The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • I’ll defeat Buhari, Atiku through ballot revolution, says Olawepo-Hashim

    The presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT) vowed yesterday to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar through “ballot revolution”.

    Speaking at a town hall meeting in Abuja, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, told his supporters that he had sufficiently mobilised the grassroots to realise his ambition, adding: “It is going to be a people’s ballot revolution.”

    He said it was time recycling of old politicians was stopped and frowned at a situation where some persons continue to live on government at the expense of the vast majority of Nigerians.

    Olawepo-Hashim said 2019 was about how to stop killings and hunger in the land.

    According to him “It is about how to stop the killings of our people. It is about how to give living wage to people. We will pay N50 ,000 minimum wage to our workers at the one year anniversary of our government.

    “The government cannot pay decent minimum wage because they lack imagination, creativity and are devoid of capacity to create jobs.

    “But when elected, I will create four million jobs every year. You can trust me to create jobs because that is what I have been doing for 27 years now.”

    He slammed successive governments for mismanaging the nation’s economy.

    “The economy is mismanaged because they have lived all their lives on government’s largesse.

    “The APC policies have always promoted poverty. After three years in the saddle, the party has increased poverty and hunger in the land while the other party is about corruption, selling government property at cheap prices  to themselves.”

    Olawepo-Hashim declared that PT is the real alternative party that would sustain the people’s revolution.

    Justifying the choice of Dr Arthur Nwankwo as his running mate, Olawepo-Hashim said the statesman had fought for the greatness of Nigeria, stressing that “he is one of the credible people you can find in the southeastern zone of the country.”

    “We commit that no part of Nigeria will be treated like a second class citizenry. The choice I made on Nwankwo is to affirm that no section of Nigeria should be made to feel like a conquered people, ” he stated.

    He said that competent leaders must be voted into offices, adding that “this is time for truly tested and educated leaders who understand how easy 21st Century economy operates to be elected.”

    He added “What we will give Nigeria is a government and leadership that are determined to grow the economy to four trillion dollar.”

    Delivering the party chairman’s opening address, Olawale Okunniyi, Secretary of Board of Trustees of PT and the Director General of the National Intervention Movement (NIM), urged Nigerians to embrace a third force as the new alternative to the mainstream parties in the country.

    He said: “PT is here to pursue political revolution. We are for paradigm shift. We are serious about changing the fortunes of our country for the better.

    “Our candidate is a product of political revolutionary struggle and the party is built on that tradition, hence, our insistence on pursuing a fundamental political agenda to set the path of the nation right.

    “That was why we have one of the architects of  federalist restructuring in Nigeria, Dr Arthur Nwankwo, as the Vice Presidential candidate of the party.”

  • Eid-el-Maulud: Buhari, Saraki, Ekweremadu, governors, others greet Nigerians

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday led other leaders in felicitating with the citizens, especially Muslims at home and abroad, on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud celebration, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

    Others who greeted Nigerians on the occasion are Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi  Ugwuanyi, Governor  Ibikunle Amosun and others.

    President wishes citizens peace, happiness, good health

    In a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, the President wished everyone peace, happiness and good health.

    Buhari also said the nation is making great progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government in dealing with issues of security, the war against corruption, reform and restructuring of the economy and the provision of needed infrastructure.

    But to be fully successful, he said the country needs the support and prayers of citizens.

    He asked for prayers for the nation for peaceful electioneering as it embarks on democratic elections next year.

    Buhari also expressed his confidence that the important Islamic ceremony of Eid-el-Maulud would help to promote mutual harmony and tolerance among all Nigerians.

    Show love to one another, says Saraki

    Saraki urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebration to show love to one another and imbibe the virtues of perseverance and restraint.

    In a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the birthday of the Holy Prophet and said the occasion should inspire Nigerians to renew their belief in the Almighty Allah  and the country.

    Ekweremadu to Nigerians: close ranks

    Ekweremadu yesterday called on Nigerians to close ranks and work for a nation, where every man is his brother’s keeper.

    He also urged for prayers for peaceful 2019 general elections and asked politicians to play by the rules and highest democratic ethos.

