BREAKING: Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 15th December, 2024

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 15th December, 2024.

As the race for the 2027 presidential election gathers momentum, fresh reports suggest that opposition forces are strategizing to work against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A reliable source who spoke exclusively with Saturday Sun, confirmed that a high-level meeting is being planned in London, with the sole objective of orchestrating efforts to dislodge Tinubu from Aso Rock.

A prominent northern politician who spoke on condition of anonymity to the platform said, “Well, it is true that discussions are ongoing. We are talking to the aggrieved APC members and Labour Party. We are doing this because we have realised that it is the only way defeat Tinubu.”

Asked about the strategies in place to actualise the plan, the source further said: “Are you serious? You want me to divulge our plans to you, so you can write about it? Who does that? I can confirm to you that a meeting is actually being planned for London. I won’t say more than that for now.”

Another former governor, who is a member of one of the opposition parties in the country, also confirmed the planned London meeting.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s invitation to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, to run for president in the 2027 presidential election on its platform.

Naija News reported that the PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, recently said the party had eagerly awaited Jonathan’s return for a second term.

Abdullahi noted that it would be regrettable if Jonathan chose another party for his presidential bid.

However, in an interview with Punch, the APC’s National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the former president would face another defeat if he responded to the call.

According to him, the APC will not be jittery about the ex-president’s enrolment in the 2027 race, stressing that 10 of Goodluck Jonathans will not defeat President Bola Tinubu.

A prominent northern politician has shed light on the mounting calls for the removal of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, citing concerns over lopsided appointments and declining public trust in the administration.

Speaking to Saturday Sun under the condition of anonymity, the source disclosed that President Tinubu’s perceived favouritism in key appointments is a major reason many Nigerians, including prominent politicians, are rallying against his government.

The source alleged that the President’s appointments across federal ministries and agencies have disproportionately favoured certain regions, leaving many Nigerians, particularly in the North, feeling excluded.

Human rights lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo, has raised fear that the life of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, may be in danger.

The former spokesman of Obi/Datti Campaign Organization, Okonkwo, said the author of ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’ stance on what he wrote in his book, may force the corrupt elites to take extreme measures.

Farotimi was detained in the Correctional Center on an allegation of defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola.

“Now that Dele Farotimi is sticking to his guns on the purported defamation matter, his life must be protected at all costs in prison. Nobody should come and tell us he had a cardiac arrest or something happened to him after a brief illness.

“Dele Farotimi was hale and hearty when he was unjustly arrested. He must be healthier whenever he comes out since the government that is holding him unjustly is wealthier than him.

“My guess is that these corrupt elites may settle this matter through another means if Dele Farotimi resists all their attempts at intimidating him,” Okonkwo wrote on his X handle on Saturday.

The President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Shettima Yerima, has revealed that there is growing regret among some people in the northern region over their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.

In an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard, Yerima expressed disappointment, citing unmet expectations and disillusionment with the current administration.

Yerima stated that the northern region had placed immense hope in Tinubu, believing he understood the core issues plaguing the nation.

Speaking on why the north is not happy with Tinubu, Yerim said, “In some quarters, there are certain regrets by the northern region. Don’t forget the eight years of Buhari’s administration brought nothing to the north. So, the expectation was so high that Tinubu knew where the problem lay, and someone like me who had worked with him and took him as a role model believed that he knew so much about the problems of this country and would approach the issues not as a military man but as a democrat and would be able to proffer solutions to them. But the people are disappointed because they are not getting what they expected of him.

“In fairness to him, the situation was very bad. Everybody knew that whoever succeeded Buhari would go through a very rough path to succeed. We never expected that after eight years of rubbish, Tinubu would perform a miracle in two years. Yes, there are expected reforms, and without kids, we may not get the result immediately, but what is expected from the government is that whatever policy you are bringing, there must be a cushioning effect so that people would not unnecessarily suffer.

“People have suffered enough. If he had done it that way, nobody would have accused Tinubu of ill-intention to balkanise the country or govern against any section of the country. He is very exposed and not a local champion. But sometimes, it is one thing to come up with a policy, but the implementation might not go well with the people.

“The North is angry with the government, but the government still has another opportunity in less than two years to turn things around. So, some of us are not in a hurry to conclude that Tinubu might not be of any good to the north. We know the journey is rough. Let us give him some benefit of the doubt and encourage him.

