The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aso rock

  • Ogun governor-elect, deputy meet Buhari at Aso Rock

    Ogun State governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, and his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, after receiving their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission at Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house, Abuja. They were in Aso Villa to appreciate the president’s support and encouragement before, during and after the guber election.

    According to reports, the president enjoined the duo to work hard towards further developing the state and not to betray the people’s trust in them, noting that there is much work to be done in Ogun State. Abiodun and his deputy, in turn, solicited the support of the federal government as they promised to work for the overall development of the state.

    Present at the visit was the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba. The duo also used the opportunity to pay a thank you visit to the vice president, Professor Yemi Osibajo, as well as the national leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of their parleys with APC leaders in Abuja.

    They also visited and held talks with the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, and another prominent leader of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, at various locations in the nation’s capital. The APC leaders advised them to run a true government of the people so as to salvage the current debacle in the state. They urged them to listen to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state in a bid to fulfill the party’s manifesto

  • Why I observe juma’at prayers in Villa – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said his decision to observe Juma’at prayers at the Presidential Villa and not the National Mosque in Abuja, is to prevent the constraints and inconveniences presidential movements may cause to the people.

    The President was responding to a request by a delegation of Imams and Senior Islamic Scholars from all States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory led by Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, the Murshid, National Mosque.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, explained: ‘‘Regarding your request for me to be attending Juma’at prayers in the National Mosque, I implore you to note that I personally started observing Juma’at prayers in the State House to reduce hardships which people may pass through.

    ‘‘As you all know, Presidential movements require roadblocks and other attendant restrictions, which could subject worshippers and other people to a lot of difficulties,’’ the President told the Islamic scholars who were at State House to congratulate him on his overwhelming victory at the February 23 presidential election.

    Read Also: I’ll leave Nigeria better than I met it, says Buhari

    President Buhari welcomed the counsel of the Islamic scholars on the teachings of the Prophet about the obligations of leaders towards their subjects, and vice-versa.

    The President thanked them for their prayers and support for his administration, assuring that the administration will leave no stone unturned in addressing the security challenges facing the country.

    Congratulating the President on his re-election, Prof Galadanci noted the victory demonstrated the desire of the majority of Nigerians to ensure the continuity of the administration to the Next Level.

    He prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the President the ability to continue with the ‘‘excellent work’’ he is doing for the country.

    Highlighting noteworthy achievements of the Buhari administration in the area of security, agriculture and the fight against corruption, the leader of the group urged the President to remain focused while praying Allah to continue to give him the power to ‘‘annihilate and wipe off’’ pockets of terrorists in the country.

  • Buhari, CAN leaders meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    The meeting, which started around 11am, was held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    While the group is expected to congratulate the President for his reelection at the closed doors meeting, it may also make some demands towards the development and progress of the country.

    Read Also: Buhari meets Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

    Among those at the meeting included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari meets Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and security heads at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was expected to deliberate on the security situation in the country.

    The security heads are also expected to present regular briefing to the President who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.

    The Service Chiefs at the meeting were, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin, Chief of Naval Staff,  Ibok-Ete IIbas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar were represented at the meeting.

    Read also: Health workers to Buhari: Don’t appoint only doctors as Ministers of Health

    Also present were the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, Director General, Department of Security Service, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu and the Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.

    At the end of the meeting, none of them spoke with State House correspondents on discussions at the meeting.

    Also no official statement was issued at the time of filing this report.

  • Breaking: Osinbajo, Fayemi, Yari meet in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday evening met behind closed doors with two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors were Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State.

    They met for about thirty minutes behind closed doors.

    When approached after the meeting, they simply told State House correspondents that it was a private meeting.

    Read Also; How Tinubu led ACN to reclaim lost states in 2007, by Osinbajo

    But it was gathered that the Court of Appeal in Abuja would on Thursday night deliver judgment in the Ekiti governor dispute case.

    The Ekiti State Election Tribunal had in January delivered judgment affirming the victory of Kayode Fayemi of APC in the election.

    Appeal Court had also nullified APC primaries in Zamfara State.

  • Buhari meets Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and security heads at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was expected to deliberate on the security situation in the country.

