The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aso Villa

  • No vacancy in Aso Villa till 2031, says minister

    No vacancy in Aso Villa till 2031, says minister

    The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has said there is no vacancy in the home of the President, Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, until 2031.

    Atah said the Presidential Villa will still be occupied in 2027 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The minister was reacting to what he called a pernicious campaign of outright distortion, falsehood and malice, sponsored by those who lost out in the political machinations surrounding the last general election.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister refuted the narrative by “some elements, particularly from the APC, PDP, and Labour Party (LP),” that the North’s population opposed President Tinubu’s administration and would, therefore, not support his re-election bid in 2027.

    Attah said: “This claim is not only baseless; it is disrespectful to the genuine sentiments and aspirations of millions of northerners who have benefited from the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Read Also: Tinubu meets Kwankwaso’s ally Jibrin at Aso Villa

    “As the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, I wish to set the record straight: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa in 2027.

    “The insinuation that northerners have ‘closed ranks’ against President Tinubu is a deliberate misrepresentation designed to foment discord, stir regional prejudice, and undermine national cohesion.

    “It is instructive to recall that since May 2023, President Tinubu has pursued an agenda that is demonstrably inclusive, strategic, and geared toward regional balance.”

    The minister, who hails from Kano State, noted that, despite inheriting severe security deficits, President Tinubu has engaged vigorously with the hydra-headed challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, deploying new strategies, reinforcing security frameworks, and working hard to restore confidence.

    “Indeed, northern stakeholders themselves have publicly acknowledged improvements in security and infrastructure under his watch.

    “On the economic front, the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates (among other reforms) have unlocked critical fiscal space for state governments and local governments.

    “More resources are now available for development at the grassroots, while autonomy for local government areas ensures that local priorities are addressed promptly.

    “President Tinubu’s tenure has also seen a steady acceleration of infrastructure projects across the North,” Atah said.

    He confirmed that Islamic clerics, religious leaders, traditional rulers, cultural stakeholders, and influential civil society personalities have lent their moral authority and backing to President Tinubu’s candidacy for 2027.

    Attah said: “To the northern people, I say: do not be swayed by the false rhetoric of failed and retired politicians whose only agenda is to reclaim access to the public purse.

    “Their smear campaign is a smoke screen for their irrelevance and opportunism. Instead, weigh the record: the inclusion you see, the projects you see, and the benefit you feel.”

  • That flurry of good news from Aso Villa

    That flurry of good news from Aso Villa

    The past week has been one of unusual optimism in Nigeria’s political landscape. For once, high-ranking government officials confidently stepped forward, highlighting what they perceive as significant strides made by the administration over the last year and seven months. This wave of positivity, however, came amid the persistent chorus of economic discontent from citizens grappling with daily hardships. It was also a week marked by a fierce war of words between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Their heated exchanges, laced with sharp retorts and acidic jabs, reflected the escalating tension of Nigeria’s political arena as 2027 looms on the horizon. Well, some people say it is all part of the intriguing politicking that is sure to lead to the next big election in 2027 when, barring last minute changes, Tinubu and Atiku may, once again, enter the political fray for the last throw of the dice at the Presidential seat. Already, the darts are flying and it appears nothing is being spared in a crazy deployment of foul, distasteful and un-statesmanlike language in pushing forth an argument. Since most of the points one was expecting to grasp from the series of pressers were mostly subsumed under the insults and brickbats, I would rather skip this discourse until such a time when both parties are prepared to truly address issues of bread and butter that would better the lives of the people they claim to lead, other than engaging in a contest of who has the highest capacity to demean the other.

    Back to serious matters, it was a week where The Presidency that has been pummelled and with truckloads of criticism found its voice and highlighted what it considered as major achievements that the ordinary eye may have neglected or completely ignored due to the angst over prevailing poverty. Beyond the political drama of elite competition for power and an opposition figure’s very determined bid to finally make good in 2027, attention shifted to the flurry of self-appraisals emanating from Aso Villa. After enduring months of harsh criticism, The Presidency launched a concerted effort to publicise its achievements and at the forefront was Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, who spoke on behalf of the President. Ribadu’s narrative painted a picture of triumph: improved security, an uptick in crude oil production, a sanitisation of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and a growing portfolio of foreign investments. His bold declarations—tinged with sanctimonious flair—spurred both applause and skepticism. While some many saw it as a much-needed morale boost, some viewed it as an elaborate exercise in political spin.

    Read Also; Sokoto: Lamido, Wamakko in supremacy battle

    Ribadu’s rhetoric was unequivocal. According to him, “Nobody ever dares Tinubu and wins.” He celebrated what he termed the “Tinubu gains”—notably the decimation of Boko Haram insurgents and a reinvigorated economic agenda. “Boko Haram is running out,” he declared, adding that crude oil production has climbed to 1.8 million barrels per day, while a revitalised Central Bank is now free from financial malfeasance. He highlighted significant reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s integration into global value chains.

    For many, these proclamations should serve as a beacon of hope. However, the juxtaposition of these triumphs against the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians invites hard questions.

