Without you we won't die, PDP replies Obasanjo - Newspaper review

The headlines of mainstream Nigerian newspapers for Tuesday, October 17, are focused on Nigerian politics, Paris Club refund and corruption allegations against Patience Jonathan.

Vanguard reports that the Senate, yesterday, ordered banks to, as a matter of urgency, unfreeze accounts belonging to former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.

According to the Senate, the accounts were frozen without specific restriction orders from any competent court of law and some of the accounts were frozen based on administrative lapses.

Vanguard Newspaper

The Punch reports that the Peoples Democratic Party has said that it will not force former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return as its member.

It said it would respect the decision of the former President, but added that whether he returned or not, it (the party) would not die.

Obasanjo had on Tuesday vowed never to return to the party, saying he would rather remain a statesman, working for the interest of the nation.

The Punch Newspaper

ThisDay reports that the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said that they would abide by the party’s constitution in choosing a candidate for the 2019 presidential election, adding that no discussion has been held on an automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was the outcome of the meeting of the governors of the party and its national executive held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja Wednesday.

ThisDay Newspaper

The Guardian reports that the House of Representatives yesterday ordered an immediate reversal of the termination of the contract between Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Adopting a motion sponsored by Diri Duoye under matters of public importance during the plenary session presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the House resolved to raise an ad-hoc committee to ascertain if due process was followed before the termination of the contract.

The House thereby directed the authorities to maintain the status quo ante pending when the committee would turn in its report in two weeks. While leading the debate on the issue, Douye (PDP: Yenagoa: Bayelsa), remarked that there was the need to ascertain whether the termination of the contract was not in breach of the law.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

The Guardian Newspaper

The Nation reports that the state governors are not begging the federal government for money, but asking to be paid the Paris Club refund, which is their entitlement, a governor said yesterday.

Bauchi state governor Mohammed Abubakar said the president’s statement to the governors at a meeting on Tuesday was part of his usual concern for the plight of workers. He did not see it as an indictment of the states’ helmsmen.

The governor said: “Don’t forget, this is money that belongs to us. We are not begging for anything, but demanding what belongs to us and that it should be paid to us.”