The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abdulsalami

  • Off-season polls: Old ways still persist, says Abdulsalami panel

    Off-season polls: Old ways still persist, says Abdulsalami panel

    • Adebayo urges INEC to review elections

    The National Peace Committee (NPC) yesterday said old styles of voter intimidation, vote-buying, voter apathy, among others, characterised last Saturday’s off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.

    The committee said it was unfortunate that corrupt Nigerians continued to collude to stall the nation’s electoral processes.

    It advised Nigerians to learn from the experiences the elections elicited to make future polls less flawed.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as well as his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were re-elected.

    In Kogi State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced APC’s Usman Ododo as the governor-elect.

    Reviewing the elections in a statement by its Chairman and former Heald of State, General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, the committee lauded the efforts by several stakeholders to ensure that the elections were free, fair, and credible.

    But the panel decried some cases of corrupting the electoral process.

    “We are not unaware of the glitches recorded during the elections. Sadly, we have noted that some of the old ways remain and ordinary people continue to collude with corrupt members of society to stall the processes of our elections.

    “The persistence of the culture of vote-buying, intimidation, voter apathy, among others, are disturbing.

    “A democratic culture will only grow if we participate in cleaning up the process of our elections because in the end, we are the victims.

    “The corruption of the process will lead to the emergence of corrupt leaders, if we collude with merchants of corruption.”

    Read Also: Perform or get sacked, minister tells NDDC board

    Also, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the February 25 presidential election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has berated the INEC over the conduct of last Saturday’s off-cycle elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. 

    Adebayo said the elections ought to have been simple, considering the fact that it was only in three states, unlike what was obtained in February and March when elections were conducted in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The SDP stalwart gave the electoral body seven days to review the results of Kogi election or be perceived as unserious about conducting credible elections.

    “INEC has a window between now and the next seven days after the elections to review this process. Otherwise, what we are having will just be a system where people take it for granted that the INEC is not serious about electioneering; that it is not serious about credibility as it is there to waste everyone’s time.

    “Under the new Electoral Act, INEC has seven days to do a review and we are giving and assisting them with all information to ensure they listen to other people, including the observers. I believe INEC should review it,” he said.

  • We’ll surmount challenges, emerge stronger, says Abdulsalami

    We’ll surmount challenges, emerge stronger, says Abdulsalami

    A former Head of State, Gen.  Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) has predicted that Nigeria will surmount its challenges and emerge stronger in the comity of nations.

    He spoke yesterday at the launch of a book titled: “The Making of Modern Nigeria: From Precolonial Era till Date” published by The Sun Publishing Limited in Abuja.

    Gen. Abdulsalami, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that although the country had been through a lot, the future was bright.

    “A few days from today, our country will be celebrating its 63rd Independence anniversary. It has been 63 years of continuous efforts at making the country better and for us as a nation to achieve our full potential.

    “We have seen the good. We have seen the bad. And we hope for the best in the future.

    “Nigeria is, no doubt, going through some challenges. No matter what we think or say, this prevailing atmosphere of faltering steps, great anxiety, and recriminations is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is a global phenomenon.

    “The good news is that we have all it takes to surmount our challenges and press forward for a better Nigeria.

    “To make this happen, all hands must be on deck to change our trajectory and make it possible for Nigeria to have its pride of place in the comity of nations,” he said.

    Read Also: Protest rocks Osun govt secretariat over planned imposition of monarch 

    In his view, the first step for the much-desired progress was to examine how the past was charted, stating that was where the unveiled book became auspicious.

    The elder statesman said his generation had played its part in the making of a modern Nigeria and that it is for today’s and future generations to play their roles in “the making of a supersonic Nigeria.”

    Keynote speaker Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said a new Nigeria where citizens have unfettered freedom to realise their God-given potential is possible.

    Uzodimma, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Placid Njoku, said it was possible to achieve a country where different peoples can live together as one nation bound by law, to accommodate and respect each other as brothers and sisters.

    He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fashioning well-thought-out policies to ensure that the problem of poverty and unemployment would be addressed.

    In his address, the Editor-in-Chief, the Sun Publishing Ltd, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, described the book as “a work that tells the Nigerian story, highlighting different aspects of our national life. It talks about events, people, institutions and places. It is a book on Nigeria by Nigerians,” he said.

    The Chairman/Publisher, the Sun Publishing Limited, Mrs Neya Kalu, added: “The Making of Nigeria cannot begin without taking note of our history and this is what this book was created to achieve.”

    Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged Nigerians to see their diversity as a strength.

    He spoke while inaugurating phase two of the newly completed Glory Drive dual carriageway, a 10.2-kilometer road project in Bayelsa built  by the Governor Douye Diri administration.

    The road, which stretches from Igbogene to Onopa in the Yenagoa city centre, was conceptualised by former President Goodluck Jonathan when he was governor of the state.

    According to the state government, the project cost N30 billion.

    The Sultan said he was proud to be associated with Diri’s success story in the state’s development.

    “This is the second time that I’ve visited Bayelsa since 2001, that is 22 years ago, and I’m very impressed with the level of development that has taken place in the state,” the respected royal father said.

    “I am happy to be part of this history in the commissioning of this road project. God has put you in this position to serve the people. You are their servant,” the sultan told the governor.

    Responding, Diri vowed that his administration would never play politics with the development of the state, adding that the Glory Drive project was not only for supporters of his People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Labour Party (LP) but for the generality of the people.

    He explained that the road was conceived during the Jonathan administration under which he served as commissioner.

    Diri noted that upon assuming office in 2020, he decided to re-award the road contract to the Chinese construction giant, CCECC.

  • Maritime sector well positioned as alternative source of revenue – Abdulsalami

    A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, wants Nigeria to develop alternative sources of revenue to oil and believes  the maritime sector is one such good source.

    Speaking ahead of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Maritime Awards, scheduled for today, Abubakar  also commended efforts by the agency to motivate stakeholders and staff.

    This, according to him, would help them take advantage of the policies in place to invest and grow the economy.

    “It is time to develop other alternative sources of revenue for the nation and the maritime sector is well positioned to do so. What NIMASA is doing in the industry and the awards are quite in line to motivate stakeholders and staff to take advantage of the policies in place to invest and grow the economy,” Abubakar said.

    On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the successes recorded so far in the maritime sector were as a result of the cooperation of the stakeholders in the industry with the agency.

    The DG added that the award was part of the efforts to celebrate and reward excellence in the Nigerian maritime industry and to also encourage more local participation in the shipping business as well as draw attention to the vast opportunities in the sector for both foreign and local investors to grow the blue economy, which is now the focus of global investments.

    “As an agency, we recognise the role of our stakeholders in our drive to realise a robust maritime sector. Without the stakeholders, there will be no NIMASA and by extension, no maritime industry. We are therefore hopeful that in the coming years, we will continue to work assiduously to meet the yearnings of the industry as we hope to engage more in collaboration, so that all of us can boast of a robust maritime sector,” Dakuku said.

    The event, which is scheduled for Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, is expected to attract dignitaries from all walks of life, among who are Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is billed to chair the event, and the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who is the host.

  • State of the nation: Let’s not push our luck too far, Abdulsalami warns politicians

    Former military head  of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar ,yesterday issued a clarion call to the political elite to save the country from sliding into complications.

    Abubakar said Nigeria is already in dire straits and warned that no effort should be spared to pull it away from more danger.

    “The warning signs are there that things could get worse for the country if not properly managed. It is time to put our house in order. We must not carry our luck too far,” he said  in Ibadan at the  maiden edition of  the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Foundation Peace Lecture .

    “Nigeria is being battered from different fronts but we are a strong nation. Otherwise, the story would have been different by now,” he added at the lecture organized by the Abdulsalami  Abubakar Postgraduate Hall students of the University of Ibadan.

    He said that while disagreement  is normal in every society or nation,it is more important to find means of resolving such disagreements peacefully.

    His words: “Peace is not the absence of disagreement. Every normal society must have disagreements.

    “This is because we are not born alike, we don’t think alike, we don’t talk alike. Even twins do not operate   alike. Hence, there is nothing wrong with people having disagreements. What is expected is that when we have disagreements, we would find peaceful solutions to the issues.

    “In other words, it is difficult to imagine a Nigerian society in which the groups would not disagree with one another. It is foolhardiness for us to be looking forward to a Nigerian society in which the religious, ethnic or political groups in the country would have no reasons to disagree with one another.

    “The nations that flourish are ones in which people are ready to face the realities around them by investing sufficiently in finding peaceful solutions to the problems besetting them. What is expected is that the issues would be easily discussed and resolved peacefully.”

  • Abdulsalam cautions against politics of bitterness

    Former military Head of State Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar yesterday enjoined politicians to shun politics of bitterness and hatred.