    The skepticism is understandable. Experience has shown that declarations of victory over insurgents often precede news of fresh attacks. Ribadu’s figures—whether on crude oil production or the Central Bank’s operations—should inspire confidence, but they also demand verification. After all, didn’t we once trust the Central Bank under the previous administration, only to later learn of monumental fraud? Nigerians have grown wary of grandiose claims that fail to translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives. When Ribadu asserts that Nigerians can now move “free of fear,” it sounds true in many places but one wonders if this aligns with the reality faced by those in volatile regions still plagued by banditry, kidnappings, and violent crime.

    Ribadu’s assertion that “nobody dares Tinubu and wins” holds a kernel of truth in the political arena. Tinubu has consistently proven his resilience against formidable opponents. Yet, political victories are no substitute for economic transformation. The growing foreign reserves and $30 billion in new investments are commendable, but the critical question remains: who benefits? Why does economic progress feel so elusive to the average Nigerian?

    I repeat again that Ribadu is right about one thing: Tinubu has won all his political battles. Those who dared him are still licking their wounds. But there are some critical battles that he and indeed, the entire nation needs to win before it is too late: the economy is inflicting an unprecedented poverty on the majority of the people and they are not seeing the much-touted gains as being espoused by Ribadu and others in the government. As things stand today, it is clear that Nigeria’s economic realities – a result of accumulated inactions and wrong-headed actions in generous measures – is daring Tinubu to a fierce, gritty brawl while potent vestiges of long-entrenched insecurity waits on the queue as a clear and present danger. Collectively, the nation’s intelligence and security apparatus have decisively moved forward but in the battle against insecurity, nothing is good enough until total success is guaranteed. These are the battles the President cannot afford to lose and winning them require him to unleash a devastating, brain-resetting TKO on them and not just reeling out figures that some even complain about as being of less impact on their lives.

    As the administration celebrates its successes, it must address the widening gap between its narrative and the lived experiences of its citizens. Poverty, insecurity, and economic uncertainty have grown tap roots over the years and they remain daunting challenges across Nigeria today. Tinubu’s administration cannot afford to lose these battles. It must translate its policies into palpable changes that uplift the masses, not just in rhetoric but in reality. Winning this fight requires consistently bold, decisive action—a knockout punch against the entrenched socio-economic problems holding the country back.

    Will President Tinubu rise to the occasion, or will the drumbeats of blatantly mischievous criticism and long-drawn economic discontent drown out the symphony of “Tinubu gains”? Only time will tell.

  • Buhari to ministers: reduce backlog of 20m unemployed

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday urged the ministers to initiate policies that would reduce the unemployment rate in the country and make the economy buoyant again.

    He made the charge after administering the oath of office on the 43 ministers at the Aso Villa in Abuja.

    He said: “I am convinced that we can build a buoyant economy that supports inclusive growth and creates broad-based prosperity for every Nigerian – one that will absorb the two million Nigerians entering the labour market each year, as well as reduce the backlog of over 20 million unemployed or underemployed Nigerians.

    “We must also intensify efforts to reduce internal security threats and eliminate corruption at all levels so as to ensure that our citizens have a safe and corruption-free environment where they can live and conduct their businesses, without fear and intimidation.

    “All these are only possible if we are relentless about delivering on the priorities that are vital to our overall objectives – and on the specific actions and targets that have been identified to guide policy direction and implementation as specified in our roadmap.

    “I am pleased to note that at the end of the retreat, we have agreed and prioritised the key strategic initiatives required to drive socio-economic growth in our country, which must be accomplished, because the people of Nigeria expect nothing less from us. We have also agreed on the appropriate Key Performance Indicators and deliverables to be achieved in the Road Map on Government Priorities – 2019 – 2023.

    “Our primary business over the next four years is to work together towards delivering the results that the people of Nigeria expect from us.  We have a great opportunity as an administration to build on the progress already made in order to fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory on the path of steady growth and development.

    “While recognising the existing challenges, and the urgent need to surmount them, we must not fail to note the progress we have made since inception.  Our economic policy, which is the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), is still robust and on course with the necessary policies and initiatives to sustain the country’s exit from recession, engender growth and promote the value chain of infrastructural development.

    “We believe that we can sustain our legacies and developmental strides if they are based on sustainable policies and good governance.”

    For effective implementation, he urged the heads of the respective ministries to work closely with the permanent secretaries and chief executive officers of agencies under their purview.

    He said that it has become necessary because the task of moving the country to the Next Level requires dedication, focus, and collective efforts.

    The President added: “I must emphasize the importance of communication and harmony within our government. You must work in harmony with your fellow Ministers. Communication – vertical and horizontal can only be ignored at a price.

    “As I said yesterday, in terms of coordinating communication, kindly ensure that all submissions for my attention or meeting requests be channeled through the Chief of Staff. While all Federal Executive Council (FEC) matters be coordinated through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in order to speed up the process of decision-making.

    Read Also: Buhari retains Petroleum ministry

    “We can only make meaningful progress in our national restoration efforts if we all commit ourselves to addressing the challenges confronting our nation in the best interest of our people and posterity.