    He said: “As the nation joins the Muslim Ummah around the world to mark the birth of the holy prophet, let all compatriots rededicate themselves to the path of peaceful coexistence, unity, love, forgiveness, and tolerance to build a Nigeria of our dreams.

    “I urge our Muslim brethren to pray for unity and peace in the country as well as peaceful general elections in 2019.”

    ‘Replicate the Prophet’s virtues of righteousness’

    Dogara called on the Ummah to replicate in their lives, the virtues of righteousness, honestly, charity and peaceful coexistence as exemplified by the prophet.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said the celebration of Maulud is an opportunity for the adherents to  renew  faiths, rejuvenate their spirit and engender love in the society.

    Ugwuanyi urges sustained prayers, unity

    Ugwuanyi yesterday called on Nigerians to remain prayerful and committed in their abiding faith in God for the sustenance of peace, unity and progress of the country.

    Ugwuanyi, who felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful, noted that the occasion is another opportunity to continue to uphold the deeds and teachings of the Holy Prophet, which border on faith, sacrifice, obedience, love, tolerance, charity and peaceful co-existence, among others.

    Seek the face of Allah in prayer, Amosun tells faithful

    Amosun also urged Muslim faithful to use the occasion to seek the face of Allah in prayer for guidance in the choice of leaders in the build up to the 2019 general elections.

    The governor, who stated this known in a statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, added that in the midst of the celebration, Muslims should also pray for the nation and the leaders.

    Imbibe Prophet Muhammad’s tolerance, says Obasa

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa called on Nigerians to imbibe Prophet Muhammad’s tolerance, selflessness and courage to accelerate the country’s growth

    Obasa’s advice was contained in his message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak.

    Obasa said: “Prophet Muhammad was tolerant and selfless as a leader and was courageous in implementing programmes, which enhanced and ensured improvement of lives of the citizens during his tenure as an administrator.

    “When he was head of government in Madinah, he related well with everyone irrespective of race, religion or creed. That was tolerance! His welfare programmes cater for all, while he was courageous in promoting programmes that enhanced the welfare of the people. These are the qualities we should imbibe.”

  • Buhari greets Jonathan, Attah, Ezeife on birthdays

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has joined Nigerians in sending warm greetings to former President Goodluck Jonathan as he turns 61 today.

    He also felicitated with former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah as well as former Anambra State Governor Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife. They turn 80 today.

    The President believed the life journey of the former president remains an inspiration to every young Nigerian of the possibilities that await anyone willing to learn, work hard and participate in making the country great.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also congratulated Jonathan on the publishing of his memoir, My Transition Hours, which will be launched as part of ceremonies marking his birthday.

    He encouraged Nigerians to follow same example of sharing their experiences in writing.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will strengthen Jonathan, grant him longer life and bless his family.

    He also joined family members, friends, professional colleagues and political associates of Obong Attah in celebrating the many years of service to God and humanity, and obvious impact of his leadership style.

    As an architect with versatile and global working experience, the President, in a statement by Adesina, hailed the strategic thinking and planning of Obong Attah and his cabinet in shaping the infrastructural development of Akwa Ibom, which he said still remained one of the most hospitable and attractive states for tourists in the country.

    Buhari affirmed that Obong Attah’s contribution to architectural growth has been most remarkable, and historical, especially when he served as President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

    He prayed to the almighty God for longer life, good health and more wisdom for the former governor to continue serving the country and humanity.

    Buhari, in another statement by Adesina, joined family, friends and political associates of Ezeife in celebrating the milestone, which has been lined with many notable achievements, both at state and national levels.

    As the for governor turned 80, the President believed Ezeife’s investments in human capital and laying of a foundation for a vibrant economy in Anambra State would be remembered and cherished by posterity.

    He prayed for longer life, good health and strength for Ezeife.

  • Buhari, governors meet over minimum wage

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with governors and other members of a committee set up to arrive at a common figure for the new minimum wage for the country.

