Today's National Newspaper Headlines/News - 21/5/2015

Good Morning!

PUNCH

*I Conceded Defeat To Prevent Crisis – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election because of his desire to keep the country away from conflict.

He said having been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years, he knew the enormity and cost of conflicts and would not want Nigeria to witness such.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted the President as speaking while receiving members of the African Ambassadors’ Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit to his boss at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he would always be committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and Africa.

Jonathan added that his decision to concede defeat was to show example to the world that democracy could survive and thrive in Africa without conflict.

The President said, “I believe that character matters in leadership. And it is not just about who becomes the President of a country, but somebody has to be there and the person needs the support of all to succeed.

“I made a choice to keep the country away from conflict.

“I have always advised other African leaders that we will need to have a country before we can have the ambition to become President.

“We don’t have to expose our people to deaths because we want to stay in power. Some people hold on to power, may be, for fear of the unknown.”

***14 killed In Ekiti, Plateau, Benue Mayhem

FOURTEEN people were killed in separate violence that rocked Ekiti, Plateau and Benue states on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Three of the deaths were recorded in Ado Ekiti during a clash between transport workers and Hausa traders   while six were   in Plateau State where     gunmen invaded four villages in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The third incident which was also by gunmen left five persons dead in Jooter, Ukum Local Government Area of   Benue state.

The Ado Ekiti fracas was said to have started building up on Tuesday night when   a bag belonging to the wife of a chieftain of the road transport workers was snatched by unknown persons along the ever-busy Ijigbo-Old Garage area of the city.

The victim was also allegedly raped, a development that irked the drivers who, engaged the Hausa in a fre-for-all in Erekesan Market, Oja Oba in the state capital.

An eyewitness said the victim’s husband reported the matter to his colleagues after his efforts to   identify the perpetrators failed.

He added that butchers who, are mainly Yoruba, fought on the side of the Hausa against the transport workers whom they accused of undue harassment and unprovoked attacks.

“The fighting was made worse by hoodlums who joined the transport workers. They were fighting with   guns, bottles, charms, clubs, cutlasses and knives. At least three people died. Some were also injured,” he told one of our correspondents.

In Plateau State, it was gathered that the attack on the four villages in Barkin LGA – Jong, Lobirin, Rabuk and Zim – was a reprisal by some armed youths for similar incidents   in some Fulani communities.

The Punch gathered in Benue State that about 10 gunmen in a Toyota vehicle shot sporadically at people at a drinking spot in Jooter, Ukum LGA, killing five of them.

The gunmen were said to be looking for a target who was said to have gone to the place to have a drink.

An eyewitness who did not want his name in print said that the “target” was   among the injured.

The state Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Austin Ezeani, who confirmed the incident,     said that   three people were killed and five critically injured.

***Agbakoba And legislators’ Bogus Pay

Chief Olisa Agbakoba’s case against the bogus emoluments being received by the National Assembly members has generated some reactions. Agbakoba is a human rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. And so the case he intends to file in the court against the federal lawmakers may only serve the purpose of public awareness just like the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi was doing during the military era. This is not the first time that a concerned and a well-placed citizen of this nation would draw public attention to the atrocities being perpetrated in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

It will be recalled that the current Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, first blew the whistle in 2012 when as a Governor of the Central Bank he revealed that not less than 25 per cent of the nation’s annual budget was being used to cater to a National Assembly of about 500 members. And of the remaining 75 per cent, the executive arm of government ensures that the recurrent expenditure supersedes the capital expenditure even as high as 65: 32 ratio in favour of the former.

Some people have written copiously on this obnoxious and contentions issue in the past just to awaken the conscience of the federal lawmakers. But the status quo has not changed. Rather, they are becoming more daring in appropriating a larger chunk of the nation’s budgetary allocations to themselves. No thanks to some members of the National Assembly leadership who want to be life/permanent members. These are members who are returning to the National Assembly for the fourth or fifth term instead of seeking another vocation in manufacturing or agriculture in order to reduce unemployment and thereby boost our national food security.