    “We must not allow such issues as political affiliation, sectional interest, and primordial loyalties to blind us against our patriotic obligation to drive our nation’s growth, development, and prosperity in an atmosphere of enduring peace, security and stability.

    “The FEC meeting is held on a weekly basis. As part of efforts towards ensuring effective delivery on our priorities, I have directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to track the progress against what we have committed to do to achieve these objectives.

    “He is therefore expected to report the process of implementation and outcome to the Federal Executive Council.

    “I am pleased to note that each of you is committed to be part of an administration that will work for all Nigerians—part of a government that will do what is right and best at all times for our people, even when it is difficult. This is therefore an opportunity for you, it is a call to serve and collectively build a safer, more prosperous, and fair nation.”

    Buhari said that the ministries have been further expanded to ensure effective service delivery.

    He added: “Today marks another milestone in the history of my second term in office. “Over the past four years, we have made enormous progress in tackling difficult challenges faced by the country. We have exited the country from recession, restored economic growth, curbed inflation and shored up our external reserves. As a result, we have witnessed eight quarters of consistent growth over the past two-and-a-half years, providing more opportunities to more Nigerians.”

     

     

  • Veteran Journalist Sunday Dare is new sports minister

     

    Veteran Journalist and former Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Sunday Dare, is the new Minister of Youth and sports Development.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, announced this Wednesday at the Aso Villa where he also swore in 42 other ministers and dished out their much awaited portfolios.  Dare who holds a Masters in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos replaces former sports minister Solomon Dalung who was not considered for re-appointment.

    Sunday Dare set for sports challenge in Nigeria

    A fellow of the Prestigious Harvard Nieman Journalism fellowship, 53 year old Dare is expected to hit the ground running as Team Nigeria is currently competing for laurels at the ongoing African Games in Morocco while many say preparation for the Tokyo Olympics next year as well as qualifiers for the next world cup Qatar 2022 are some of the issues that are likely to hit his table in a jiffy.

    Dare who is not a novice to broadcasting served as Chief, Hausa Service, and African Division at Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, DC between 2001 and  2009.

    Team Nigeria in action at the Games in Morocco

    In this capacity he managed multifarious portfolios. Other than managing the daily production of radio and online broadcast programs, he  designed and implemented the acquisition of modern Information Technology and Telecoms gadgets for production and distribution activities such as news-gathering, content storage, program distribution etc. to expand content capacity and reach; as well as increase existing target audience.

    In his early days as a Journalist, Dare multitasked as a correspondent with several foreign publications including The Nation magazine in New York; as well as working with the European backed Fourth Estate magazine as a production editor

    during the military interregnum in Nigeria. Other journalistic role Dare took on during the military era in Nigeria include being a pioneer member of the Nigerian weekly magazines The News and Tempo; serving as an Editor, Tempo magazine and pioneer Online Editor. He becomes the 35th Sports Minister in Nigerian sports history.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Electricity: Aso Villa becomes eligible customer

    In furtherance of the Next Level Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, the Federal Executive Council has given several approvals aimed at achieving more improvements in electricity supply and distribution in the country.

    Chief among the approvals, received over the last two FEC meetings from memos presented by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, is the Aso Rock Villa, the official residence of the President, which will benefit from the Federal Government’s Eligible Customer Policy as the Council approved a Distribution Expansion Programme to off-take part of the stranded 2,000 MW to provide dedicated power to the Villa.

    The Eligible Customer Regulation, which was issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in mid-2017, permits electricity customers to buy power directly from the generation companies in line with the provisions of Section 27 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 whereby Eligible Customers are permitted to buy power from a licensee other than electricity distribution companies.

    The approval, which was made at the FEC Meeting of Wednesday in Abuja, came as a response to a memorandum submitted earlier by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing seeking Council approval to include the Villa in the Distribution Expansion Programme earlier approved by the Council to enable 2,000MW of currently unutilized generation capacity to be distributed to targeted metered customers.

    The Minister’s Special Adviser on Communication, Mr. Hakeem Bello made this known in a statement today.

    The Ministry, according to the statement, had earlier obtained approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) following its letter to the Bureau intimating it of the Council’s approval of the Distribution Expansion Programme with the intention of the Ministry to procure civil works that would facilitate uninterrupted power supply to the Aso Rock Villa and curb the present erratic supply of power in spite of the availability of power by the Generation Companies (GenCos).

    The project to be executed by Messrs Dextron Engineering Limited, has a completion period of six months under the Distribution Expansion Programme. An arrangement has also been put in place such that a GenCo, North-South Power Company Limited

  • At last, enigmatic Fr Mbaka visits Aso Villa

    He had pined for a visit to Aso Villa for the past two years or more, and whined when it seemed far-fetched that he would ever again get to be with President Muhammadu Buhari, cavorting in the midst of power and in the sea of plenty. Last year, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu, had groaned that the president he supported during the 2015 presidential election had failed to gesture in his direction, not to talk of mending his ways and catering to the needs of the poor and hungry. If the president would not mend, said the furious priest, change would change both the president and his All Progressives Congress (APC). And following Fr. Mbaka’s rather curt response to the alleged niggardliness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate, Peter Obi, a former governor, APC strategists saw an opening to placate the whining priest, and invite him to once again luxuriate in Aso Villa’s ambience.