    Members of the committee set up by the Nigerian Governors Forum over the minimum wage included governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu and Kaduna states.
    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who is the chairman of NGF was at the meeting with the President.
    The 36 state governors had met last week and announced that they would not be able to pay the N30,000 per month minimum wage being demanded by labour unions.
    They had threatened to carry out mass retrenchment if they are forced to implement the new wage.
    They subsequently set up a committee to meet with Mr Buhari over the issue.
    After series of meetings by a tri-partite committee comprising of labour, state and federal government led by former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, the committee recommended that the government should increase the minimum wage to N30,000.
    The President had while receiving the report of the committee said he would subject it to all processes after which a bill would be sent to the National Assembly for passage into law.
    The Monday meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Death wish

    They wrote fiction, but they failed to provide its sweet ingredient: credibility. It’s one thing to write a lie. You fail if your readers believe it is a lie. The irony is that a good lie must throw up a decoy, must con us, must take us to the left when it is going right, must capsize facts while we believe facts to ride on an even keel. Facts are suspended, and we are glad to float and soar away in its cloud of reconstructed realities.

    That’s what literary critic Biodun Jeyifo called Truthful Lie in his seminal work on Nigerian literature. Telling a lie implies a binary world, two interlocking realities that force us to wonder which is the truth.

    But what trended in the social media in the past week made a mockery of the masters of fictionalising. They wrote as amateurs, as third-rate liars. Just as the presidential campaign season was on the verge of a bloom, the story went about that President Buhari is not really President Buhari. They say that the fellow Nigerians voted into power in 2015 has somehow dissolved into eternity, and a surrogate, who laughs, talks, and looks like him, has been foisted on us by “the cabal.”

    They gave him a name: Jubril Al-Sudani. A remarkably un-Nigerian name. The story is concocted by Nigeria’s ethnic entrepreneur Nnamdi Kanu who fled and has found dubious comfort in the arms of the Israeli mentors. It should have been ignored if the matter did not find traction in the gullible minds of some Nigerians eager to see the president dead.

    They have swarmed the social media with tales. The tales flatter their secret hopes. It emboldens their necromantic impulses. It fires their partisan furies. It is a good example of how not to lie. These people wished Buhari dead when he was in London for medical treatment. They believe he passed away. Or they want to believe so.

    The implication is that he was not cured in London. The federal government covered his corpse in a meretricious lie about his death. So, they formed a double from the dust of a conspiracy and breathed into his nostrils the mandate of 2015. And he has become a living president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    They claim his wife knows, but she has apparently refused to mourn. Rather she decided to have two husbands in her lifetime, one in a former life, and the other after Buhari’s life. One in dust for the other now endorsed. One bearing his name, and the other faking that name. She is married to half-ghost, half flesh, one in glory and the other gone to glory.

    No known funeral rites. The same cabal that does not like the woman, the same people who mocked her, they have suddenly warmed up to her and cajoled her into rejecting widowhood to continue as her excellency.

    These are the faithful of trashy fiction. They are in the league of the slipshod stories written by third-rate writers. Kanu, the ethnic entrepreneur, in a manic search for relevance, has provoked some callow minds in the land.

    Kanu and others who hold on to this shallow tale want us to swallow this nonsense as part of a scheme to generate stories against Buhari. If they have genuine reasons to disavow the president, they should advance them rather than turn the campaign season into a season of tales by moonlight.

    They also want us to believe that a prominent president of a prominent African nation dies in a United Kingdom hospital and the story has been covered up for over a year? The hospital has not issued a press release and has decided to involve itself in an illegality of concealment?

    Now who is this man called Al-Sudani? Some call him El-Sudani. What is his provenance? When was he born? Did he attend any schools? When he was young what did he look like? Who took the pictures with him? Who were his classmates? Who were or are his parents? Didn’t he have any teachers? Does he have a home, neighbours or close friends? Does he have siblings? Where were they born? If they came from Katsina or anywhere else, even outside the country as the name suggests, shall we have evidence please?

    Are we expected to believe that this man has been such a dexterous conman that no one has been able to detect him except the man who did not even see him? Who is his wife and who are his children or relatives?

    What was he doing when the so-called death chapter of the president was born? The claim was made even more ridiculous by saying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in on this, and that the cabal made Professor Osinbajo to kowtow to the same footloose morality they foisted on Aisha. According to them, Prof Osinbajo knows Buhari has passed on and he has agreed to be the vice president of an impostor. It means he has ceded his constitutional rights to succeed the president be denying the so-called dead man his last rites.

