The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Amosun, Akeredolu, Fayemi, Bindow: no plot against Buhari

    FOUR governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday defended their integrity after being accused by a pro-Buhari Campaign group of working against the President’s re-election and plotting National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole’s ouster.

    The Federation of Buhari Support Group yesterday after a solidarity march in support of Oshiomhole at the nationa secretariat, named the governors as Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa).

    In a statement by its Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Sikiru and Publicity Secretary Gbenga Bojuwomi, the group said Akredolu had been busy collecting signatures of governors and party chairmen with the intention to generate a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole.

    The group alleged that Akeredolu was determined to fight Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oshiomhole and President Buhari, adding that with the way the governor had been going, “it will be a miracle if the President gets 10 per cent votes from Ondo State in the 2019 presidential election”.

    The group said “Federation of Buhari Support Group in its indepth investigations observed that a lot of damage has been done underground by the conservative governors to thwart the bright chances of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

    “Moreover, the group in its previous submission, had raised the alarm on many occasions that Governor Akeredolu was determined to fight three personalities in APC, President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Oshiomhole. Mr. Governor of Ondo State is not happy with all the strategies by APC Chairman to reunite the party with a view to bringing democracy to the door-step of party members by the introduction and adoption of direct primaries for all elections.

    “Instead for this governor to focus on projects that will better the lot of the good people of Ondo State, he is busy running from North to South collecting signatures of governors and party chairmen in states to pass a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole.

    “Moreso, Akeredolu is not contesting election this time around. It clearly shows that he does not care about the success or victory of the APC in the 2019 elections.

    “ Akeredolu is the leader of the new conservative movement within the APC with the assistance of Fayemi (Ekiti), Amosun (Ogun) El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Bindow (Adamawa)

    “It was gathered at the weekend, that the sudden death of tenure elongation for their preferred man, Chief John Oyegun, and consequent emergence of Oshiomhole as national chairman to restructure the party has not gone down well with these people, most especially Akeredolu, who is a beneficiary of Odigie-Oyegun’s style of impunity and lawlessness.

    “We believe in the leadership of the party ably led by Adams Oshiomhole and his determination to position the party for landslide victory in the forthcoming elections.

    “Our party is greater than any individual or group.Let us come together and face our common goal or remaining the most efficient and trusted party in our clime. Together we can make this happen.”

    However, in separate reactions, the governors faulted the claims.

    Fayemi  said he enjoys the best of relationship with Buhari, Oshiomhole and Asiwaju Tinubu.

    He described the group’s claim as”baseless and unfounded”.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi wondered how the group came about the alleged feud with the three senior party figures.

    Fayemi said he holds Buhari, Oshiomhole and Tinubu in high esteem, noting that the trio contributed immensely to his victory in the governorship election

    He said: “Governor Fayemi holds President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Comrade Oshimohole in high esteem and he still maintains with them a good relationship, which is not hidden.

    ”We don’t know where the Buhari Support Group got their story from; Governor Fayemi has the best of respect for these eminent party leaders and he has no reason to be working against them.

    ”Let us ask ourselves, on what basis will Dr. Fayemi will be working against the President? This was the man who appointed him Minister and supported him to regain the governorship seat.

    “Why will he fight Comrade Oshiomhole? It was under his chairmanship that APC won back Ekiti and everybody knew the role played by the national chairman.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu is a mentor to the governor; both of them had come a long way in a relationship that has lasted over two decades.

    “In fact, Asiwaju attended the governor’s inauguration last week and the roles he played in the APC victory in Ekiti election cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

    “Governor Fayemi has no reason to fight or work against our revered President, our respected national chairman and our revered national leader.

    “The allegation is false, baseless, unfounded and exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”

    Akeredolu said he was too busy with state matters and working to develop the state for him to be bothered by “spurious” allegations.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Segun Ajiboye said those behind “fake allegations like these are out for only one thing- seeking to be noticed”.

    He described Akeredolu as “a loyal party man, who is working and will continue to work for the party’s progress and do anything that will ensure that the APC continues to win elections at all levels in the country.”

    Bindow dissociated himself from the allegations.

    His Special Adviser on Media, Macaulay Hunohoshi, said Bindow is a loyal member of the APC who has no reason to plot any evil against its leaders.

    “Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is a respected leader and statesman that Governor Bindow holds in high esteem. Bindow has nothing whatsoever against him and could therefore not do anything that amounts to fighting him.”