    Finally, last Monday, the Mahogany doors of Aso Villa were flung open to receive Fr Mbaka. He also got the photo opportunity with the president which he deeply coveted. His Adoration faithful will be satisfied, as if they need any further convincing, that their pugnacious and adorable priest rubs shoulders with the high and mighty in Nigeria. He had told them repeatedly that he frequently hears from God and perhaps sits in the Throne Room with God, hearing unspeakable things and being shown incredible visions. To dine before kings, after hearing from God, was therefore the icing on the cake and a favour to mortals.

    However, in recent times, after the much ballyhooed pronouncements with which he presumptuously blew away the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, he has become hugely controversial both in terms of his prophecies and his provocative comportment. He briefly dilly-dallied over whom to support between the two leading presidential candidates, hurled invectives at top politicians that drew his ire, and then finally appeared to have perched on the Buhari candidacy. With last Monday’s visit to Aso Villa, Fr Mbaka’s agenda seems to have been fully consummated. He did not disclose what he and the president discussed, nor did he need to, but it was never in doubt how his vacillations and ambitions conjoin on the altar of Nigerian politics. The president may have received him early in the week, but it is doubtful whether they did not understand him as much as the rest of Nigerians, minus his Adoration faithful, do.

    Hereunder are a few quotations from Undertow in the past few months as the columnist traversed the priest’s colourful impressions and statements, just to remind the reader, if not the Adoration faithful, that Fr Mbaka’s actions and statements and agenda should be embraced cautiously. His highs should be regulated with a step-down verbal transformer, and his lows should be received guardedly. For, after all, neither his fellow priests nor his supervisors who struggle to rein him in over the years, have had any success in moderating his self-righteousness and self-importance.

    Fr. Mbaka as imperious and doctrinaire as ever, December 8, 2018
    “The Catholic Diocese of Enugu is in a quandary about what to do with their obstreperous priest and spiritual director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. In January 2016, after the controversial priest had revelled in tons of political prophecies that drew the ire of the Goodluck Jonathan government, he was posted out of the Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu, where he started his ministry, to the lesser known Our Lady Parish, Umuchigbo, Nje-Nike.

    “No one can say exactly how the Diocesan leadership would treat the new controversy stirred by the ebullient and irrepressible priest. What could they do to keep him silent? He had once been posted from GTC, Enugu, to CKP, where in six months, according to some sources, he supervised the building of the church cathedral and parish house. He must have an unparalleled, albeit controversial, system of fundraising that delivered quick results. But his controversial statements led to what some interpreted as a punishing exile to a less attractive parish in Emene. Yet, neither the censure by the Diocesan leadership nor his transfer from parish to parish has dampened both his outlandish prophecies and his exceedingly candid but embarrassing portrayal of men in power. Nor has his baiting of politicians seeking electoral victory abated one bit.

    “He browbeat the Jonathan government, endorsed the Muhammadu Buhari candidacy, spoke searingly about many men in office, especially in the Southeast, and played ducks and drakes with the affections and gullibility of thousands who thronged and still throng his Adoration prayer grounds. If the Diocesan leadership thought that his transfer in 2016 would quieten his theology and dissipate his strength and followers, they were grossly mistaken. The eager dupes who flock to him cannot be dissuaded by anything, not even his flagrant and questionable methods of fund-raising, nor his abrasive, inordinate and sacrilegious putdowns.

    “Fr Mbaka’s latest sacrilege is his diminution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate, Peter Obi, a former Anambra State governor whom he described as stingy for refusing to disclose in what ways he would assist the Adoration Ministry. Fr Mbaka had invited Mr Obi to the annual harvest and bazaar celebration, and seized the opportunity to squeeze donations out of him. But the thrifty Mr Obi could not be cajoled into parting with anything, let alone announcing any gift on behalf of himself or former vice president Atiku Abubakar, to whom he is running mate in next year’s presidential election. Consequently, Fr Mbaka denounced him and predicted that his stinginess would cost him and his principal the election.

    “… So, once again, the Diocese will find themselves, despite their deep resentment of Fr Mbaka’s methods, proceeding with utmost caution. It is indubitable that the priest is wrong, unwise, recalcitrant and doctrinally inexact. They will therefore attempt to treat him severely, hoping that like what the punitive posting of 2016 attempted to do, the uppity and irreverent Fr Mbaka could be wearied into some form of unaccustomed silence or lethargy, or perhaps total compliance. Such outcomes, however, will jar against the priest’s DNA.”

    Father Mbaka’s controversial pronunciamentos, January 7, 2018
    “Fr. Mbaka’s Adoration faithful do not doubt that their priest hears from God. The Catholic hierarchy may be less taken in by his periodic fulminations and bombasts, but they have no doubt how influential the priest has become, nor how sometimes unerringly his prophecies cum judgemental political assumptions have turned out right. In his latest pronunciamento, Fr. Mbaka dismisses President Buhari’s anti-corruption war as barbaric and archaic, his style as indolent and ineffective, his presidency as entrapped by a cabal, and that, by his selective punishment of his opponents, he had become a purveyor of moral corruption. Then curiously, by a deft use of poetical statements, he admonishes the president to ‘change or be changed’. While leaving a little room for the president to change and presumably salvage his presidency, he also bizarrely discloses that God asked him to advise the president not to seek re-election.

