The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aso rock

  • Soludo, Fayemi visit Aso Rock

    Soludo, Fayemi visit Aso Rock

    The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo and the former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi were separately sighted at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.

    Soludo, who wore a cream- colored kaftan, signed the visitors’ book and went to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, ‎Alhaji Abba Kyari around 5:30pm.

    Although it could not be confirmed if Soludo met with President Muhammadu Buhari, but his visit came at a time the President is reportedly concluding work on the list of ministerial nominees he would be sending to the National Assembly this month.

    Soludo had been quite critical of the financial management of the economy by the Jonathan administration, accusing it of supervising the leakage of N30 trillion from the system.

    He was also engaged in a war of words with former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who expressed reservations over Soludo’s criticism of the last administration.

    Fayemi, who was in a dark – colored kaftan with a cap also entered the Chief of Staff’s office about 30 minutes after Soludo.

    The two men waited for the Chief of Staff because he was in the President’s office when they entered the State House.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two leaders met in a closed meeting for about one hour at the President’s office.

    Details of the meeting were unknown as at the time of filing this report.

    Obasanjo declined to speak to reporters when Buhari escorted him to his vehicle around 4:17p.m.

    He simply told repoters: “Comot joo”

    Buhari on August 21 named Obasanjo as his special envoy to mediate and find a solution to the crisis brewing in Guinea Bissau.

     

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The two leaders met in a closed meeting for about one hour at the President’s office.

    Details of the meeting were unknown as at the time of filing this report.

    Obasanjo declined to speak to reporters when Buhari escorted him to his vehicle around 4:17p.m.

    He simply told repoters: “Comot joo”

    Buhari on August 21 named Obasanjo as his special envoy to mediate and find a solution to the crisis brewing in Guinea Bissau.

     

  • Lalong in Aso Rock to plead for suspended Immigration boss

    Lalong in Aso Rock to plead for suspended Immigration boss

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong yesterday met President Muhammadu Buhari on the suspension of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang.

    Parradang was suspended last Friday and directed to handover to the Deputy Comptroller-General, Martin Abeshi.

    The suspended Immigration boss, who was seen at the Presidential Villa in company of the governor, however, kept away from reporters.

    When Lalong was briefing reporters, Parradang, who wore a blue kaftan, hid in the aides-de-camp waiting room, close to the President’s office where he waited for the governor.

    Addressing State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari, Lalong said although investigations into the issues that led to the suspension of the Immigration boss had begun, it was necessary for him to show concern and that was why he visited the President.

    He said: “I came to see the President on some issues affecting my state.

    “I feel comfortable with the response I got and this is why I am smiling. I told him what we are doing on insecurity.

    “I also came because of the suspension of the comptroller-general of Immigration, who incidentally is from my state. When you have issues as this in a political period, you must find ways of looking for reasons. If anything affects any part of your body, you must show concern.”

    Lalong added: “Paradang’s case is still under investigation. A man was suspended and he is from Plateau State. It is my concern because I’m the governor. For every appointment, we must show concern, no matter how small.

    “The President is handling it. At the end of the day, whatever is the outcome, I will agree with it. But I also need to get some explanations as the governor.”

    On insecurity, the governor said: “There are pockets of crises in Jos, especially between the Fulani and the Berom.

    “Because of this, I set up a 13-man committee and I put credible people in the committee. While the committee was still sitting, crisis erupted again in some parts of that area.

    “We still have cases of cattle rustling and farm destruction in the southern part. But in the last one week, we have taken good measures. Security agencies are working well in terms of arrest.”

  • Buhari, Jonathan meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Jonathan meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting held inside the President’s official residence.

    President Buhari met former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the same venue on Friday.

    The details of discussion at the meeting with Jonathan on Thursday were unknown as at press time.

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, however confirmed the meeting.

    President Buhari also met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal together on Friday night.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on friday evening met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They met behind closed-doors at the President’s official residence.

    Details of discussions at the meeting is unknown as at the time of filing this report.

    But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed that the two leaders met at the Aso Rock.

