The major headlines in mainstream newspapers today, Friday, March 1 are focused on the scramble for ministerial appointments following the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, the meeting between Abdulsalami Abubakar’s National Peace Committee and Atiku Abubakar and the declaration by Adams Oshiomhole that the APC will meet Atiku in court over the outcome of the presidential election.
Kicking things off, This Day reports that the jostle for ministerial appointments by outgoing and prospective ministers have begun, following a hint by the special adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, that President Muhammadu Buhari might dissolve his cabinet before the May 29 terminal date for his first term.
Adesina gave the hint during an interview on Thursday morning, February 28.
He said the president might dissolve his cabinet before May 29 to pave the way for a fresh team that would help him navigate the new tenure he won on Saturday, February 23.
He said: “One thing about governance is that the first mandate was for four years and it lapses on May 29, and shortly before May 29, the president is likely going to officially dissolve government, that is the way it is usually done – he says thank you to everybody he has called to work with him and then, he dissolves that government officially.
“Then when he is inaugurated for a second term, he now reconstitutes government. He appoints his personal aides, he forms the cabinet, he appoints people to fill other positions.”
Front page of ThisDay, Friday, March 1
Source: UGC
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On to Punch, and the publication reports that General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), a former military head of state; the Catholic bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, and other members of the National Peace Committee held a meeting with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others in the meeting included: Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and Rev. Fr Atta Barkindo of the NPC secretariat.
Peter Obi, Atiku’s running mate; Senate President Bukola Saraki; PDP chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara; and other PDP leaders also attended the meeting.
According to the publication, the meeting was convened following Atiku’s decision to go to court to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.
Front page of The Punch, Friday, March 1
Source: UGC
Mirroring the previous publication, The Guardian reports that the leaders of the National Peace Committee met Atiku Abubakar in Abuja on Thursday, in a move targeted at dousing tension in the country.
The closed-door meeting was reportedly held in Atiku’s Asokoro residence.
According to the publication, the meeting was convened barely 24 hours after Atiku rejected the outcome of the presidential election.
Abdusalami, speaking shortly after the meeting, said the committee’s mission was to douse the tension that was rising as an aftermath of the presidential election.
Front page of The Guardian, Friday, March 1
Source: UGC
Moving on to Vanguard, and the publication reports that the All Progressives Congress has said that it is ready to meet Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in court whenever he makes good on his threat to challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court.
The party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, said: “You cannot possibly deny anyone the right to dispute the outcome of an election, however free and fair, but like myself, when I believed I was cheated out, I went to court and I mobilized my evidences.
“So, we hope and we are looking forward to meeting Atiku Abubakar in court. We might also choose to also cross-petition because there were many areas we can dispute.”
The publication adds that the presidency also stated that it is not perturbed by Atiku’s decision to challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court.
Front page of Vanguard, Friday, March 1
Source: UGC
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Rounding things off, The Nation also reports that Adams Oshiomhole has stated that the APC is ready to meet Atiku Abubakar in court.
Speaking at a press conference, Oshiomhole said Atiku was destined never to be president.
According to the former Edo state governor, Atiku was desperate to be president and had been jumping from one party to the other to actualise his ambition.
He said it smacked of arrogance for the former vice president to believe that the destiny of Nigerians is tied to his being president, stressing that Atiku and his party were never committed to the peace accord as they believe that the election was free and fair only if they won.
Front page of The Nation, Friday, March 1
Source: UGC
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