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Tag: Buba Marwa

  • Aggrieved Atiku support group declares for Buhari

    A Coalition of Aggrieved supporters of presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has formally declared support for President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the PDP candidate of using and dumping them.

    Leader of the group, Com. Bello Osaretin Godspower, said the former Vice President never appreciated their efforts and treated them with disdain.

    He added that aside the ill treatment, the Atiku Campaign has been infiltrated by people with questionable character and who were once responsible for the rape of nation’s democracy.

    He denied reports making the round that they have decided to return to the Atiku Campaign, describing the information as cheap promotional gimmick to score undeserving political goal.

    He said: “It will be recalled that on the 27th of November, 2018 at a location in the heart of Abuja, we the disgruntled members of Atiku Campaign Office took a mile stone decision to dump Atiku Abubakar Presidential Project on the platform of PDP after a robust and convincing consultation with relevant stakeholders vis-a-viz other considerable factors.

    “Our despondency was born out of Atiku Abubakar disdainful treatment of support groups, which snow-ball into neglect, nepotic deployment, use and dump style coupled with lack of direction and reward management system made worse by the infusion and infiltration of people with questionable characters into his campaign train, who were once responsible for the rape on the Nigeria state and were also found culpable for the culture of gross impunity and social recklessness in the society.

    “Today, the 10th of February, 2019, we as members of Aggrieved Atiku Support Group Coalition warehousing over one hundred and forty-five formidable organizations united together and stronger in one voice to officially denounce Atiku Abubakar Presidential ambition and make formal declaration to support President Mohammadu Buhari Re-election bid come February 16, 2019.

    “Permit me to use this opportunity to refute and debunk the claims in some quarters that the Aggrieved Atiku Support Groups led by Comrade Bello Osaretin Godspower (El Mikado) has returned to Atiku Abubakar, a decoy to confuse the unsuspecting electorates whose opinions are already to vote for President Mohammadu Buhari re-election bid.

    Read Also: My husband is destined to be president —Titi Atiku Abubakar

    “We frown at the cheap promotional gimmicks to score undeserving political goal. It is incomprehensible to believe and one of the numerous PDP propaganda tactics to fool and hoodwink the general public. However, we cannot kowtow to return to Egypt and it is a sin for one to contemplate PDP that has been corruptibly battered, tattered and tattooed. PDP is like a bogeyman with the garment of errors, horrors and terrors.

    “Our decision to formally declare support for President Muhammadu Buhari Re-election is in the national interest and his ability to rejig the governance system that hitherto occasioned with corruption activities under the sixteen years misrule of PDP government, where corruption became the norms and symbols of state (stealing was never corruption).

    “It is instructive to assert or pontificate that the fight against corruption that has been identified as major problem of previous government are being well fought under President Muhammadu Buhari with global acknowledgement.

    “We are glad to appreciate the good work of Mr. President and today, the roads are working, the rails are back on track, the agricultural sector which is the instrument of diversification is on course and the farmers can now smile to the banks, the social intervention policy i.e the N-Power Programme, the School Feeding Programme and the Trader Money Programme are well implemented with due diligence coupled with uncountable infrastructural development that are scattered across the country, especially in the power sector.

    “We cannot afford to stand akimbo and aloof in the political space to allow rascals, hooligans and economic thieves who are professionally hollow, delinquent in leadership panache, nomadic in character and content to hold sway in the governance of Nigeria once again.

    “We are proud to say without further ado that Nigeria is work in progress and in save hands under President Mohammadu Buhari. We are quite convinced that the Next Level Policy Document is a compendium of activities to reposition and rescue Nigeria for economic prosperity, political stability and socio-cultural actualities and more so, to help take back Nigeria from the horrendous shackles of political looters and economic saboteurs who are now gathered in one accord with the intention to sell the sole economic life wire of Nigeria.

    “To this end, we hereby direct all our members across Nigeria to vote enmasse for President Mohammadu Buhari come February 16, 2019 to enable him continue and consolidate on the good work. President Mohammadu Buhari ambition is a divine project.”

    Receiving the group, former Lagos state governor and Chairman of the Central

    Working Committee of the APC Women and Youth Campaign Council, Brig. Genera, Mohammed Buba Marwa said they have agreed to support a man of impeccable character, honesty and with the passion to lead the country.

    Marwa said “We welcome you as part of the supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari with open hands. This is like a train leaving it station and you are able to catch that train before it goes. You people have taken the right decision and not a moment sooner. You have come on board at the right time as your votes of your various organisations will count.

    “You have agreed to support a person who is in impeccable in character, impeccable in leadership, impeccable in honesty, impeccable in patriotism and impeccable in compassion to Nigerians. This is one leader that is fighting corruption and he has said do as I do and not do as I say.