    “It may never be known where, in all his diatribe against presidents, God stops and Fr. Mbaka begins, whether prophecies are at play in his verbal and prophetic explosions, or he is merely voicing his own private instincts. He has used some words that cannot be described as godlike, and he has passed on messages that make him appear to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. But whether it is his messages or instincts, he had in the past proved a somewhat accurate and deft reflector of the feelings and aspirations of the public. President Buhari is of course not popular in the Southeast and South-South, and his following in the Southwest is greatly tested, if not altogether unnerved. If Fr. Mbaka is simply mirroring these realities, he seems to be doing a good job of it. He, however, takes care not to ever burn his bridges when he conveys God’s messages, regardless of the extremeness of his prophecies. Indeed, his New Year’s Eve message is unlikely to have been influenced by the president’s New Year shocker which virtually shut the door against political change, whether it is called devolution or restructuring.

    “Fr. Mbaka will still speak before the general election, either to reiterate God’s message, as he describes it, or to countermand or modify it once he sees which way the cat is jumping. The country has definitely not heard the last from him. But notwithstanding the discomfiture his superiors in the Catholic Church experience over his hard prophecies, or the trusting naivety of his Adoration faithful, the priest will remain active in politics, as the Latin American Cardinal Obando surmised about liberation theology in 1996. The nimble Adoration Ministry priest will always leave himself enough room to be wrong and ample room to bask in vindication. In a county that has tragically become a gymnasium where promises and manifestoes do triple summersaults, Fr. Mbaka’s pronunciamentos will walk a tightrope gingerly, expertly, and remorselessly, sometimes guilefully right, and at other times impassively far-fetched.”

  • Photos: Buhari receives S/West Traditional Rulers in Abuja

    Traditional rulers from South West Nigeria, on Friday, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house, Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria.

    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, SGF Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja

    R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.

    . R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.

     

     

  • Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    The meeting took place at the President’s office 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 Thursday.

    A source yesterday said that the fate of the police boss will be known after the meeting.

    Read also: Minister charges grassroots canvassers to ensure victory for APC in Kwara

    “We are optimistic, but all will be known after this meeting,” the source said yesterday.

    Idris at the end of the meeting did not speak with journalists and no official statement yet on the latest development.

    Idris was appointed by President Buhari to replace Solomon Arase.

    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.

  • VP, ex-PDP Chair Muazu meet at Aso Villa

    Former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Muazu yesterday met with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The meeting, which was held at the Vice President’s office, lasted for about one hour.

    At the end of the meeting, he declined to speak with to State House correspondents on the purpose of his visit to the Villa.

    It was, however, gathered that the visit was to thank the Vice President, who attended the former PDP’s daughter wedding recently.

  • 78 to battle Buhari in race for Aso Villa

    There will be a long list of political parties on the ballot for next year’s presidential election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated that 78 challengers are facing President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16, 2019. Though the zoning arrangement favours a northerner to be president, Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI reports that majority of the candidates are from the South, with the Southeast and the Southwest dominating the contest.

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari faces a motley crowd of challengers in the February 16, next year election. The election is generating so much excitement among Nigerians, particularly in the social media. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 78 challengers have emerged to face Buhari in the race for Aso Rock Villa, the nation’s seat of power.

    So, there will be a long list of political parties on the ballot. But, ironically, the choices will still be limited, because the opposition is weak and fragmented. Most of the political parties are small parties that lack the nationwide structure to prosecute presidential elections. Small parties can succeed in making a big showing in a local election when they field popular candidates who will appeal to the electorate at that level, but in a nationwide contest, like the presidential election, bigger parties have better chances of winning.

    Despite being touted as the “third force” earlier, the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-backed African Democratic Party (ADP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could not muster enough support to challenge the dominance of the two major parties during the recent Osun State governorship election. The SDP came a distant third and could only play the role of the beautiful bride, helping the APC to win during the supplementary election that took place in seven polling units. Even in developed democracies, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, which equally have multiple political parties, the choice is usually limited to two parties or sometimes three – in the case of the latter.

    Nevertheless, the emergence of young and vibrant candidates like Donald Duke, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Fela Durotoye, Obadiah Mailafia, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Omoyele Sowore, Pastor Chris Okotie and others have raised the hope of Nigerians that true change can be witnessed in the near future, if the electorate can muster the courage to reject the old school politicians and vote for a young, detribalised and solution-centred candidate, without laying emphasis on his religious inclination and where he comes from. In this regard, it is noteworthy that with the exception of Mailafia all the above candidates are making a statement by contesting against the zoning sentiment that it is the turn of the North to produce the president in 2019.