“If he doesn’t do anything that will positively impact the lives of the people, some of us can gang up against him and put our vote where we know we can get better treatment. We will sit down with all stakeholders, arrive at a conclusion, and look for alternatives. Right now, it is too early to conclude that Tinubu has failed.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a stringent penalty of ₦150 million on Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) found guilty of supplying mint naira notes to currency hawkers.

Naija News reports that this move is part of the apex bank’s efforts to curb illegal trade and ensure the effective distribution of cash to the public.

The announcement follows the CBN’s clarification regarding the continued use of old ₦1000, ₦500, and ₦200 notes as legal tender.

A statement from Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Sidi Ali Hakama, reaffirmed that these denominations remain valid following a Supreme Court ruling on November 29, 2023.

The CBN also cautioned against the hoarding of cash.

In a circular signed by Acting Director of Currency Operations, Mohammed Olayemi, the CBN expressed concern over the rising prevalence of mint naira notes being sold by hawkers.

The bank described the act as a serious obstacle to efficient cash flow and access for citizens and businesses.

The circular, which referenced an earlier directive issued on November 13, 2024, revealed the CBN’s intensified efforts to address the illicit trade of the naira.

The directive warns that any DMB branch found culpable will face an initial fine of ₦150 million. Subsequent violations would attract even stricter sanctions, in line with the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to reports that its chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, died in London.

INEC said contrary to the report, Mahmood Yakubu is hale and hearty. According to his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Professor Mahmood has not travelled to London in the last two years.

It read: “Our attention has been drawn to a fake news narrative circulated by a section of the social media claiming the purported death of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a London hospital. The story first appeared on Monday, 9th December 2024.

“We hereby appeal to the public to disregard the rumour. Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty. In fact, he has not travelled to London in the last two years. He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.

“He also chaired the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday 13th December 2024.

“The public may recall that mischief-makers on the social media carried a similar fake story in 2021. Three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.

“Those who indulge in this practice, as well as those who spread it, should be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society.”

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has vowed that the party will capture Rivers State in the 2027 elections.

Naija News reports that Ganduje made this declaration while inaugurating the newly elected state executive of the APC, led by Chief Tony Okocha, in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

Acknowledging the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South region, Ganduje highlighted the party’s recent gains in Cross River and Edo States, signaling that Rivers was next on their agenda.

The APC Chairman explained that unlike past practice where state executives were inaugurated at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, the decision to conduct the ceremony in Rivers was a strategic move to strengthen the party’s grassroots connection.

Ganduje said, “Traditionally in APC, the inauguration of a state chapter is usually done at the headquarters of the APC in Abuja.

“But as part of the changes that we are introducing, we decided to inaugurate these elected committee members here in Rivers State so that our party is rooted to the grassroots. So that there is no dichotomy between the national executive and the state exco.”

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has made a fresh appeal to the people of the North to continue supporting the government of President Bola Tinubu.

According to Sani, the north voted massively in the 2023 elections to bring Tinubu to power and shouldn’t turn their backs on him after making him the President of Nigeria.

The former lawmaker urged the region to support the reforms of the Tinubu government amidst reports of opposition from the region on the controversial Tax Reform Bills introduced by the current administration.

Naija News reports Sani made the submission during an event, as seen in a video circulating on social media.

He added that President Tinubu has given the North several major positions in his government.

The former federal lawmaker also observed that the North is blessed with many natural resources.

Finnish authorities have frozen the assets of self-proclaimed Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, amid allegations of his involvement in terrorism-related activities.

Ekpa, who has been in detention for several weeks, is being held at the Kylmäkoski prison, a high-security facility renowned as one of the world’s toughest prisons.

The Finnish government has also frozen the assets linked to companies associated with Ekpa and four of his alleged accomplices, who are also being held in remand.

According to Yle, a Finnish media outlet, Ekpa is expected to remain in detention throughout the Christmas and New Year periods, as Finland’s legal system does not allow bail for suspects facing such serious charges.

Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, Mikko Laaksonen, confirmed that Ekpa would remain in custody, emphasizing that bail is not an option under Finnish law for terrorism-related offences.

The Kylmäkoski prison, located in Vanhamaantie, Akaa, Finland, is a maximum-security facility built in 1993 to house male prisoners.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.