    He urged the support groups to sell the candidates from door to do and also ensure that all the members get their PDP to votes.

    “So, speaking on behalf of the chairperson of the Women and Youth Presidential campaign team, Her Excellency Wife of the President Aisha Buhari, we are grateful to you all, we acknowledged this show of support.

    “She specifically said I should pass the message that from here, we will integrate you into organisations that are relevant to your various state, Local governments, Wards and Units and you will go out there to campaign from door to door taken full advantage of what you know of the government and performance of President Buhari.”

     

     

  • N-PoD Summit: ‘Buhari’s anti-graft fight has made looting of public funds impossible’

    President Muhammadu Buhari has made looting of public funds impossible through the anti-corruption fight of his administration, a former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has said.

    Marwa stated this in his keynote address delivered at the National Policy and Development Summit (N-PoD), on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the change agenda of the All Progressives Congress – led Federal Government has delivered infrastructure and social investment on an unprecedented scale.

    Marwa, who was represented by Yakubu Muazu, said the Buhari administration had been able to deliver on its campaign promises despite inheriting an empty treasury.

    He said: “Anti-corruption for us is not all about arrest and prosecution of the corrupt. Anti-corruption is much more than that. It is the sum total of actions taken by government or private organizations to put a wedge between people that are interested in converting resources meant for specific public purpose into private use.

    “For instance, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) alone has consistently saved government N42million monthly since its implementation. This is in addition to ensuring that unutilized funds remain with government at the end of each fiscal year.

    “My understanding of governance confirms to me that governance model office of this government is capable of placing Nigeria on the path of fulfilling its manifest destiny if we are patient enough. Public funds must be available for substantial development in infrastructures that supports businesses.

    “In governance, what absence of funds means is that government capacity to deliver on its campaign promises has already been challenged from the very beginning. But because the government of President Muhammadu Buhari promised change, and our people yearn for it, the President has been able to deliver; however difficult and challenging this may be because it is the contract he has with Nigerians.

    “My submission here is this: If these herculean obstacles to governance and development had not been tolerated by past governments, and used as a conduit pipe to drain public fund, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would not have inherited empty treasury in the face of these daunting challenges.”

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Barr. Boss Mustapha, said that change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    Represented by Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), SGF office, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, Mustapha said the summit presented a platform to evaluate the change agenda of the present government.

    “The promise of change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    “We are here to review the strength and weaknesses of this administration’s change agenda, and work together to make Nigeria the trigger of the continent,” he said.

  • NAFDAC blames high drug abuse on its removal from port

    The removal of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has been blamed for high rate of drug abuse in the country.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye said the consequences of removing the agency that ought to scrutinize illicit drug importation at the port is the high rate of drug addiction among the country youth.

    The agency was removed from the port from 2011-2018.

    Adeyeye made the disclosure during an audience with the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee on Elimination of Drug Abuse, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), and other members of the committee in her office in Abuja.

    She expressed sadness that two generations of Nigerian youths are being wiped out due to drug addiction.

    According to her, “When NAFDAC was removed from the port from 2011-2018, I asked myself when you remove an agency that is supposed to oversee the importation of illicit drug in the port, then we will get our answer and part of the answer we got is the destruction of Nigerian youths, during that period. If we plot the graph NAFDAC not being at the port in 2011 -2018, we would find out that during that period when NAFDAC was not at the port, the drug addiction among our youths increased. But thank God President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 reversed the trend by returning NAFDAC to the port and since we got there, there have been good changes”.

    Read Also: NAFDAC to destroy N198bn seized tramadol

    The NAFDAC boss therefore assured Nigerians that the agency is ready to work around the clock, in order to intercept any illegal drugs being imported into the country,  “For instance in September 2018, I got a note that 31 containers of tramadol were coming into Nigeria, I thought it was a fluke but after a thorough investigations I discovered it was true, so we started monitoring the containers and the ships, these containers were labeled bounded terminals, which means we were not supposed to have seen it at first, we were able to intercept 21 containers, and out of the 21 containers only 2 has building materials, but all of them were labeled building materials.

    “When they know that port was hot they started turning around the rest of the containers, they went to a West African country we waited for them there. That West African country took over the containers and the others started going to another West African country and our staff started tracking them online. They got to another West African country and that country sent them back to Singapore.  They are back now and we are going to impound the four containers. We are here because of our children”.

    She said all hands must be on desk to eliminate drug addiction among Nigerian youths, adding that “President Muhaamadu Buhari has taken it upon himself to eliminate drug abuse in Nigeria. We must have passion for what we are doing. I have said it many times, a country cannot be greater than its youths, and we have lost about two generations to drug addiction. We must fight for our children and for their future”.