    Thus, though the zoning arrangement currently favours a northerner to occupy the position, majority of the candidates contesting next year’s presidential are from the South; with the Southeast and the Southwest dominating the contest. Nevertheless, a great majority of the candidates are not in the race to clinch the plum job. Many of them merely want to add the phrase “former presidential candidate” to their long resume. Others are simply interested in using it as a bargaining chip to secure one political appointment or the other.

    The full list of candidates and their parties are as follows: Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Donald Duke, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Kingsley Moghalu, Young Progressives Party (YPP); Obiageli Ezekwesili, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Chris Okotie, Fresh Democratic Party (FDP); Hamza Al-Mustapha, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); Obadiah Mailafia, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Fela Durotoye, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN); Omoyele Sowore, Africa Action Congress (AAC); and Gbenga Hashim-Olawepo, Alliance for Peoples Trust (APT).

    Others are: Moses Shipi, All Blending Party (ABP); Samuel Eke, Green Party of Nigeria (GPN); Mark Emmanuel, United Patriots (UP); Hamisu Santuraki, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN); Moses Ajibiowu, National Unity Party (NUP); Nwokeafor Ikechukwu, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD); Aliyu Ibrahim, African People Alliance (APA); John Ilongwo, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP); Yunusa Tanko, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); Ike keke, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Yusufu Obaje, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP); Ize-Iyamu David, Better Nigeria Peoples Party (BNPP); Samuel Fagbenro-Byron, Kowa Party (KP); Rabia Hassan, National Action Council (NAC); Nnamdi Madu, Independent Democrats (ID); Tope Fasua, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP); and Obinna Ikeagwuonu, African People’s Party (APP).

    Also on the list are: Isaac Ositelu, Accord Party; Frank Ukonga, Democratic Alternative (DA); Shitu Kabir Advance, Peoples Democratic Party (APDP); Usman Muhammed, Labour Party (LP); Asukwuo Archibong, Nigeria for Democracy (ND); Chuks Nwachukwu, All Grassroots Alliance (AGA); Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA); Yusuf Yabaji,            Action Democratic Party (ADP); Nsehe Nseobong, Restoration Party of Nigeria (RPN); Chukwudi Osuala, Rebuild Nigeria Party (RNP); John Wilson Gbor, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Usman Ibrahim, National Rescue Movement (NRM); Sunday Eguzolugo, Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP); and Chike Ukaegbu, Advanced Allied Party (AAP).

    The list also includes: Umenwa Godwin, All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP); Isiaka Balogun, United Democratic Party (UDP); Lewis Abah, Change Advocacy Party (CAP); Babatunde Ademola, Nigeria Community Movement Party (NCMP); Ahmed Buhari, Sustainable National Party (SNP); John Dara Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD); Kriz David, Liberation Movement (LM); Isah Bashayi          Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN); Emmanuel Etim, Change Nigeria (CN); Habib Mohammed,                        United Democratic Party (UDP); Angela Johnson, Alliance for a United Nigeria (AUN); John Onwubuya, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP); Mashood Shittu                        Alternative Party of Nigeria (APN); Yusuf Dantale, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Ahmed Inuwa, United Party of Nigeria (UPN); Geff Ojinika, Coalition For Change (CFC); and Robinson Akpua, National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

    The remaining candidates are: Victor Okhai, Providence Peoples Congress (PPC); Dr. Olapade Agoro, National Action Council (NAC); Williams Olusola Awosola, Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC; Alhaji Ahmed Sakil, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Isaac Babatunde-Ositelu, Accord A; Alhaji Isa Bashiru, Advanced Nigerian Democratic Party (ANDP); Mallam Hussein Abubakar, Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA); Rex Adebanjo, Youth Party of Nigeria (YPN); Prof. Peter Nwangwu, We the People of Nigeria Party (WPNP); Eunice Atuejide, National Interest Party (NIP); Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); and Dr. Davidson Isibor Akhimien, Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN).

     

    Buhari

    The consensus of observers is that President Buhari is facing a tough re-election battle. Unlike four years ago when his emergence as the candidate of the APC generated a lot of momentum across the country, this time around he is expected to convince the electorate that he has acquitted himself well in his first term so far to secure their support.

    In other words, next year’s presidential election has been described as a referendum on the performance of the Buhari administration in the last three and half years. One of such observers, Chief Chekwas Okorie, puts it this way: “This is because the electorate would be looking at his achievements or otherwise during his tenure so far. So, it becomes a referendum in the sense that the number of people who think he has done well would be voting yes, while those who believe that he has performed woefully would be voting no, by voting for another candidate.”

    In this regard, Buhari is adjudged to have done well in some respects and performed woefully in others. For instance, the administration has gone a long way in its bid to diversify the economy through encouragement of agriculture, particularly the boost in local production of rice. The upsurge in local production of rice, it is said, has not only reduced the country’s food-dependency on other countries, but also narrowed the gap in the country’s balance of trade with other nations.

    The administration also appears determined to upgrade the country’s infrastructure. The Federal Government in March approved the transfer of about $650 million (about N198.9 billion) to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), as the initial funding for the take-off of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), including the Lagos-Kano Standard Rail Gauge project. The initiative is aimed at eliminating the risks of project funding, cost variation and completion that have plagued the development of the nation’s critical infrastructure assets over the last few decades. President Buhari has also been hailed for his courage in attempting to recover some of the country’s looted funds from key officials of the immediate past administration.