    It shows that some Nigerians ought to be careful in this election season not to float on fake news, or float them. It calls for vigilance not only in the traditional media and their online counterparts. It is the duty of the traditional media to checkmate the excesses of what Soyinka called the millipedes of the internet. Kanu and his friends are grappling for new relevance after their last episode of cowardice. He cannot be a hero like Okonkwo who yielded with an ultimate sacrifice. Instead he wants yields for himself while alive.

    History has recorded doppelgangers. One of them was in the United States where one prominent citizen Robert Casey turned down a call to run for office. But another man bearing his name ran and he won because the voters thought he changed his mind.

    The President Muhammadu Buhari might have heard this but he has not felt impelled to personally address it. He shouldn’t because it will fodder the story. The apostle Didymus who saw Jesus did not believe even when he appeared in flesh because his doubts preceded him. Those who don’t believe will find new excuses to not believe. That is the nature of malicious fiction. It is the case when one is overwhelmed with death wish.

    In his play Twelfth Night, Shakespeare makes a story of mistaken identity end in the realisation of the truth. So let it be with Buhari.

    A wage or wager?

    Sometimes a writer comes across as a seer. I am not but barely a week after

    In Touch Column looked at the minimum wage agreement, the powers-that-be revealed what I predicted. That is, the deal was a clever move to avert a strike even though they know that nobody, especially state governors, wants to pay.

    Whither Saraki?

    What happened to Bukola “Eleyinmi” Saraki in Kwara, where he has been called oga na master. In the first real test in his enclave, his former house is now better than the latter. An APC candidate, Raheem Olawuyi, felled his PDP man in the bye-election into the federal constituency held at the weekend across four local councils of the state. Shall we say “Whither Saraki in Kwara, or wither Saraki?” Is it just a wakeup call or it is a wake keeping for his electoral fortunes in the state. Time beckons.

  • Buhari not against true federalism, says Campaign Organisation 

    President Muhammadu Buhari is not opposed to restructuring of the country to reflect true federalism, it was learnt yesterday.

    This position was contained in a document entitled: “Buhari/Osinbajo 2019 – A Basic Guide – The Campaign Manual in Brief” circulated during the Next Level 2019 Buhari/Osinbajo presentation at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    The Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (MBCO) was presenting facts as against what it describes as fiction about Buhari’s administration not believing in restructuring.

    “The President has never indicated he would oppose any move by the National Assembly to carry out constitutional amendments to fully reflect true federalism,” it stated.

    It also claimed that President Buhari was not “cunning” and “deceitful” like some other candidate, apparently referring to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The document reads: “The President himself is not a cunning and deceitful character like some other candidate, who knows he does not have the powers to single-handedly restructure the country through constitutional amendments and would engage in giving a time-frame within which the country would be restructured.”

    Atiku had recently promised to restructure the country within six months of assuming office as President.

    Towards restructuring the country, the document recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2017 set up a committee headed by Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, which submitted a report with far reaching recommendations.

    It also pointed out that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in all his public outings throughout the years, has advocated restructuring and true federalism.

    The document also devoted a section to the 16 years “misrule” of the PDP and Atiku’s alleged corrupt practices.

    It gave reasons why Nigerians sent PDP packing in 2015 and how nothing has changed, and listed some of the allegations against former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The document reads: “As President and Vice President, President Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar granted themselves university licences and were building their universities whilst ASUU was on strike severally at that period.

    “In the same vein, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar co-founded Intels in 1982 in clear breach of the code of conduct for public officers.”

    The document also highlighted the sins of PDP to include political assassinations/unresolved murders,  executive lawlessness, electoral malpractices,  illegal seizure of Lagos funds, disastrous privatisation programme.

    It also denied allegations that President Buhari was condoning corruption and spearheading a one-sided anti-graft war.

    The document also denied allegation that President Buhari does not abide by the rule of law or disobeying court orders.

    It also said that Buhari’s actions or inactions could not have caused the farmers/herders crises as it preceded his administration.

