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Tag: BUHARI

  • APC raises the alarm over destruction of Buhari, Ogah’s campaign posters

    ABIA State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over the destruction and defacing of campaign posters of President Muhammadu Buhari and the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Dr. Uche Ogah within Umuahia, the state capital. In a telephone interview with the Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson,  on Wednesday, the party accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being behind the defacing and destruction of President Buhari and Ogah’s campaign posters.

    APC while warning that the party would no longer watch the ruling party in the state using hoodlums to destroy campaign posters of the President, its gover norship candidate in the state and any other candidate of the party said that henceforth, anybody caught engaging in the wicked act would be dealt with according to the law. According to Godson, the defacing of its candidates’ campaign posters is a sign that the ruling party is defeated already.

    He stated that what the party is concerned about at the moment is how to sell ideas of their candidates to the people of the state and ensuring that President Buhari gets maximum votes in Abia State. Godson, while enjoining members of the party and Abians to get their PVCs and be ready to vote out bad government from office come 2019, assured that the party would ensure that the votes of the people counted.

    “I want to advice our brothers in the opposition party that this is not the way that democracy is being played. I believe that they have seen that we have come to take over the state and I want to plead with them to gently hand over the mantle of leadership of Abia State to Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah who has come to liberate Abia from bondage come 2019.

    “Destruction of billboards and posters Mr. President, Uche Ogah and other candidates of the party is undemocratic and that cannot stop us from returning Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari who has done so well in terms of good roads, constant light, better life for Nigerians and Uche Ogah as both Presi dent and governor of the country and Abia State respectively. “It is important to say that the PDP government that we have in Abia State has failed Abians in all ramifications. They owe teachers from primary to tertiary. The roads that they claim that they have built have caved in and they cannot justify the amount of money they claimed to have spent on such roads. “The little that we are seeing in the state is being built by the Federal Government through the NDDC. “We want to assure them that nobody has monopoly of violence and destruction of posters. We are warning the PDP to stop the destruction of our candidates’ campaign posters with immediate effect,” said Godson.

  • Electoral bill: I DECLINED ASSENT TO SAVE 2019 POLLS –Buhari

    Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation; Gbade OGUNWALE,  Augustine EHIKIOYA, Onyedi OJIABOR and Gbenga OMOKHUNU, Abuja

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declined signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law, saying that it was capable of derailing preparations for 2019 polls. It was the fourth time he would reject the bill as previous rejections were based on observed errors. The President said he did not want to impose on the country the electoral uncertainty his assent might cause. He said that changing the rules a few months to the next general elections could lead to disruption and confusion. He asked the National Assembly to save the nation’s democracy by ensuring that the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 comes into effect after the February 2019 polls. He also raised issues on four amendments to the bill and asked the National Assembly to revisit the observations. Buhari, who made his opinion known in a December 6, 2018 letter to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said he had decided to place the interest of the country above any other matter. The letter was titled,‘Presidential decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018’.

    It reads: “Pursuant to Section 58(4) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate my decision on 6th December to decline Presidential Assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly. “I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general elections, which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process. “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.

    “This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Elections. “It is also important for the following drafting amendments to be made to the Bill: •Section 5 of the Bill, amending Section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the subsection to which the substitution of the figure “30” for the figure “60” is to be effected. •Section 11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the proviso is to be introduced. •Section 24 of the Bill which amends Section 85(1) should be redrafted in full as the introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that political parties may give 21 days’ notice of the intention to merge, as opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act which provides the provision for merger of political parties •The definition of the term “Ward Collection Officer” should be revised to reflect a more descriptive definition than the capitalised and undefined term “Registration Area Collation Officer.” “Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

    President Buhari had refused to sign the Bill the first time as a result of the reordering of the election sequence by the National Assembly, and the second time because of what the Presidency called “drafting errors.” He also declined signing the bill the third time because of what the Presidency called “drafting issues that remained unaddressed.”