    On the flip side, the administration’s handling of the deteriorating security situation in the country has exposed it to ridicule than any other issue. It may have subdued Boko Haram insurgents. The terrorist group, which held swathes of territory across the Northeast in 2014, is not as strong as it used to be. But the administration has a more deadly group of terrorists on its hands, with the upsurge in the killings of so-called herdsmen in Benue, Taraba and elsewhere in the country. The continued detention of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, after he has been granted bail by the court several times, has also sparked a series of demonstrations in recently. Many Nigerians have showed concern about the way the protest is degenerating, particularly the reported shootings in Abuja The administration has been getting a lot of flaks for the increasing insecurity, because it failed to nip the crises in the bud.

    From all indications, many Nigerians that voted for the President in the last presidential election seem to be disappointed by his performance so far. Besides, the coalition that campaigned for his emergence four years ago also appears to have crumbled. For instance, the APC has been hit with a wave of defections in recent times. Within the political establishment, even within the ruling party, many had hoped that the President would opt out of the race. Some of the retired military generals who had been very influential since the aftermath of the 1967 to 1970 civil war, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Theophilus Danjuma and Ibrahim Babangida, had prevailed on Buhari not to run.

    But, since Buhari has the power of incumbency, he remains the candidate to beat, in spite of the challenges facing the ruling party.

     

    Atiku

    The emergence of Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku, as the candidate of the PDP at the recent national convention of the party in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has generated a considerable amount of interest among Nigerians. The man who was Vice President between 1999 and 2007, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the platform of the PDP is widely perceived as one candidate that is capable of giving President Buhari a good fight all over the country.

    The PDP candidate may not have the type of integrity that endeared candidate Buhari to a cross section of the electorate in 2014/2015, but he has many other ingredients that can propel him to victory in next year’s presidential election, if properly articulated and deployed towards the 2019 battle. One of such ingredients is his contacts across the nation; he is one man that has cultivated a lot of business and political associates around the country over the years. Another is his huge financial war chest – and he may likely be willing to deploy it towards winning the position he has been seeking since 2007, when he first contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC).

    Whether Atiku will be able to defeat the APC standard bearer is another matter. But, for the first time, he is contesting on a platform that would give him the sort of leverage he requires to sell himself to the electorate. This is not only his first serious shot at the presidency, but may also be his last, given his age and the power rotational arrangement between the North and the South. So, he may likely give it everything he can muster to win the contest.

    Nevertheless, his candidacy may be bogged down by the corruption baggage he carries. How this will pan out remains to be seen. The deeply corrupt image he has today arose out of the spat he had with Obasanjo towards the end of their second term, but the allegations have not been substantiated since 2007 when they left office to date. In a recent report attributed the President’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, the Presidency dismissed Atiku’s bid for the position, saying he is too corrupt and greedy to lead Nigeria.

    Atiku’s supporters however argue that since he has not been indicted by a court of law, the corruption tag may not dissuade people from voting for him. Besides, they say the style adopted by President Buhari in his fight against corruption and the allegation that he has been shielding his close associates accused of same has not really portrayed the administration as one committed to tackling the menace.

     

    Duke

    Donald Duke, 56, was the governor of Cross River State from May 1999 to May 2007. He recently joined the SDP to realise his ambition of running for the office of president. As governor, Duke was credited with strategic thinking and courage that led to the transforming of the capital city of Cross River State, Calabar, into a viable tourism, commercial and sports hub, as well as the building of Tinapa business resort and the renovation of the Obudu Ranch Resort.

    Condemning zoning of political offices, Duke said it remained unconstitutional, “as it limits the choices we have as a country to a section of the country”. He added: “As rational as they may see it, it remains unconstitutional and there are not enough strong voices out there speaking up objectively. Besides, democracy is all about choice, how then do we limit the choices we have to some section of the country or the other? Can we under such aegis obtain the best? Nigeria can only be whole when the sum total of its parts is able to contest freely and at will for the highest office in the land.”

    In addition, he disagreed with those who say that only two political parties have the physical presence nationwide to win the presidency in a general election. He said he hopes his participation would enrich the playing field and offer Nigerians wider options.

     

    Ezekwesili

    Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, popularly known as Oby Ezekwesili, is a leading chartered accountant who was co-founder of global anticorruption group, Transparency International. Ezekwesili, 55, is a former Vice President of the World Bank and a former Minister of Education. At a press conference in Lagos on Monday the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) said the agenda of the oparty is to create jobs, create wealth and take 80 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    Ezekwesili described the two major political parties, the APC and the PDP, as “Siamese twins of failure and destruction” and urged Nigerians to make the right leadership choice that would reposition the country. She said both Buhari and Atiku are not good enough for Nigeria, because “the current cycle of failures are not sustainable” and that at this juncture the country deserves a tried and tested leadership “that is data driven, independent minded and solution centred”.

