The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Buhari Muhammadu

  • ‘Why Buhari, APC settled for Lawan, Gbajabiamila’

    The National Vice Chairman in charge of the North Central of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman Wambi, has said that past experience, excellence and party loyalty were ingredients that attracted Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to the President for the position of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

    Wambai told reporters in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders showed interests in the candidacies of the two because they are loyal party men with vast experience.

    While admitting the choice may not have been based on religious equity, Wambi said the ruling party took the decision to support the two for Nigeria to move forward.

    He said: “We have not given Ahmed Lawan the position of Senate President because he is from North-east or Gbajabiamila Speaker because he is from South-west but based on the performance of the party, their contribution and loyalty.

    “There was a time Mr. President sent budget to the National Assembly and that proposal was kept there for about seven months.

    “Gbabiamila and Lawan were the ones fighting and because of that they received a lot of frustration, traumatisation and intimidation from the present leadership of the National Assembly.

    “So, do you think the party and Mr. President should not reward those people? No. We said that despite the fact that the North-west has the president, the South-west has the Vice President, the Senate President is zoned to the North-east, Mr. President felt we should reward Femi Gbajabiamila base on the compelling loyalty and his experience.”

    He went on: “Mr. President prefers these people because of their past experiences. We are not saying that there is nobody in the North-central that is qualified, no.

    ‘’But the issue is that there are certain considerations. We fought for the zone to get Deputy Speaker in the House of Reps and also Senate Majority Leader in the Senate.”

    On whether the ruling APC puts the religious balancing into the consideration because Lawan and Gbajabiamila are Muslims, he said: “You do not understand the political dynamism of our country.

    ‘’ Do you think if we concentrate on religion this country will move forward? We go for excellence sometime. We go for those people who can key into the project of change and deliver.

    “What do you mean by sensitivity? Between APC and PDP which party is more sensitive? Do you think Muslim or Christianity can provide solutions to the problems of Nigeria? Until Nigerians become aware and key into excellence.

    “We should no longer say discriminate against anybody who has something to offer. The moment a nation starts thinking about where someone comes from or the religion he or she practice such a nation is doomed.”

    When reminded that some of his members from North-central are scheming to take the position of Speaker, Wambai said the South-West should be allowed to produce the next Speaker.

  • ECOWAS discuss Morocco’s membership as summit opens in Abuja

    ECOWAS discuss Morocco’s membership as summit opens in Abuja

    The 52nd ECOWAS Heads of State and Government summit opened in Abuja on Saturday as leaders discuss Morocco’s membership of the bloc and the security situation in Guinea Bissau.

    Morocco had made its request to be a member of ECOWAS while Tunisia requested to be an observer country.

    The 51st Ordinary Session held in Monrovia, Liberia in June agreed in principle to Morocco’s membership of the sub-regional bloc and directed the commission to consider the implications of the country’s membership.

    The commission confirmed that study on the impact of Morocco’s membership was carried out and the outcome would be submitted to the Authority.

    Morocco was, however not invited for the 52nd summit.

    Its Foreign Ministry reportedly said that the country had to wait until the first quarter of 2018 to know the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State which would be announced at an extraordinary session.

    Tunisia has, however, been granted an observer status by the authority and the commission has been further directed to take necessary measures to ensure all procedures relating to an observer status are implemented.

    The commission also confirmed that the authority called on Mauritania to submit its request for readmission to ECOWAS.

    Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and Tunisian President Beji Essebsi are scheduled to make presentations as special guests at the opening session of the summit.

    The summit would also discuss the political and security situation in Guinea Bissau.

    The ECOWAS recently said its mission in Guinea Bissau had taken an “excruciating toll” on the financial resources of the sub-region.

    The ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) made up of troops from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo and Niger was deployed in May 2012 following a military coup in April 2012.

    ECOMIB helped to establish a civilian-led transitional government, which ended with the election of President José Mario Vaz in a run-off in May 2014 for a five-year term.

    The international community has called on authorities of Guinea Bissau to implement the Conakry Agreement of Oct. 2016.

    The agreement is the primary framework for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in the country.

    The Heads of State went in for a closed-door session before making any statements, which is away from its usual tradition.

    The West African leaders, during the closed session, would review the reports of the 79th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers and the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council.

    President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria is scheduled to present a welcome address at the opening of the summit followed by statements of President of the commission, Marcel de Souza.

    Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat would present statements.

    The opening address would be made by the Chairman of the Authority, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.

    NAN reports that all 15-member states of the ECOWAS are represented at the summit.

  • Full text of Buhari’s broadcast : I was distressed by social media comments

    Full text of Buhari’s broadcast : I was distressed by social media comments

    Full text of the broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 21

    My dear citizens,

    I am very grateful to God and to all Nigerians for their prayers. I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.

    2. In the course of my stay in the United Kingdom, I have been kept in daily touch with events at home. Nigerians are robust and lively in discussing their affairs, but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far.

    3. In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.

    4. Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.

    5. Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.

    6. I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.

    7. This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.

    8. The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.

    9. The national consensus is that, it is better to live together than to live apart.

    10. Furthermore, I am charging the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.

    11. Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.

    12. Therefore we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against, elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes in addition to ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all.

    13. Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of economic security, political evolution and integration as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians.

    14. I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained. I am so glad to be home.

    15. Thank you and may God bless our dear Nation.

  • Breaking: Buhari attends Jumaat prayers

    Breaking: Buhari attends Jumaat prayers

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday observed the Friday  Muslim prayers at the Aso Rock Mosque in the presidential villa.

    The President, who did not observe the jumaat prayer in the mosque last week Friday and a fortnight ago, was wearing white ‘Babanringa’ and cap to match.

    Among those who prayed with him on Friday included the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, Director-general of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

    Others included the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Baru Maikanti and other top government officials also observed the jumaat prayer in the mosque.