    Read also: Ogun PDP crisis deepens

    National Assembly may override Buhari There were indications yesterday that the National Assembly may override President Buhari’s withdrawal of assent on the Electoral Act, 2018. Although several calls made to obtain the reaction of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, yielded no result, a source close to the leadership of the Senate said the National Assembly would likely override the President on the Bill. It is, however, not clear whether the two chambers of the National Assembly can muster the required two-thirds majority to override the President. The source said: “It is obvious that the National Assembly has bent backward almost to breaking point to give the President the benefit of the doubt. “The National Assembly has no other alternative but to override the President because nobody is in doubt that he does not want to sign the Bill.” “The days ahead will determine what will happen.” Senators express divergent views Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Clifford Ordia, who spoke with our correspondent in separate interviews yesterday, expressed divergent views on the refusal of the President to sign the Electoral Act amendment Bill. Ndume said the President must have his reasons for declining assent to the Bill. But the Borno South senator said the National Assembly was at liberty to respond as it deemed fit. He added that the rejection would not affect the conduct of the 2019 general elections, saying “the President does not conduct elections.” He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body in charge of elections.

    “All the president needs to do is to provide the necessary support, which I am certain that he has done,” he said. Ndume added: “I cannot fully comment right now since I am not aware of the reasons given by the President. “I am sure his reasons will be contained in the letter addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly. Let us wait and see till next week.” Senator Ordia, on his part, noted that the rejection of the amendment bill by the President was a clear sign that the APC was not ready to conduct a free and fair election. The Edo Central senator said that the rejection will further cast doubt on the ability of the President to give Nigerians an election that will be accepted by all. Ordia said: “Many of us are not surprised. We knew the amendment bill was not going to be signed.

    “The earlier excuses advanced were just to distract everyone. “Now that we know, we also need to go back to the drawing board as a party and find a way to counter any plans the APC will be hatching.” PDP campaign urges N/Assembly to override Buhari The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) yesterday charged the National Assembly to save the nation’s democracy by immediately overriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the amendment of the Electoral Act. The PDP Campaign said the legislative action had become imperative as the President’s decision was a calculated attempt to hold the nation to ransom. In a statement signed by the spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s action was capable of injecting crisis into the electoral process and ultimately scuttle the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The opposition party insisted that the President was avoiding free and fair contest. The statement said: “President Buhari’s repeated refusal to sign amendments passed to check rigging in the election raises issues of his sincerity of purpose and has the capacity to trigger political unrest and violence, which can, in turn, truncate our hard-earned democracy. “The PPCO invites Nigerians to note that this is the fourth time President Buhari is withholding assent on the amendment, without any cogent reason following his rejection by Nigerians. “Nigerians can recall how the Buhari Presidency plotted to plunge the 2019 elections into a needless controversy by delaying the submission of the election budget to the National Assembly, presenting it at the time the legislators were commencing their annual vacation and asking for virement of funds already approved for development projects, instead of sending a fresh supplementary budget for the election.

    “It is unfortunate that Mr. President, in his desperation to hold on to power, has resorted to taking steps that are capable of destabilising our nation, just because the people are resolute in voting him out of office democratically. “It is also instructive to note that President Buhari is mortally afraid of the amendments because they essentially checked the All Progressives Congress (APC) rigging plans, including the use of underage and alien voters, vote-buying, alteration of results and manipulation of voter register; for which the APC and the Buhari Presidency have been boasting of winning the 2019 elections. “While urging the National Assembly to save our democracy and forestall an imminent electoral crisis, the PPCO also charges all political parties, other critical stakeholders and Nigerians in general to rise in the interest of our nation and demand the entrenching of rules and processes that will guarantee the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, as nothing short of that would be accepted.”

    It may affect deepening of democracy— CNPP The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) warned yesterday that the negative impact of not assenting to amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act as contained in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2018) before next year’s general elections will endanger the deepening of the country’s democracy. In its reaction to the rejection of the amendments to the bill by President Buhari, CNPP’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said in a statement issued in Abuja that “there are indications that a cabal that resents credible electoral process is bent on frustrating the signing of any amendment to the electoral laws ahead of 2019.” It urged the National Assembly to save the country’s democracy and veto the President’s assent. According to the umbrella organisation of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, “it has become obvious that while President Buhari may ordinarily wish to ensure credible electoral process, some persons around him, which constitutes the cabal, resent free and fair contest and may have again deceived him into withholding assent to the bill.