***Speakership: I’m Not Tinubu’s Candidate, Says Gbajabiamila

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, denied on Wednesday that he was the candidate of National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the speakership of the 8th Assembly.

Gbajabiamila, who is one of the leading contestants for the number four job, spoke in Abuja as he met with Peoples Democratic Party members-elect in continuation of his campaign for the position.

Other contenders include Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr. Yakubu Dogara; Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Mohammed Monguno; Chairman, Committee on Finance, Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin; and Mr. Pally Iriase.

However, the race has lately narrowed down to Gbajabiamila and Dogara, seen as the front runners.

Speaking specifically on being Tinubu’s candidate, the Lagos lawmaker said he was often surprised when he heard or read about such insinuation.

He stated that, having led the opposition for eight years in the House, he wondered how people came about the idea that he did not have the capacity to lead the House unless he relied on Tinubu to make a case for him.

However, he admitted that prominent Nigerians, including the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, had pleaded with Tinubu to support him, but that he did not give them any answer until a few weeks back when the APC leader said “ maybe this man (Gbajabiamila) has some appeal.”

*Mu’azu, Anenih cave in to pressure, resign

*NLC, protesting workers ground activities at NIPOST

*Court nullifies Benue lawmaker-elect’s victory for forgery

*Ekiti kidnap: Falana asks IG to transfer police officers

*Two siblings found dead in Ibadan

*579 soldiers facing court martial –Army

*Rivers’ Assembly complex to reopen May 31

*NJC bars judges from presenting books, accepting gifts

*Unpaid wage comment: You’re ignorant, Aregbesola tells ex-HOS

*Military lifts curfew on Maiduguri

*Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat averted evil – Fashola

*Nigeria loses N5tn annually to oil theft, others

*ASP arrested for raping college student

*Nigerians groan as power, petrol supply worsens

VANGUARD

*Security guard dies after winning drinking, smoking bet

*Senate c’ttee vice chair advocates subsidy removal, deregulation

*Jonathan approves 2015 budget

*Court stops Police from harassing Saraki over alleged bank loan

*House Speaker: Bid to change rules suffers setback

*The Senate needs an incorruptible leader — Sen Lawan

THIS DAY

*Mu'azu, Anenih Resign As PDP Seeks Rebirth

*With Three More Plants NIPP’s Capacity Could Hit 4,700MW, But No Gas

*Boko Haram: 579 Officers, Soldiers on Trial in Abuja, Lagos

*In Sierra Leone, Kid Survivors of Ebola Dying of Hunger, Committing Suicide

*The Village Headmaster Femi Robinson Dies at 75

*Re-organisation of NNPC, Removal of Oil

*Subsidy, Job Creation Top Agenda at APC Policy Meeting

*Jonathan to Hand over Ministries, Agencies Briefs to Buhari May 28

*Nyanya Bomb Blasts: Judge to Determine if Accused Made Statements Under Duress

*Court Orders INEC to Nullify House of Rep-Elect's Return Certificate

*Secondus Now Acting National Chairman of PDP

THE NATIONS

*Two found dead in Ibadan

*U.S. varsity names Dare emeritus prof

*Take drastic decisions in first 100 days, Blair advises Buhari

*Mu’azu quits as PDP chair after losing Jonathan’s support

*Fayose - Mua'zu's exit, good for party

*Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousins in Bayelsa

*Anenih resigns after NWC’s ‘curious’ letter

*APC, lawyers fault Fed Govt on Wike’s swearing-in

*Acceptance ‘ll determine House of Reps’ Speaker, says Jibrin

*Varsity honours Agric Minister Adesina

*Union alleges plot by Chidoka to recruit aides into agencies

*Jonathan seeks global support for Buhari

*FEC upgrades five institutions to varsity status

*National Theatre’s board rejects concession

*Court stops IGP, others from arresting Saraki over disputed bank loan

*Senate eulogises Chukwumerije, Zannah

*Be governors of example, Atiku tells APC governors-elect