts.”
Henzodaily gathered that Justice Kolawole, directed that the matter be returned to the Kano State High Court for reassignment to a judge competent to handle such disputes.
However, the Presiding Justice, Mustapha Mohammed, and one other justice disagreed with Kolawole’s order to remit the case to the Kano Chief Judge for reassignment.
The two justices argued that the proper course of action was to strike out the case entirely.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his imprisonment under the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, in 1995, was a result of his refusal to remain silent on pressing national and international issues.
Obasanjo made the disclosure during an interactive session with 15 young leaders selected from across Africa under the aegis of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation.
Henzodaily reports that the event, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, also featured winners of the Future Africa Leaders Awards.
Obasanjo recounted how he transitioned into agriculture after retiring from the military at the age of 42. He noted that his outspoken nature often landed him in trouble.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has shared his concern over the high cost of conducting elections in Nigeria.
Speaking via a statement on Friday while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly, Yakubu lamented that the cost was exorbitant and burdensome.
The electoral body boss pointed out that despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of ₦40 billion, significantly lower than the ₦80 billion initially requested
He emphasized the financial strain this has placed on the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
In a bid to address these challenges, he appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has dissolved his cabinet, stating the need to bring new professionals on board to drive his administration’s agenda.
During a valedictory session held on Friday at the Exco Chamber, Governor Eno commended the outgoing commissioners for their performance, emphasizing that the dissolution was not due to underperformance but a natural progression for the administration.
“For me, if you were to be changed based on non-performance, I think none of the commissioners would go. All of you have delivered, and that’s why the Arise Agenda has succeeded. But we must come to the end of a season, start another season, and keep moving,” he said.
The commissioners and advisers were said to have been retained to allow Governor Eno compensate them for the services they rendered since they were not rewarded by the time the last administration came to an end on May 29, 2023.
Many of the commissioners and advisers had served under former Governor Udom Emmanuel, with some holding office for almost a decade. Governor Eno retained them initially as a gesture of compensation for their service during the transition to his administration in May 2023.
Renowned activist and lawyer, Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, has been elected President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide during the organization’s convention held in Port Harcourt.
The General Assembly of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide declared Okwukwu the new leader after he emerged unopposed.
The returning officer, Achi Achi, stated that the election, which began on Thursday and concluded on Friday, was conducted by the progressive movement in Igboland.
Expressing gratitude to the national delegates who participated, Achi stated that Okwukwu was chosen for his proven commitment to defending Igbo interests and upholding the organization’s constitution.
In his acceptance speech, Okwukwu pledged to serve the Igbo community diligently, acknowledging the significant responsibility placed upon him at this pivotal time in history.
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has called on his supporters to desist from premature campaigns promoting him for the 2027 Nasarawa North Senatorial seat, stressing his commitment to fulfilling his current mandate.
Henzodaily gathered that Sule made this appeal on Friday in Lafia while hosting a delegation of traditional rulers and stakeholders from Akwanga Local Government Area.
Addressing the gathering, the governor emphasized his determination to focus on delivering developmental projects for the state in the remaining two years of his administration.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been thrown into confusion as two individuals are now claiming the position of President-General of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
On one hand, Senator John Azuta-Mbata was elected as the 13th President-General during an election in Enugu on Friday.
Azuta-Mbata, a former senator who represented Rivers East from 1999 to 2007, succeeded Fidelis Chukwu, whose tenure had ended.
His election marks a historic moment as he hails from Rivers State in South-south Nigeria.
In another development, a renowned activist and lawyer, Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, was also declared President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide during the organisation’s convention in Port Harcourt.
Kingmakers in Oyo have rejected the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade as the new Alaafin by Governor Seyi Makinde, describing the decision as illegal and a violation of the traditional selection process.
In a statement issued on Friday, five kingmakers declared the appointment null and void, insisting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin remains the legitimate candidate they recommended for the revered throne.
“You will recall that on 30th September, 2022, at the meeting of the Kingmakers in accordance with the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration, 1961, the Kingmakers appointed Prince Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin as the Alaafin of Oyo by majority of the lawful votes of the Kingmakers,” the statement read.
They further explained that Prince Gbadegesin’s name was submitted to Governor Makinde for approval, but the governor failed to act on their recommendation without providing any reasons.
The member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Obi Aguocha has declared that as it stands Julius Abure is the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Henzodaily reports that Obi, an ally to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, stated this while speaking on the recent defection of lawmakers from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the lawmaker, there is no leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party that warrants the defection of the party’s lawmakers.
In an interview with New Telegraph, Aguocha noted that there is no political party that doesn’t have crisis but the leadership has remained steadfast in finding solutions.