    Earlier the Chairman of the Committee, Buba Marwa lamented the high rate of drug addiction among Nigerian youths adding that it is imperative for all stakeholders to fight the menace.

    “It is very sad that two generations of our youths are being wiped out, so we must do something urgent. And the President Muhammadu Buhari is really concern and he wants us to bring about solution to this terrible state of affairs in the country as far as drug addiction is concern”, he said.

  • 2019: No better candidate than Buhari – Marwa

    2019: No better candidate than Buhari – Marwa

    The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) chieftain, Gen. Buba Marwa, on Tuesday, said so far, there was no better presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential election in the APC than President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Marwa, who is also a former military governor of Lagos State, made this disclosure in Yola after a meeting of stakeholders comprising 20 organisations in Adamawa.

    The meeting was organised by the Buba Marwa organisation, where the candidature of Buhari was endorsed for a re-election in 2019.

    Marwa said Buhari administration within the past two years, had recorded some achievements in the area of security, anti-corruption, improved electricity supply and diversification of the economy through agriculture and solid minerals.

    Read also: Buhari to Nigerians: I’ll need your vote in future

    “We are happy with the measures the government is taking in the diversification of the economy, which are already paying off, especially in the agricultural and mining sectors; the improvement has manifested in the recent exit from recession”.

    On the exit of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the APC, Marwa said although, the move was a big loss to the party, it would not affect the chances of APC in Adamawa and even at the national level.

    “No political party would like to lose someone like the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; we assure that his departure will, however, not affect the fortunes of the party at any level.

    NAN

  • Buba Marwa, wife back on social radar

    Popular figures may be gone for long but they are never forgotten. So it was that society watchers, especially those in the Lagos social milieu, waited with bated breath for the ‘triumphal return’ of one of their most beloved couples, Buba Marwa and wife, Munira. The former first citizens of Lagos State had gone on a long, seemingly unending hiatus from the social radar, leaving their numerous fans to wonder what had become of Marwa who once held sway as the military governor of Lagos State.

    Buba Marwa is reputed as one of the most beloved military governors ever. His charisma and easy-going personality endeared him to the people while his populist policies cemented their affection for him. His beautiful wife, Munira, did her part supporting her husband as the first lady.

    For a while after the handover to democratic rule, the former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and his wife remained a hot item on the social scene, occupying a pride of place in the comity of distinguished celebrities. For some inexplicable reasons, however, they vanished into social wilderness. It was therefore refreshing to see the engaging pair once again on the social scene.

    They were recently spotted among other guests at the just concluded Lagos at 50 celebrations, with Munira looking as radiant as ever.

  • Buba Marwa quits politics?

    Many elder statesmen are faced with the conflict between love for the country and love for their reputation. They have to decide on whether they would stay on and keep contributing their quota to national development while risking overstaying their welcome or simply retire into the long night, leaving the stage for the younger ones to try their luck.

    Former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), seems to have settled for the latter option. Having failed several times in his bid to become the governor of Adamawa State, he seems to have finally thrown in the towel.

    Unlike many military men whose enduring images are those of brutality and rigidity, Buba Marwa was well loved by the majority of Lagosians during his time as the state’s numero uno. Operation Sweep, which he launched during his time as governor had helped to rid the state of criminal elements, while the impact of his Operation 250 Roads is still felt today on the numerous roads he helped to build or repair.

    Since his retirement from military service, Marwa has concentrated more on his home state of Adamawa. Although he has repeatedly been frustrated in his governorship bid by the powers that be, he remains a loyal servant in the background, helping the state government with his experience in the art of governance.

  • Fintiri wins Adamawa PDP governorship primary

    Fintiri wins Adamawa PDP governorship primary

    The Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, in the early hours of Sunday won the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to complete the tenure of impeached former Governor Murtala Nyako.

    Fintiri was voted by 60 per cent of the more than 878 delegates at the poll conducted by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.

    While a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, came second, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa was third.

    A source said: “The poll was free and fair. The power of incumbency worked for Fintiri who had secured the loyalty and support of statutory delegates like local government chairmen, councillors, and other political appointees.

    “Also before the poll, a former Political Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak, stepped down for Fintiri, making up to four aspirants conceding the slot to the Acting Governor.”

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the October 11 governorship election is expected to emerge on Sunday.

     

  • Ribadu, Marwa, Gundiri get PDP waiver for Adamawa poll

    Ribadu, Marwa, Gundiri get PDP waiver for Adamawa poll

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted waiver to the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; former Lagos military administrator, Buba Marwa; and a former Adamawa governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Marcus Gundiri.

