Today's National Newspaper Headlines/News - 6/4/2015

Good Morning and Happy Easter Monday!

THE NATION

1• Obasanjo to Nigerians: re-enact March 28 feat on Saturday

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians not to relent in their quest for change with the election of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 polls.

Obasanjo asked them to re-enact the same feat of March 28 by coming out en masse to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday.

The former president spoke to reporters at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shortly after a surprise visit to traders at the popular Itoku market.

Obasanjo, in what was seen as endorsement of APC, said: “They should do exactly what they did last Saturday.  As a member of the community, I have the right to visit my people, especially in the spirit of Easter.

“Since I came back, I have not really visited any market. I have come to do two things. I have come to give them Easter greetings and to find out how they are doing in their market.

“This is my community. As a member of the community, I want to know what’s going on and what’s happening in the community.”

2• Buhari leads APC’s battle for Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, others

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has a packed schedule this week. He is leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigns in some “battleground” states to lend his popularity to the push by APC candidates.

He is scheduled to visit Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Nasarawa and Benue states.

Others on the programme are Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Adamawa, a source told The Nation last night.

Ahead of his campaign trips, which will likely be in town hall format, Gen. Buhari has already called on Nigerians to vote APC candidates all the way.

The president-elect will be in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday. Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the APC, in a statement signed by his Media Adviser Sam Onwuemeodo, said Gen. Buhari will be given a “heroic” reception at the Heroes’ Square, where he will address residents.

The governor, who held a thank-you rally in the state, to appreciate the people for their unalloyed support, noted that Imo people contributed significantly to the resounding victory.

The governor urged the people to turn out  en masse to receive Gen. Buhari irrespective of their political affiliations, adding that “in the new emerging order, everybody will be carried along and people will not be discriminated against on grounds of their political leaning”.

3••Integrity Alone Is Not Enough To Fight Corruption - Bakare Tells Buhari

Pastor Tunde Bakare

The General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Sunday in Lagos cautioned the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, against appointing persons with questionable character into his government.

Some of these people, the cleric said, were among those who facilitated Buhari’s success on March 28.

Bakare, who was the running mate to Buhari in the 2011 Presidential election on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, said this at the 26th anniversary of his church. He delivered a message titled, ‘Democracy audit: chances, choices and consequences.’

The 60 year-old pastor urged Buhari to start the fight against corruption from his circle and lay a good example, saying change cannot be achieved if these were not done.

He said, “I congratulate Nigerians; we have chosen a man of integrity as our President. But integrity is not enough to run a government.

“May the good Lord surround the President-elect with men and women of goodwill, great intellectual capacity, competence and character to help restore our wasted years.

“I pray sincerely that not all those who facilitated his winning the election will be among those who run the government. I did say before the election that I trust the person of General Buhari but not all those around him.

“I mean every word of it because many of them are nothing but Ali Baba and 40 thieves. And if these are the same who would go into government, you can’t fight evil with evil. You can as well kiss the anti-corruption stance of Mr. President-elect goodbye.”

Bakare prayed for Buhari to have the needed wisdom and strength, noting that people were already submitting applications to him to serve in the incoming administration.

“You don’t know how many applications are in my phone. I am not the Vice-President; I am not looking for a job. They said ‘we know General Buhari listens to you; if I cannot get Minister of Works, maybe I will get Minister of Aviation’.

“The vultures are now going round and round. If he does not have quality people around him, then they will put round pegs in square holes and within two years, we are back to square one.”

The cleric saluted INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega for his leadership and “comportment in the face of grave accusation and provocation.”

He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, noting that he had written his name in gold.

Meanwhile, a former Chaplain of Aso Villa during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Reverend William Okoye, has called on Buhari to reduce the cost of governance by reducing the number of political offices in the country. --- Punch

**I’ve been in cage for 16 years, says Jonathan

*Police restore Ekiti speaker’s security

*APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes, says Kwankwaso

*Asiwaju, a quintessential democrat, says Obioha

*Impeachment, ploy to distract me, says Fayose

*Rivers youths bust ‘INEC officials’ thumprinting ballot papers

*Pope worried about bloodshed in Nigeria, Iraq, others

*Transition: Jonathan halts signing of amendments to constitution into law

*African leaders meet on Boko Haram

*Task ahead not easy, says The New York Times

*Borno pastor : I didn’t beg Oritsejafor over N7bn bribe

*Kumuyi: Buhari must not fail Nigerians

*Jega, Jonathan, Buhari heroes of democracy, says Bakare

Aso Villa Chaplain: Jonathan lost nothing

North’s governors to citizens: be patriotic

Saraki: we need socio-political resurrection

PUNCH

*‘302 Reps won’t return to House in June’

*I’ve been in a cage for 16 years –Jonathan

*Saraki, Akume, Goje, others eye Senate Presidency

*Only card reader’ll be used for gov poll –INEC

*Oyo PDP begs supporters ahead of April 11

*Jega’s committee never met with us -Rivers APC

*PDP plans to hijack gov poll, say APC youths

*‘PDP’ll resist plot to remove Rivers REC’

*I didn’t sack Ambode, says Fashola

*Buhari’s victory no threat to us – PDP

*Lagos has done well under opposition – Agbaje

*Don’t be vindictive, group tells Buhari, Osinbajo

*President seeks reconciliation after presidential poll

*‘Buhari’s assurance to Jonathan shouldn’t derail anti-corruption war’

*Generator fumes kill man, wife in Ogun

*Midnight fire destroys 27 shops in Abia market

*Ekiti youths beat BEDC officials

THIS DAY

*Buhari’s Transition C’ttee to Comprise Politicians, Private Sector Members

*UNHCR: Chibok Girls May Have Been Slaughtered in Bama

*Vote for Ambode or Perish Inside the Lagoon, Oba Akiolu Tells Igbos

*Al Jazeera Journalists Released

*Jonathan: I am the Luckiest Nigerian

*Kwankwaso: Lamido, Aliyu Committed Political Suicide by Staying in PDP

*TAN Denies Plans to Endorse Ambode

*CP Beefs Up Security in Ekiti over Impeachment Plot against Fayose

*Prepare More for Guber Election, NHRC Advises INEC

*Military Detention: Buhari Thanks Emir of Borgu, Others for Forgiving Him

*Fani-Kayode: I Still Hold Jonathan in High Esteem

*Rivers: Khana Youths Apprehend INEC Officials Thumb-printing Ballot Papers

*Harassment by Police will No More Exist in Rivers, Says Amaechi

*Ogun PDP Bickers over Payment of Salary Deductions to Workers

*After Shift in Nigeria, Entrenched-party Rule Faces Test Elsewhere in Africa

*ICAN: Lagos will Benefit from Ambode’s Experience, Leadership Skills

*Buhari Must Not Lay Off Workers, Says LP

*Kwara Muslim Stakeholders Urge Buhari to Rule with Fear of God