  • Nigerians write Buhari as he resumes duty

    Nigerians write Buhari as he resumes duty


  • Buhari’s wife hosts APC women in Aso Rock

    Buhari’s wife hosts APC women in Aso Rock

    The wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari on Saturday hosted Nigerian women and youths of the All Progressives Party (APC) at the State House Conference Centre in the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    The dinner is believed to be in appreciation of her husband, Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the March 29 Presidential Election.

    The dinner was held few hours after President Buhari left Nigeria to South Africa for the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg.

    The venue was filled to capacity as women across the country including wives of state governors under the platform of the APC graced the occasion.

    The women in their hundreds were conveyed to the state house in large capacity buses owned by the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA.

    Most of the guests who attended the event were had special invitations and appeared in their best attires.

    Some of guests could not get seats because of the high turn out at the occasion.

    Among those who attended the dinner are the APC women leader Hajia Ramatu Tijani, former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi.

    Others include wife of the Imo State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, Wife of the APC national chairman, Victoria John Oyegun, wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives Gimbia Dogara, wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki.

  • Jonathan, BoT members meet at Aso Rock

    Jonathan, BoT members meet at Aso Rock

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday night met with other members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 9.05 p.m when Jonathan arrived the Banquet Hall of the State House venue of the meeting.

    While the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it is expected to discuss, among other issues, replacement of the BOT Chairman following the resignation of its immediate Chairman, Tony Anenih.

    Among those who attended the meeting are the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, Acting National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus.

    Others include former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, PDP Women National Leader, Kema Chikwe, former Minister of Defence, Bello Mohammed, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu.

    Also at the meeting are the Chief of Staff to the President, Jones Arogbofa, Senator Hope Uzodinma, BOT Secretary, Walid Jibril, former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih,

    The meeting was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • North’s gov’s N2bn mansion unsettles Aso Rock

    North’s gov’s N2bn mansion unsettles Aso Rock

    •House overlooks seat of power            

    •Anti-graft agencies may intervene

    There are security concerns over a N2 billion mansion overlooking the Presidential Villa, just completed by an outgoing governor from the North.

    The mansion is said to be built at an elevated point within the precincts of the Villa, making the seat of government vulnerable to “espionage” from the governor’s comfort zone.

    It was not clear if the governor would be asked to remodel the new residence, be subjected to an undertaking or be placed on surveillance.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the governor had acquired the choice plot, said to be worth over N1 billion, in anticipation that he might play a key role if President Goodluck Jonathan was re-elected.

    It was gathered that the governor had planned post-office life in such a manner that his residence would be a stone’s throw from the seat of power, but his dream crashed following the loss of the March 28th poll by the President.

    Findings however revealed that the new mansion of the governor had been a security issue even before the general election.

    According to a top source who spoke in confidence, the mansion was erected on an elevated level that “gives a view of movement in and out of the Presidential Villa.”

    The source added: “The over N2 billion posh residence poses a security worry because with sophisticated equipment, the governor, as from May 29, can conduct some surveillance on the Villa depending on his political leaning or mischief.

    “No one is comfortable with this development. Based on security audit, the elevation of the mansion is not good for the Presidential Villa.

    “If the governor compromises after leaving office, the residence can be used for espionage or any other challenge.”

    Another source however said: “I think the governor wanted to be a nominee for the Vice Presidential ticket but lost out to Vice President Namadi Sambo during the intrigues. It was in line with his target that he opted for a house near the Villa.

    “I think there are three options available to the governor. These are : to remodel or reconfigure the house, be subjected to a security undertaking or be placed on permanent surveillance.”

    It was however learnt that the governor had explained that the land was rocky and that was why it appeared the “elevation” is a bit higher.

    “The house was built with the best of intention and not for any political or pecuniary gains. The Villa itself presents a scenery of an undulating landscape.

    “Take a look at the Presidential Villa’s neighbourhood, many ex-governors, permanent secretaries, senators and others have houses there, “ a top source added.

    At press time, it was gathered that the governor might be probed by anti-graft agencies on the billion-naira mansion at a time it was difficult for his state to pay some entitlements of workers who have retired from public service.

    An anti-graft source said: “The house is worth over N2 billion. The governor might be investigated after May 29 when he will no longer enjoy immunity from trial.”