  • My second term plans, by Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday launched his re election campaign with the presentation of his achievements, and his plans, if reelected.

    On job creation, the campaign with the theme, “The Next Level: Working for the Greatest Number”, announced plans to engage one million N-Power graduates and “skill up” 10 million Nigerians under a voucher system in partnership with the private sector.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer plans to expand the school feeding programme from 9.3 million to 15 million children to create 300,000 extra jobs for vendors and farmers.

    In infrastructure upgrade, it intends to complete the Ibadan/Kano phase of the Lagos/Kano rail link; the Port Harcourt/Maiduguri line, the Itakpa/Warri link to Abuja, through Lokoja; the Second Niger Bridge; and the East West Road connecting Warri, Delta State, to Oron, Akwa Ibom State, through Kaiama and Port Harcourt in Bayelsa and Rivers State respectively.

    President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, his running mate, also indicated the plan will establish a “Peoples Moni Bank” to institutionalize the giving out of soft loans of up to N1 million to small traders, artisans and commercial drivers, including taxi drivers, Keke and motorcycle riders.

    The team intends to consolidate on its Trader Moni, Market Moni and Farmer Moni schemes by increasing the number of beneficiaries from 2.3 million to 10 million.

    The Buhari/Osinbajo team also wants to create more room for inclusion in government, by achieving 35 per cent in female appointments, give more access to youth appointment in boards and agencies, as well as introduce special mentoring programme in governance, with young graduates working with ministers and other senior government appointees.

    In education, it states: “Every child counts is our roadmap to make our primary and secondary school students digitally literate with emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STREAM).

    “We will reinterpret the curriculum, by imparting functional skills such as coding, robotics, animation, design thinking, collaboration, critical thinking and project management. We will also emphasise civic education.

    “All teachers in public primary and secondary schools will be retrained in their primary areas of teaching, as well as to deliver digital literacy.”

    The team also added that at the next level, 10,000 schools per year will be remodeled and equipped, transforming classrooms to labs, workshops and collaboration centres.

  • Buhari to politicians: Don’t set Nigeria ablaze, launches campaign manual

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday inaugurated campaign manual for his re-election in 2019 with a call on politicians to be peaceful and decent in their campaigns and avoid any act capable of setting the nation ablaze.

    Speaking at the launch of the Campaign Manual/Next Level Document at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president said the call had become imperative in view of the commencement of campaigns, from 18 November, by political parties across the country.

    “I’m not unmindful that the National Assembly and the Presidential campaign starts today, I will employ candidates to go about the campaigns peacefully and decently.

    We have no other country, let us not set it ablaze because of politics,’’ he said.

    He observed that the next four years would be quite significant as the country was faced with a choice to keep building a new Nigeria- making a break from its tainted past which favoured an opportunistic few.

    “We are committed to deepening the work we started this first term such that the nation’s assets and resources continue to be organised and utilised to do good for the majority of our people.

    “Our choices will shape us – our economic security and our future prosperity.

    According to him, Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-focused government to move the agenda for the country forward.

    The president, therefore, called on all Nigerians to Join his administration on “this journey to the NEXT LEVEL of a prosperous, strong and stable Nigeria!’’

    He explained that in the next four years he would ensure job creation across the nation’s socio-economic sectors that would witness 15 millions new jobs.

    The President said this would be achieved through an enlargement of the N-Power programme, investing in technology and creative jobs to agriculture and providing access to credits for entrepreneurs.

    According to him, the APC-led administration intends to exploit the comparative advantage of the geo-political zones and different states by developing six Industrial Parks and 109 Special Production and Processing Centres (SPPCs) across each senatorial district.

    He said the objective was to move the country away from oil dependence.

    “The march away from a mono-economy must continue with our focus on an industrialisation plan coming to fore.

    “With specific plans underway to exploit the comparative advantage of the geo-political zones and different states by developing 6 Industrial Parks and 109 Special Production and Processing Centres (SPPCs) across each senatorial district, our incremental move away from oil dependence is assured.

    “In addition, our development of the Special Economic Zones will quickly concretise our Made in Nigeria for Export (MINE) plan,’’ he added.