     

    Moghalu

    Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, 55, is a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who is running to be president on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Moghalu said his vision for Nigeria is set out in his new book: Build, Innovate, Grow (BIG), which was released in February. The YPP candidate said he plans to unseat Buhari, by using the President’s own poor record to defeat him. He challenged Buhari to presidential debate, saying the President should not be allowed to dodge the debate by sending Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to represent him.

     

    Durotoye

    Adetokunbo Fela Durotoye, 46, is the candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). He is optimistic that Nigeria is greatly blessed and that the younger generation has what it takes to transform the country’s economy. To clinch the ticket, he defeated Moghalu and nine other young presidential aspirants after a two-stage voting process. The ANN flag bearer is a business consultant, leadership expert, motivational speaker and the president of the Gemstone Nation Builders Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation targeted at training youths towards transformational leadership and social change. Durotoye whose parents were university lecturers is passionate about education. He believes that unemployment is tied to the poor standard of education in the country.

     

    Mailafia

    Obadiah Mailafia is a career economist, banker and international development specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He serves as the Chief of Staff of the 80-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium. The ADC candidate is a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a former Special Adviser to the President on Economic and Policy Matters. Following his emergence as the ADC presidential flag bearer, Mailafia expressed optimism that, if elected, he would implement various economic policies that would help to grow the Nigerian economy. He said: “We need to focus on implementation. This country is not short of ideas and we have several economic documents, the current one is the National Economic Recovery Document, 2017 to 2020. It is very solid and well written. I will engage in rigorous implementation of these policies and also engage policy analysts that are conversant with daily happenings in various sectors of the economy.”

     

    Olawepo-Hashim

    Olawepo-Hashim, 49, is the flag bearer of the Alliance for Peoples Trust (APT), a merger of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), the People’s Trust (PT) and a faction of the National Intervention Movement (NIM). He is a businessman with interest in the energy sector. An offspring of a Yoruba mother and a Hausa father from Kebbi, the graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and Master’s Degree holder in Global Affairs from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom is a bridge builder of sorts. He is a Christian who was raised in Niger and Kwara States. He has also been described as a non-conformist who will not compromise his principles for pecuniary gains. The APT candidate was a founding member of the PDP. Indeed, he was the first elected Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party in 1999. He resigned in 2006, after leading a protest for the entrenchment of internal democracy and due process when the leadership set out to illegally extend its two-year tenure other than by constitutional means. Whereas Olawepo-Hashim stood to benefit from the process; he opposed it on the ground of its unconstitutionality.

     

    Sowore

    Omoyele Sowore, the founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters, is the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). Sowore, 47, is one of the young, vibrant candidates contesting to change the country’s political narratives. Driven by fearless ideas, the AAC candidate said he would disrupt Nigeria’s political space the way he disrupted the media space with Sahara Reporters. He is reported to have started the online newspaper with one staff (himself) and one laptop. Like Moghalu, he also rejected Durotoye’s emergence as a consensus candidate of the coalition of political parties, the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT).

     

    Okotie

    Born on June 16, 1958, Christopher Oghenebrorie Okotie, popularly known as Chris Okotie, is the General Overseer of the Household of God Church, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos. Okotie who is contesting on the platform of Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) has made three failed attempts – 2003, 2007 and 2011 – to become the President. When he declared his intention to run again early last month, Okotie called on other political parties to adopt him as a consensus candidate. He said: “I want to re-affirm my call for an interim government and to ask those that are concerned, who are the political actors to consider me as a consensus candidate. I have referred to myself as a consensus remedial facilitator because of the existential threats that we have now and I think that it’s time for us to lay aside the habiliments of our political affiliations and to embrace a new nationalistic philosophy that can salvage this country at this time.”

     

    Agoro

    Agoro indicated in his acceptance speech after he emerged the flag bearer of the National Action Council (NAC) that the flag bearer of the National Action Council (NAC) that the country is in dire need of a clean and visionary leader. He added: “It is a shame and terribly bad that our so-called leaders are not proud to be called Nigerians.” He said President Buhari has no reason to seek a second-term mandate, because “he has failed Nigerians”.

     

    Adesanya-Davies

    Adesanya-Davis, 56, is aspiring to be Nigeria’s first female president. She said: “I am aspiring to be the next president of Nigeria. I am out to put laughter of joy on the mouth of all. I have discussed this with the former presidential candidate, Sarah Jubril, who incidentally is from Kwara State. Her reaction was that ‘if miracles like this will ever happen, we have paid the price in Kwara State and it is going to happen in the state.”

    Adesanya-Davies is an educational consultant and an associate professor of linguistics with specialisation in applied linguistics and communication. She is a former director of the Centre for Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurial and General Studies, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She is a linguist, educationist, poet, communication expert, advocacy and activist.

     

    Akhimien

    With several university degrees in foreign languages, international law and diplomacy, strategic and conflict management in addition to several years of military service and post military engagement as private security service provider, Akhimien who is the candidate of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN) is certainly not a pedestrian candidate for the office of the President. The national president of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria believes that the growing insecurity in Nigeria stems from pervasive injustices in the land. He said: “Most of the security challenges that we are experiencing today would not have been on the table if not for these pervasive injustices. Wherever there is injustice I am telling you even the best security measures will not hold sway.”