    Abubakar made the call after the Eid el Kabir prayers at the Minna Central Mosque.

    “Nigeria’s political space is been needlessly heated up by politicians, enduring political culture can only be built when politicians adhere to the rules of the game,’’ he said.

    He noted that leadership comes from God therefore politicians should understand that God bestows same on whomever He wishes.

    According to him, with such understanding, the prevailing issue of do-or-die politics should not arise in our country.

    The former military leader said that there were lots of positive developments in the Nigeria political scene,showing that the country was growing politically.

    “The coming 2019 general elections will be a test case that Nigeria’s democracy has come of age,’’ he said.

    He advised citizens to put aside their differences by ensuring hitch free polls come 2019 in order to develop Nigeria.

    Abubakar urged Muslims to imbibe the exemplary life style of Prophet Muhammad and the lessons of Eid el Kabir by living in peace with people of other faith.

    Chief Imam , Minna Central Mosque Malam Isa Fari, called on Muslim faithful to internalise and practice the core lessons of the festival which essentially reinforces the spirit of sacrifice, tolerance, sympathy, devotion to duty, and the promotion of harmonious coexistence.

    Fari urged wealthy Muslims to assist the needy and vulnerable in the spirit of love and brotherhood of Islam.

  • Abdulsalami leads Commonwealth election mission to Pakistan

    THE Commonwealth has appointed Nigeria’s former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), as the head of the Commonwealth Mission to observe elections in Pakistan.

    The Commonwealth Secretariat, in a statement by its Media Division, said Secretary-General Patricia Scotland would deploy Abubakar to lead other eminent persons from across the Commonwealth regions.

    The statement read: “The Secretary-General will deploy a Commonwealth group to observe the forthcoming general elections in Pakistan, scheduled for July 25.

    “Led by Nigeria’s former Head of State, the Commonwealth Observer Group comprises eminent persons drawn from across the regions of the Commonwealth, with distinguished backgrounds in law, election administration, diplomacy, human rights, civil society, politics and media, among others.

    “The mandate of the Group is to consider the factors that affect the credibility of the electoral process as a whole.

    “Members will form a judgement on whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which all Commonwealth member states have committed themselves, with particular reference to the Commonwealth Charter, national election-related legislation and other relevant regional and international commitments.

    “The Commonwealth Observation Group is to act impartially and independently.”

     

  • Buhari, Abdulsalami, govs, others grace Dangote’s daughter’s wedding

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday  attended the grand wedding of Fatiha, daughter  of  business tycoon, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and her groom, Jamilu Abubakar, in Kano

    The  groom is a son of former Police Inspector-General, Muhammad Abubakar.

    The wedding took place at 12 noon at the Emir of Kano’s palace.

    It  was conducted by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and supported by the Chief Imam of Kano, Prof.  Sani Zaharaddeen.

    Buhari, in his capacity as the bride’s father, received the N500,000 dowry from the representative of the groom at the occasion.

    Other important personalities that graced the occasion include former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara as well as some senators, governors, ministers and traditional rulers from across the country.

    Others were former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), members of the business community, politicians and members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

    The event, which was also attended by prominent Islamic scholars and other well wishers from across the country, witnessed a large turnout of workers from various companies owned by the renowned business mogul.

    Security at the occasion was tight as all the entrances leading to the palace were cordoned-off by heavily armed security operatives.

     

  • Agriculture holds key, say Osinbajo, Obasanjo, Abdulsalami

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, yesterday said that agriculture will take Nigeria out recession.

    They urged Nigerians focus more on the sector.

    According to Prof Osinbajo, a sustainable growth in agriculture has an important role to play in the government’s economy diversification policy and the food security drive.

    Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday in Minna at the Niger State Investment Summit, believed that Nigeria could feed 50 per cent of the Africa if it can harness its agricultural potentials.

    He said that the Federal and Niger State governments have been collaborating to reposition the state to feed the nation, urging other state governments to harness their agricultural potentials.

    He commended the state government’s measures in attracting investors and harnessing its economic potentials, urging it to do more to compliment the federal government’s efforts, especially in infrastructural development.

    Chief Obasanjo said that only agriculture can take the nation out of recession, saying that the sector can sustain the nation, create jobs and the wealth needed to make the nation great again.

    He said: “If we have anything to take us out of recession and to lift Nigeria. It is agribusiness and not oil or minerals because it is the renewable business that we can do to sustain us and give us all the job creation and wealth creation we need in the country.”