    According to him, the APC-led administration will sustain food production and value addition, saying the mechanisation policy for agriculture will make tractors and processors easily accessible and available for farmers across Nigeria.

    He said the administration would also continue a wide scale skilling policy, prioritising technology to reach the demography of young people within the productive sector on a massive scale even as “the government create jobs and growth within our economy.

    “We believe that our people who are still in poverty have a direct way out and up through our expanded National Social Investments Programme.

    “We believe we can implement the painstaking and comprehensive work we have done to bring an end to the perennial conflict between farmers and herders- a conflict which is heightened by a struggle for land, water and pasture and the effects of climate change and every now and then, opportunistic and cynical manipulation by political actors.

    “We are implementing a blend of measures that ensures that justice, order, modernisation and new economic paradigms emerge.’’

    In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said the event provided an opportunity to showcase the success story of President Buhari’s administration.

    He said: “We have 90 days to elect our next leaders and I believe Nigerians will make the right choice of returning our leaders to power,” he said.

    Mustapha said the outcome of last Saturday’s bye- elections into three federal constituencies in Bauchi, Katsina and Kwara states had indicated “the direction where the 2019 elections will go.’’

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC swept the three federal constituencies in Katsina, Kwara, and Bauchi states in the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, Nov. 17.

    Speaking on a topic entitled: “What we are building’’, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, narrated the achievements of the Buhari administration in areas of power supply, road construction and rehabilitation as well as housing sector.

    According to him, no nation will develop without aggressive and committed investment in the infrastructure, saying that a total of 365 road projects are ongoing in the 36 states of the federation simultaneously.

    Among those that witnessed the event included Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari.

    Others were Governors Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.

    The event was also witnessed by cabinet ministers, APC members of the National Assembly and several groups of the president’s campaign organisation from within and outside Abuja.

  • APC built Train stations in villages of PDP chieftains—Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday said that in the course of executing the Warri-Itakpe Rail line, stations were built in the villages of Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP)’s chieftains.

    Amaechi disclosed this at the `Next Level Presentation’ at Presidential Villa Banquet Hall to signal the commencement of the campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 general elections.

    The minister who made a presentation titled `What We are Building ’  said that President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office, directed that old and abandoned projects be completed.

    “The truth is that the country is compelled to make a choice between good and bad. When I was appointed the Minister for Transportation, the president warned–do not start new contracts, go and complete old ones.

    “We met Itakpe –Warri Rail line which had been in existence for 34  years uncompleted; it would have been the first Standard Guage line in Africa if it was completed.

    “ Based on the president’s instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China; but the president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the project.

    “People saw me on social media on Train service from Warri to Itakpe. I got to Warri 8pm because I was going from one station to the other—almost all the villages and most  prominent members of PDP made sure that train stations were in their villages.

    “So, I am compelled to do those stations in villages of members of PDP; it is okay; it is the instruction of the president that you must go and finish the old work.’’

    He said that the tradition in the past was that once one was elected, one left the old things for the old people and awarded new contracts.

    According to Amaechi, the ministry will start commercial service from Itakpe to Warri.

    On PDP’s argument that it started the projects, Amaechi said that Buhari made it clear on commissioning the Abuja –Kaduna rail project that the project was started by the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We completed it but two things are remarkable—we borrowed 500 million dollars to start that project at the time oil was selling at 114 dollars per barrel.

    “ We should not have borrowed; you mean this country could not have afforded 500 million dollars?

    “I will show that we can; when I wrote a memo to the president and to the cabinet requesting that he should allow me borrow 500 million dollars from China to buy locomotives and coaches for Lagos-Ibadan, the cabinet under the directive of the president refused.

    “He(the president) said 500 million dollars; we can get from here and we are funding it from here; so we did and completed Kaduna to Abuja quickly.

    “We spend N56million per month and we get N16 million; so we are augmenting for both rich and poor—N40 million per month under the directive of the president because he fears that the poor might not be able to afford it. So, everybody is using it.’’

    According to him, Lagos to Ibadan railway is almost complete—a distance of 156kms.

    The minister said that application had also been made to construct Kano to Kaduna railway as approval for funds is being awaited.

