NEWSPAPER REVIEW: Olubadan’s Stool Crisis And 2016 Budget Dominate Front Pages

Nigerian major newspapers today, January 21, focused on the controversial 2016 budget and the crisis over the new Olubadan of Ibadan. 

The age-long smooth ascension to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland appears to be under threat as a two top Ibadan chiefs have laid claim to the coveted throne, The Punch reports.

While the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, as the next in rank to the late Olubadan, anticipates his installation as the next Olubadan, the Otun Seriki of Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, says he is the ‘‘next Olubadan’’.

Oyediji warned the kingmakers, the Olubadan-in-Council, not to flout what he called a 1989 ruling of the Supreme Court by installing Adetunji as successor to the late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, who died on Tuesday at the age of 101 years.

The Punch front page today

According to Daily Sun, it was jubilation galore at the residence of Adetunji, at Alusekere Compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, on Wednesday. Hundreds of people stormed his residence to rejoice with him.

The traditional drummers were doing what they knew how to do best. Congratulatory messages reverberated from the traditional talking drums, accompanied by good music. Many of the well-wishers danced admirably to show their joy.

Some of the women were sighted singing in Yoruba language: “Oye naa ko o le wa, o di koro.” (The position of Olubadan has come into our family). It was observed that policemen have been deployed to Adetunji’s residence to maintain law and order.

Daily Sun front page today

Meanwhile, senators were yesterday, January 20, sharply divided along party lines on the feasibility of the 2016 Budget on many counts, especially the oil price benchmark of $38 per barrel as they began debate on the Appropriation Bill presented to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While senators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), hailed the proposal and said it could put the country on the path of socio-economic recovery and growth, their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), colleagues picked holes in the budget, describing it as far from the envisaged change mantra of the government.

Speaking at the plenary, some APC senators argued that the budget was geared towards fighting corruption and diversification of the economy. But others, especially of the PDP described the budget as dead on arrival and should be returned to the president for amendment as they called for a reduction of the budget by 30 per cent and a downward review of the oil benchmark, Vanguard reports.

Vanguard front page

The Guardian reports that the debate in the Senate was characterised by shouting matches among senators who, however, ‎agreed over the threat posed by the country’s shrinking revenue as well as her rising debt profile while the House of Representatives pledged speedy passage.

In the Senate, lawmakers were worried about how the Federal Government can fund the N6.08 trillion budget with a loan of over 50% of that amount . The deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, in contributing to the debate was very categorical on the fact that the budget was too large and seriously out of tune with the country’s economic realities . He said the budget portrayed Nigeria as a country in prosperity whereas the contrary was the case.

Ekweremadu submitted that government should look inwards and find ways of generating funds to finance the budget instead of relying on borrowing which he described as an attempt to mortgage the future of Nigeria.

The Guardian front page tody

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Mustafa Magu spoke yesterday on the fight against corruption, saying it will be unsparing.

Besides, the EFCC boss agreed that the rate of convictions in corruption cases may be low, but he is sure that more looters will go to jail this year, The Nation reports.

The anti-graft czar, fondly called The General, said every stakeholder seems to be more serious about fighting corruption. “From all indications, the judges are more serious, everybody is cooperating and this year, we will see more politically-exposed persons convicted. We will flush out corrupt people.”

The Nation front page today

 

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