Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Saturday morning

Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning:

1. The Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) has denied receiving any directive from the government regarding the suspension of subsidy payment on Kerosene. The acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said that even if such order was given, it was not communicated to the various departments for implementation.

2. The Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has said that despite his victory in the recent Supreme Court judgment which upheld his victory as the governor of the State in 2011, there is still no victor no vanquish, stressing on the need for everybody to join his administration in order to develop the state.

3. What would have resulted into a major air disaster was averted on Friday as one of the engines of an Ibadan-bound plane from Abuja allegedly caught fire few minutes before takeoff. The passengers had raised the alarm over the development before the Pilots quickly opened the emergency exit to evacuate all passengers on board. No casualty was recorded in the incident.

4. Also in the news is a fresh allegation levelled against the immediate past Police Commissioner of Rivers State, Joseph Mbu. Report says Mbu had prior to his redeployment released six suspected armed men who were arrested in the state on January 3, 2014, with seven AK47 rifles, 164 rounds of 7.62mm, special live ammunition, 10 live magazines and six locally made cannon launchers. It was reported that Mbu set the suspects free based on a directive from the nation’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan. The armed thugs were allegedly working for two Lawmakers from the state.

5. The statement credited to the Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State chapter, Mr. Tiwe Orunimighe, that President Goodluck Jonathan had failed the youth of the country, remains very visible in today’s news headline. The Chairman said that despite that Jonathan hails from the region; he was not able to live up to the people’s expectation, advising Bayelsa youth to shun ethnic politics and vote for the right person come 2015.

6. It was an unbelievable site at Abeokuta yesterday when a woman identified as Mama Friday was allegedly raped and slaughtered by a four-man gang who allegedly stormed her home at Oniyanrin area of the town. Report says four persons have already been arrested in connection with the death of the 50-year-old mother of five.

7. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had through its Publicity Secretary; Olisa Metuh accused the APC of using its nationwide registration exercise to plot for the failure of INEC in the 2015 general elections. Metuh said while the nation’s leadership was working hard to solidify all arrangements towards a successful free and fair election, the APC was plotting to frustrate the said effort.

8. The Police authority yesterday denied speculation that the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Rivers state was transferred due to the ongoing political quagmire in Rivers state. The Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar and the Chairman Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro at separate statements said that the redeployment was a routine one and had nothing to do with the crisis in Rivers state and the role of the police in the crisis.

9. Former Minister of Youth and Social Development, AlhajiInuwa Abdulkadir has condemned a statement recently credited to Minister of Information, Labaran Maku where he described Aliyu Wamaku as shameless for his continuous movement from one party to another. Abdulkadir is of the opinion that Maku’s statement was derogatory and an insult to the Fulani race.

10. Lastly this morning, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has cautioned Senate President, David Mark against attempt to frustrate the defection of 11 PDP Senators to the All Progressive Congress (APC). Fayemi had asserted that Mark Lacks the power to stall defection of party members to another political party, saying that the matter was purely and clearly a constitutional one.