    The former President, however, called on the Federal Government to draw up policies that would reduce the interest rate being charged by banks on loan-seeking farmers, adding that the interest rates were killing agriculture and agribusinesses.

    “There is need for available of fund and the rate of loans to farmers should be conducive for agribusiness.

    Charging of double digit interest rate by banks has caused the failure of agriculture in the country”, he said.

    Gen. Abubakar urged the banks to look into their interest rate and come up with rates that would be friendly to farmers to encourage agricultural development.

    He described as encouraging that agriculture was taking the centre stage in the country. According to him, food would soon cease to be a challenge as investments in agriculture would have addressed it.

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Muhammadu Abubakar III described the struggle for power devolution in many quarters as unnecessary.

    According to him, those advocating the devolution of powers should exert their energies on the devolution of the economy.

    Governor Abubakar Sani Bello described the summit as a paradigm shift of the economy from oil revenues to agriculture facing the challenges.

    He expressed optimism that the summit would open the state to the global community and showcase its potentials of investment opportunities.

  • Ghanaian President, Abdulsalami for Defence college graduation

    The National Defence College, Abuja, will graduate 133 Officers of Course 25 and mark its Silver Jubilee on August 4.

    Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar will deliver lectures.

    Commandant Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade stated this at the weekend when he unveiled activities lined up for the 25th anniversary celebration.

    According to him, the graduation ceremony will be reviewed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Gen. Abubakar will deliver the anniversary lecture on June 16 and Mr. Akufo-Addo will deliver his lecture on August 2.

    The graduation will bring to 2001, the number of graduands trained by the college since its establishment in 1992.

    His words: “The current NDC Course 25, comprising 133 participants drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Service (DSS)…

    “Gen. Abubakar will speak on “Capacity Building for Defence Management: The Role of the National Defence College” while the Ghanaian President will speak on “Africa’s Economic Integration and Regional Security: An Assessment”.

     

  • Abdulsalami links national development to security

    Abdulsalami links national development to security

    A former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar has said there would be no meaningful development in any nation without adequate security.

    According to the former military president, security is important for the peace and progress of any nation.

    He spoke at the first National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Faculty of Social Sciences public lecture delivered by Prof. Hakeem Tijani of the Department of History and International Studies, Adeleke University, Osun State, in Abuja .

    The elder statesman who was the special guest of honour at the event, reminded Nigerians particularly politicians who are fanning the embers of division and war through their utterances to have a rethink and promote things that would strengthen the fragile peace and unity of Nigeria.

    According to him, the individual and collective ambitions as well as the entity called Nigeria would not exist if crisis or major war was visited on it, suggesting a paradigm shift in security system of the country considering the new wave of crime and criminality that had caused tears and pains in many countries of the world.

    Abdulsalami said: “Certainly, security in any house, in any nation is very important for the peace and progress of that nation. But without security, there won’t be a house, neither would there be a nation, not to talk of its citizens.”

    In his lecture titled: Nigeria in Transition: Interrogating the nexus between human capacity development, labour union, education and national security, Prof. Tijani said Nigeria had been able to overcome the shaky and uncertainty that trailed its existence as a nation through collaboration with security agencies.

    According to him, the transition to a developed economy in Nigeria was predicated upon its success in mitigating forces that hindered security, peace and unity.

    “The transition to a developed economy in Nigeria is predicated upon its success in mitigating forces that hinders security, peace and unity. The mix of human capital development and labour union education are significant in prospecting for national security as the nation transition into permanent peace, unity and development.”

    “The urgency for human intelligence to eliminate the sporadic militant and terrorist attacks in the hot spot areas across the nation, and the collaboration with neigbouring nations and international agencies are better coordinated than ever before. The shaky and uncertainty of the corporate existence of Nigeria in the past seems to have been overcome. With quick and coordinated response by the NSCDC and other forces, the assurance of peace and tranquility is better than before.

    “Training of personnel and the provision of other essential requirements have empowered law and civil enforcement agencies like the NSCDC and the police to mitigate the damages of the few, but dangerous militants and terrorists, within the nation.

    NOUN Vice Chancellor Prof. Abdalla Adamu, highlighted the importance of the lecture.

    Prof. Adamu, who was represented by a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, added that the lecture served as a veritable platform to periodically examine all facet of Nigeria’s national life particularly as it concerns transition as a nation.