    The security heads are also expected to present regular briefing to the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.

    The Service Chiefs at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete IIbas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges to restore dignity of retired public servants

     

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar were represented at the meeting.

    Also present were the National Security Adviser Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; Director General, Department of Security Service DSS Yusuf Bichi; the Acting Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu; Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report

     

     

  • Buhari, service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with service chiefs.

    The meeting started at the President’s office in the State House around 11am.

    Discussions at the meeting would likely dwell on the security situation in the country and how to ensure maximum security in states where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting rerun election on Saturday March 23.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Updated: Buhari, Mbaka meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Catholic Priest and Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    The closed doors meeting was held at the President’s office.
    Mbaka, before the 2015 general elections had predicted that President Buhari would defeat the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    Read Also; Ex-VP to Buhari: the world is watching you

    The priest, who arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa through the security gate in a BMW car, maroon colour, had passed through the same way and in the same vehicle at the end of the closed doors meeting.

    He left the Villa before journalists could get to him.

    No official statement has been issued on the meeting as at press time.

     

    Details soon…

  • Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 4.30p.m when the President returned to the seat of power after attending a function at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

    A similar meeting was also held on Friday 4th of January, 2019 shortly after the Jumma’at prayer at the State House mosque.

    Idris was expected to retire from service on attainment of the mandatory 35 years in service on the 15th of January, 2019.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Abdullahi Ibrahim at 80

    Idris was appointed by President Buhari on 21 March 2016 to replace Solomon Arase, who retired from the police force on 21 June 2016.

    The 59- year old Ibrahim Idris enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari meets Ooni, Yoruba monarchs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and representatives of traditional rulers from the South West at the State House, Abuja.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Ooni said the meeting had nothing to do with politics.

    He said the meeting was to tell the President the importance of including more youths and women in government and to thank him for what he has been doing for the South West.

    Ooni also said the meeting was to ask for more developmental projects for the zone and appreciate Buhari for the cordial relationship between him and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is from the South West.

    Speaking further on their mission to the State House, with the general elections fast approaching, Ooni said: “We are not here for politics.

    “We are father to all, very close to our people; the only politics we understand is politics of development.

    “We are here to talk about development for our people in all the states of the south western Nigeria.

    “We are here to point out the good things Mr. President has been doing especially the cordial relationship with the Vice President who is from the south western part of the country.

    “Historically we know the issues of presidents and Vice Presidents in Nigeria, we have not experienced such.

    “We are here to further request from Mr. President good things that we want in our various states. When you are doing good, we will first of all appreciate the good things before asking for more. What is critical for us here is to champion development for our people.

    “We spoke about the inclusion of youths in the current government and also women inclusion.

    “In terms of demography of voting pattern, we know that everything rests on the shoulders of Nigerian youths, we want to see them in this cabinet.

    “So we are here not to be misconstrued for politics, we are here to be identified with development and progress of our nation more especially south west.”

    He advised youths to ensure they vote according to their consciences and not allow themselves to be used by the political class to cause trouble during the elections.

    He also said the country was bigger than any President, stressing that a President has a maximum of eight years to stay in office while the country will always remain.

    According to him: “Even we traditional rulers that are very fortunate to still be alive, we have experienced many presidents.

    “Many governors, a president cannot use more than eight years that is in the constitution of Nigeria.

    “So, Nigeria is greater than the president. Your maximum tenure is eight years.

    On the demands they made before the President, the Ooni said: “We have already passed our demands across, each state has peculiar needs.

    “What is critical is that south west accommodates everyone in the country.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Godwin Abbe at 70

    “That is the only zone that you can call a typical Nigeria because is a blend of everybody, all the tribes of this nation you will find them in the south western Nigeria.

    “So as result, we play pivotal role in anything that has to do with decision making in Nigeria.

    “As a zone we are even the second largest in terms of voting demography and numbers.

    “So critically south Western Nigeria plays a very vital role and we as traditional rulers we are the ones to douse the tension.

    “We don’t pray for any tension but we are ready, we have all decided to work together to douse any tension. Whoever that comes is the grace of God,” he said

    According to him, President Buhari recognized the pivotal role of the South West and its relevance in the nation’s polity.