    “We are about to award the central line from Abuja to Niger to Baru from Baru to Itakpe to Warri; the president had approved a new seaport in Warri. We are negotiating with a Chinese company which will build it.

    “Do not forget that N2.7 billion dollars is N1 trillion. So, we are looking for money to commence already awarded work on the coastal rail.

    “The coastal rail starts from Lagos, from Lagos; it passes through Ogun State, Ondo, Benin, Asaba, and Onitsha. From Benin again, it passes through Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, to Bayelsa, in fact, it goes to Utuoke. From Otuoke, it goes to Port Harcourt.

    “ Then from Port Harcourt, it goes to Aba, Uyo, and ends up in Cross River State.

    “We are almost ready to award Port Harcourt to Maidugiri. The difference between us and the last award is that the last award was 1500km but under the directive of Mr President, it was extended to 2000 km.

    “ The last award was Port Harcourt straight to Maidugiri but in order to satisfy everybody at the directive of the President, we must get to every state capital,’’ he said.

    On his part, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, said that it would require a long journey into Nigeria’s history to recall when last it had massive investment in infrastructure.

    “It is no coincidence that we look to the 1970s and the 1980s when we built new airports, new seaports, new refineries, new highways and bridges.

    “The closest you will have to that era is the 1990s when petrol-money was also being applied to upgrade infrastructure under the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF )incidentally chaired by Buhari.

    “We lost an enormous opportunity when recently oil money rose to $114 dollar per barrel and stayed there for almost a decade and we have no new airport, refinery, bridges, petrochemical plants,   no new seaports to show accountability to how all the money went,’’ he said.

    The event also witnessed the unveiling of Buhari-Osinbajo 2019—A Basic Guide-The Campaign Manual in Brief. (NAN)

  • I’m committed to national unity, religious harmony- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is committed to national unity and religious harmony, urging Nigerians to embrace the effort.

    He gave the assurance on Sunday during the 10th Anniversary of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria(MUSWEN) and N5bn launch of MUSWEN International Centre in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the president’s message was read at the event by Mr Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education.

    Buhari urged religious leaders to embrace religious tolerance to achieve peaceful co-existence and national unity, re-stating his administration’s commitment to religious harmony and national unity.

    The president commended MUSWEN and its leaders for their contributions to national growth and development, saying the south west Muslim leaders were the most dedicated.

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State acknowledged MUSWEN’s support and contributions to the successes recorded by his administration.

    He appealed to religious leaders to disseminate message of tolerance, unity, peace and tranquility in their sermons, particularly as the 2019 general election approached.

    Ajimobi said it was only in the atmosphere of peace that development and growth could thrive in any society.

    Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, urged all to always extend hands of fellowship to others, irrespective of religious beliefs, ethnicity and status in the society.

    He counseled Nigerians to eschew the use of foul languages on others even when they felt so much aggrieved, saying the nation could only achieve greatness through tolerance and unity of purpose.

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, in a keynote address entitled “Muslim Voice on Good Governance”, said the topic was timely considering the challenges facing the country.

    He said that Islam and Muslim political heritage had profound principles, norms and practices for good governance, saying such predated modern democracy which was about 200 years.

    “Muslims should be at the fore front in advocating and leading with examples in good governance.

    “This has become necessary because our political culture has deteriorated and increasingly mercantile, where money is everything.

    “This is responsible for bad governance that has characterised the polity, subverted development, perpetrated poverty as well as elicited the unending social conflicts.”

    Sanusi said money-based politics would continue to fuel unprecedented corruption seen in the society today, saying pristine values as a people had been supplanted and the future thrown into jeopardy.

    He urged all political, spiritual and traditional leaders to join hands in salvaging the polity from the danger posed by the current political culture.

    According to him, “we have to take leadership seriously and cannot ignore centuries old wisdom which places high premium on leadership and criteria for shouldering responsibilities.

    “The consequences of ignoring the standards are already showing and we must not wait until the bubble bursts. We cannot allow full reins to money politics and expect the eradication of corruption.”

    Dr Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of the occasion, commended MUSWEN for the sustenance of its meaningful contribution to Islam and national development in the last 10 years.

    Babalakin appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its industrial action and dialogue with government, assuring them of meaningful resolution of the issue.