    “The CNPP as a body conceived as a common platform for political parties in Nigeria shares common concerns of well-meaning Nigerians on issues bordering on rule of law, promotion and defence of democratic principles and practices. “Therefore, this singular rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2018) by Mr. President is another repressive attempt to stem multi-party democracy and have completely removed the last hope of level playing ground for all political parties in the forthcoming elections. “It is ironical that President Muhammadu Buhari has been promising free and fair elections and at the same time refusing to give effect to the only instrument that would have proven his commitment to credible electoral process in 2019. “As one of the greatest beneficiaries of free and fair election from the last administration, we thought that Mr. President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should have been at the forefront of promoting transparency in elections. “However, to save our democracy and to take Nigeria’s electoral process to the next level of free and fair polls, not the next level of rigging, we demand that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, override Mr. President’s veto with a two-third-majority. “As it stands, the only hope Nigerians have left now rests on the National Assembly’s willingness to do the needful at this trying moment in our democratic journey.”

  • Buhari may present 2019 budget to NASS next week

    President Muhammadu Buhari may present the 2019 Budget to the National Assembly next week.

    But the lawmakers said they have not received any official communication  from the President.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday approved the budget proposal for onward transmission to the National Assembly.

    According to a top source who spoke in confidence, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, has already opened up talks with the National Assembly leadership.

    The source said: “The government is looking at next week for budget presentation by the President. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, is already liaising with the leadership of the assembly.

    “So far, the Assembly leaders have not suggested any convenient date. Once we are able to mutually agree on a date, the President will officially write the legislature.

    “We want to lay the budget before the National Assembly goes on recess  for Christmas and New Year. As a matter of fact, we are looking at either Wednesday or Thursday.

    “With the FEC approval of the budget, the President will write the lawmakers accordingly.”

    The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, said the National Assembly is awaiting official notice from the President.

    “Until we receive official communication from Mr. President, I cannot tell you the date the budget will be presented to the joint session of the National Assembly. So far, we have not heard from the President,”he said.

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the special FEC session chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

    According to him, it is now left for the National Assembly to agree on a date when President Muhammadu Buhari can present the document to the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    “We are hoping that as soon as possible, it would be presented. We will be in touch immediately with the National Assembly to fix the date. The budget is ready,” he said.

    When asked the details of the budget, he said: “It is the President’s budget. He presents it to the National Assembly.”

    The FEC had on the 24th October, 2018 approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the 2019 -2021 to provide template for the 2019 budget.

    The meeting had approved a budget estimate of N8.73tr for the 2019 budget, N400bn lower than that of this year.

    The price of crude oil per barrel was fixed at $60, while exchange rate at $305 and daily crude oil production was put at 2.3million by the FEC.

    The MTEF/ FSP was designed to translate  strategic development objective of the economic recovery and growth plan into a realistic and implementable budget framework.

  • Buhari flags off Anti-Corruption Half Marathon Monday

    The maiden edition of the Anti-Corruption Half Marathon would be officially flagged by President Muhammadu Buhari and ably supported by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda next week Monday.

    According to the spokesman of the event, Jacob Onuh, about one thousand marathoners comprising of the military and paramilitary personnel, athletes, well-wishers are expected to take off from the Eagles Square to the Abuja National Stadium.

    Onuh disclosed to NationSport that “the main aim and objectives of the organisers of the event, are to open people’s eyes to the ills and damages corruption can do to the society and the nation too”.

    The half marathon is jointly organised by EFCC, ICPC, NOC, AFN, BPSR, Fair Play, Sports International Agency and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

    The Half Marathon which is expected to start at 7 am prompt, is in commemoration of United Nations World Anti-Corruption Day. A million naira would be won by the winner, First runner-up will smile home with the sum of N500, 000, while the Second runner-up will pocket N200, 000.