    This gives them clearance to participate in the party’s primary election slated for September 6. The eventual winner in the primaries will fly the party’s flag in the October 11 governorship election in the state.

    Metuh said: “The National Working Committee of the PDP at the end of its meeting on Friday, August 29, 2014, unanimously cleared all aspirants who expressed interest to contest the October 11 Adamawa State governorship election on the platform of the PDP to participate in the party’s nomination process.

    “After very careful and thorough consideration of all applications and the report of the Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-led Adamawa State PDP Governorship Waiver Committee, the NWC was satisfied that all the aspirants met the requirements stipulated by the PDP constitution to participate in the process.

    “Consequently, waiver has been granted to Gen. Buba Marwa, Engr. Marcus Gundiri and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to take part in the exercise.

    “The NWC hereby restates its confidence in the leadership of the National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, in providing a level playing ground for all eligible citizens of the state to participate in the democratic process.

    “It assures that the nomination process, including screening of aspirants as well as the primary election will be conducted with utmost transparency and strict adherence to rules and the principles of justice, fairness and equity.

    “Finally, the NWC debunks speculations that its members were divided on the grant of the waiver and reiterates that the decision to open the space for wider participation was unanimously adopted after very extensive deliberations.”

  • Adamawa: Seven aspirants move to stop Ribadu, Marwa, three others

    Adamawa: Seven aspirants move to stop Ribadu, Marwa, three others

    The scramble for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the October 11 governorship bye-election in Adamawa State has taken a new twist.

    Seven of the 14 aspirants have called for the disqualification of five of their co-aspirants from the race, alleging that they are not members of the PDP.

    The petitioners are – Umar Ardo, Ahmed Gulak, James Barka, Andrawus Sawa, Abubakar Girei, Idi Hong and Awwal Tukur.

    In their petition, dated August 28 and addressed to the leadership of the party, they listed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Buba Marwa, Mohammed Modibbo, Marcus Gundiri and Aliyu Kama.

    The petitioners stated that the five aspirants are not members of the party and therefore should not be allowed to contest the election.

    They said, “While on personal level we have absolutely no reason to wish to inhibit them from contesting the governorship of our state under the platform of our great party – for they are all eminently qualified.

    “But on the principle of playing a healthy political game, everybody must play according to the rules of the game. On this ground therefore we object to their contest as their participation will be an aberration to the election process. The issues against them are both constitutional and moral.

    “Constitutionally, Mallam Ribadu, Engr. Gundiri and Dr. Modibbo joined the PDP for the first time only recently, while Marwa and Kama returned to the PDP also only recently after earlier defecting from PDP to other political parties.

    “Going by the provisions of Sections 50 (9) and (10) and 8 (b) of the Constitution of the PDP 2012 (as amended), Ribadu, Gundiri and Modibbo are required to sustain continued membership of the PDP for a minimum of two years to be eligible to contest for the post of Governor; while Marwa and Kama remain on probation for at least one year, during which they will not be eligible to vote or be voted for except they are granted waivers as stipulated.

    “Both sides have not met the requirements. The purpose of the waiting period, subject to waiver, is to test the fidelity of persons who have joined or decamped to the party.

    “These provisions are important as they are actually meant to ensure that only credible and loyal members of the party are allowed the benefits and privileges of the party and also to ward off the proclivity of Nigerian politicians to defect from one party to the other at will without consequences.”

  • Ribadu joins Adamawa governorship race

    Ribadu joins Adamawa governorship race

    … Picks PDP nomination form

    The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship nomination form to contest the Adamawa governorship election.

    The form, with serial number 0000060, was obtained at the party’s national secretariat through a proxy, Alhaji Hamidu Mahmud, at a cost of N10 million.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after obtaining the form, Mahmud said Ribadu had applied to the leadership of the PDP for a waiver and that he was awaiting the response from the party leaders.

    Mahmud expressed the confidence that Ribadu would get the waiver, saying that the PDP constitution did not insert the waiver clause in anticipation that the former EFCC boss would join the race.

    According to him, there is no reason why the party should deny him the opportunity to vie for the ticket.

    Besides Ribadu, others in the race for the party’s ticket include a former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak; Acting governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri and the former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Ahmed Modibbo.

    Others are – former Minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Aliyu Idi Hong; former Lagos military  administrator, Buba Marwa; and son of former national chairman of the PDP, Awwal Tukur, and others.

    The nomination closes Tuesday while the return of the forms is expected to close on August 25.

    The party has fixed August 28 for the screening of aspirants.

    The ward congress comes up on September 1, while appeal for the congress will hold on September 3.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the election for October 11.