  • Buhari congratulates new Emir of Nasarawa, Jibrin

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman  Jibrin on his selection as the new Emir of Nasarawa, in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

    The President saluted the people of Nasarawa Emirate and the state government on the hitch-free exercise which led to the emergence of Alhaji Jibrin as the 13th emir.

    Describing the new first class traditional ruler as a “wise choice and worthy successor,” President Buhari averred  that Alhaji Jibrin’s impeccable credentials as a distinguished public servant and land expert will be deployed to impact positively on development of his emirate.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “His people will benefit immensely from his wealth of experience in the Ministry of Environment,”

    While wishing the new emir a successful reign, President Buhari also urged him to build on the legacies of his predecessor and promote peace and unity in the emirate.

  • Buhari to state governments: Don’t make things difficult for miners

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday enjoined state governments to shun unfriendly policies or laws inhibiting the growth and development of the nation’s mining industry.

    The president made the call when he received the leadership of the Miners Association of Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.

    President Buhari also pledged to look into the challenges facing the association with a view to boosting mining activities across the country.

    “I have listened very carefully to your address and I believe the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will articulate your address and forward it to me so that whatever we can do through the supervising minister we should encourage you in terms of understanding of the state governments that are interfering with your activities.

    “I’ll also look at the question of Customs, not looking other way but being very professional and patriotic so that you won’t mind when they insist on what is due to the country in terms of revenue and of course not making it too difficult for you.

    “I’m very pleased with this visit, I’m pleased that we have got some royal fathers that are part of your management team in terms of supporting you, I believe they can influence your state governments, the state governments that are maybe making things difficult,’’ he said.

    President Buhari also directed the Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Mr Bawa Bwari, to particularly look into the complaints of the association with a view to addressing them.

    He said: “I think the minister should take this on, that is why he is there to make sure that he makes it worthwhile for you to invest more, to attract more foreign investors  that can bring capital and technology.

    The president assured that his administration would continue to reinvigorate the mining industry in the country so as to create more employment opportunities and to generate more revenue to diversify the nation’s economy.

    “As I said, the interest of the federal government is really employment and the revenue and we hope your foreign partners will invest more in bringing technology and equipment to bear on the industry,’’ he added.

    In his remark, the President of the Association, Alhaji Sani Shehu, said that Nigeria had recovered its prime position in mining jurisdiction of the world, especially as it related to Tin, Lead-Zinc, Gemstones and Gold.

    He noted that all these achievements were made possible due to the hope, direction, stability, efficiency and the credibility of the Buhari administration.

    Shehu, however, outlined the challenges facing the mining industry to include undue interference in the mining governance by some state governors and inadequate funding to rejuvenate the sector to become the future economic mainstay of Nigeria.

    He, therefore, appealed for presidential intervention to protect miners from “undue interference of some state governors who make mining difficult in their states.’’

    He also appealed for fiscal policy in the mining sector to address the multiple taxations being experienced by miners.(NAN)

  • I’ll sign PIB into law, Buhari assures oil workers

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured workers in the oil and gas industry of his commitment to ensuring a conducive working environment for them, saying he will accelerate the process of signing into the law the Petroleum Industries Bill once it is passed into law by the National Assembly.

    The President, who spoke through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) in Abuja, said his government was committed to the welfare of workers.

    He added that he will do everything possible to ensure a conducive working environment for them.

    The President also reminded them of his government’s stance on constitutionality, saying he would always uphold the Nigerian constitution, especially section 40 which guarantee freedom of association and freedom to form unions.

    He emphasised the need for dialogue in dealings with employers, saying: “There can be no employers without employees and there can be no employees without employers. So, you need each other’s always and must, therefore, work together for the common good of all.”

    NUPENG President Comrade Williams Akporeha said despite challenges and obstacles, workers solidarity remains ever constant like the northern star.

    He added: “Our resolve is unshaken, our unity unruffled, integrity intact and we remain indomitable and irrepressible as any industrial union will ever dream to be. In the light of these, we deserve to celebrate and felicitate together, and this we are here to do today.

    “However, one major hydra-headed monster we have been confronting for over two decades now is the titanic struggle against casualisation and indecent employment in the Nigeria oil and gas industry.”

    He said NUPENG has in the last four decades consistently and creditably contributed to the growth of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry and the enthronement of industrial peace and harmony has also positively impacted on the socio-political and economic growth of the nation.

     

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu in Presidential Campaign Council

    Determined to secure a second term ticket, President Muhammadu Buhari may head his party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to drive his electioneering.

    The list of PCC members is being scrutinised by the President  – to give the campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) “a bite”.

    But  the party leadership is seeking a central role from the President  in the re-election campaign instead of allowing only the PCC to take over the process.

    He said Atiku is no match for Buhari by any yardstick.

    Some of those on the PCC list are: Buhari (chairman); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(Deputy Chairman); Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (Co-chairman); the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole;  all APC governors; the Director-General of the council, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha;  some ministers, including Hadi Sirika (Aviation); Adamu Adamu (Education);  Abdulrahman Dambazzau; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and so on.

    A source said: “APC is set for the battle ahead. The President is taking a direct control of the PCC but we are hopeful that in the next one week, the list will be released. What he is doing is to make sure that it is all-inclusive and representational.

    “The last segment of consultations on the list will be with the leadership of the party which wants to play a central role in the campaign. Within the next few days, there will be discussion at that level.

    “The party’s position is that it has the candidate belongs to it and it has the responsibility to market President Buhari.

    “The leaders of APC are saying that the PCC should reflect the desire of the party.”

     

  • Buhari congratulates Obiano on Pope’s honour for social harmony

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano for getting the recognition of Pope Francis for his promotion of social harmony, good neighbourliness and a willingness to help individuals, institutions and other states.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President felicitated with the government and people of Anambra State for the award, which takes into cognisance the maturity and decency of the governor in handling the last elections in the state.

    President Buhari hailed Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican, who will lead a Pontifical Mass preceding the special award by the Catholic Church to Governor Obiano tomorrow.

    Read also: Obiano tasks Anambra judiciary on civil procedure rules

    He noted that the recognition by the Catholic Church would send the right signal to other states and all Nigerians that free, fair and peaceful elections are realisable, especially when political leaders declare their stand against non-violence and properly sensitise the electorate.

    President Buhari also congratulated Chief Obi Adimora and Mr Chidi Amamgbo, who will also receive awards at the event.

     

  • PT candidate Olawepo-Hashim overtakes Buhari on Social Media

    SOCIAL media engagements, especially on Facebook, have indicated that the Peoples Trust (PT) presidential candidate Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has surpassed a vast majority of the other candidates in popularity.

    A look at the rating conducted by an independent body in Abuja indicated that as of December 6, Olawepo-Hashim had pushed President Muhammadu Buhari to a distant third position.

    Taking a critical look at the analysis of the Facebook engagements yesterday, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar had 25,000 engagements, PT’s candidate Olawepo-Hashim recorded 19,900, leaving Buhari at a distant third position with only 10,400 engagements.

    Presidential candidates such as Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu of Young Progressives Party (YPP) had only 6,700 and 5,200 engagements respectively.

    With this development, political analysts, especially on social media, had reasoned that the agitation by a larger section of the Nigerian population for a credible alternative in 2019 was already coming to the fore.

    Olawepo-Hashim, aptly described as a political bridge between the North and South, had in recent times gained more followership that cuts across women and youth nationwide.

    Reports also indicated that discussions with over 20 political parties have reached an advanced stage in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,  which is expected to culminate in the collapse of these political structures into Olawepo-Hashim’s People’s Trust.

    Apart from Facebook, Olawepo-Hashim has a good followership on twitter and Instagram, in addition to the goodwill and support he enjoys  from the people wherever his campaign train visits.