    On Oshiomhole, Macaulay said Bindow, who won the Adamawa State governorship ticket following “a transparently credible primary” conducted by the APC NWC, could not be bitter against the party chairman, let alone want him removed.

    “Comrade Oshiomhole is a former labour leader and two-term governor of Edo State who has shown great leadership as chairman of the APC,” he said.

    Amosun, in a statement personaly signed last night, said: ”The ultimate aim of the purveyors of these unconscionable falsehoods is to drive a wedge between me and the President and tarnish my hard-earned reputation. This hatchet job will not work as Mr President is discerning enough to know the sources of the pack of concocted lies.

    “The relationship between President Buhari and myself transcends partisan politics. Senator Amosun holds President Buhari in the highest esteem and nothing will change that.”

    “The target of this grand campaign of calumny is actually our dear President Muhammadu Buhari

    “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state categorically that the people trying to cause disaffection between those of us loyal and committed to Mr. President and the success of APC are plotting to strip Mr. President bare, so that their grand design to achieve unfettered domination of the party would be achieved.”

     

  • Nigeria, Benin to work closely on joint border facility, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that Nigeria will work closely with the Republic of Benin to ensure the success of the newly inaugurated Seme-Krake joint border post between both countries.

    Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of the joint border post yesterday in Seme, Buhari described the project, which is aimed at enhancing the free movement of persons and goods in the region, as  “a symbol of integration that brings together the people of Nigeria and Benin”.

    He said: “Indeed, the Seme-Krake joint border is one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services.

    “Permit me, therefore, to congratulate my brother, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin on the successful completion of this magnificent project.

    “As we all know, Nigeria and Benin share many things in common. Hence, the establishment of the joint border post will certainly promote our brotherliness and emphasise our common interest.”

    On the benefits of the joint border post, which sits on 17 hectares of land, the President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that it would enhance trade facilitation by combining border clearance activities in a single location, increase cooperation and coordination of controls, in addition to fostering data and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    “The border post is strategically important and lies on the Lagos-Cotonou-Lome-Accra-Abidjan corridor, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the entire transit traffic in the sub-region.

    “The corridor is also part of the Trans-African Highway network.  This joint border post with modern enabling facilities is a flagship project in ECOWAS and a good example of regional public assets with a spill-over range of benefits,” he said.

    He also expressed optimism that the facilities at the border post would improve the working conditions of border officials and make them more efficient and effective in carrying out their duties.

    He urged border officials of both countries to ensure that their operations were carried out within the guiding principles of ECOWAS.

    Appreciating the financial commitment of the European Union Commission to the project and the contributions of the ECOWAS Commission towards its successful completion, Buhari noted that inadequate transport infrastructure and inefficient services were some of the major bottlenecks to the attainment of socio-economic growth and integration in the region.

    In his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the President also thanked the EU for supporting two other joint borders at Malanville (between Benin/Niger) and Noepe-Akanu (between Ghana/Togo).

  • Gowon urges Buhari, Atiku, others to get ready to accept 2019 polls’ results

    FORMER Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon yesterday appealed to politicians across parties contesting key political offices to, in the interest of national unity and cohesion, get ready to accept the result of the 2019 elections in good faith.

    Particularly, Gowon urged the leading presidential contestants on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and that of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to prepare to accept the eventual result of the forthcoming presidential poll for the country to move forward peacefully.

    The former Head of State spoke while responding to questions from reporters after the opening of an exhibition in honour of an Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    The event was organised to flag off week-long activities for the celebration of Akinkugbe’s 60th years’ anniversary as a doctor of medicine; 50th years as a professor, 85th birthday and retirement from public service.

    The event was attended by Chairman, Board of Management of UCH, Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima; the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Temitope Alonge; Gowon’s wife Mrs. Victoria Gowon, Akinkugbe and his wife, Prof. Sade, former UCH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Abiodun Ilesanmi among others.

    Gowon, who ruled from 1966 to 1975, described Akinkugbe as his longtime friend and lecturer to his wife when she was in the school of nursing at UCH.

    He noted that their friendship dated back to 1957, when they met in the United Kingdom.

    He enjoined the political gladiators to imbibe the same spirit displayed by the former President Goodluck Jonathan in conceding defeat after the 2015 presidential poll, in the interest of the unity and peace.

    Gowon said: “What happened last time (2015), if you remember, there was so much tension and the tension was so high that if things had gone wrong, Nigeria would be on fire. Then, as a result, (former) President Jonathan agreed at the early stage to say he accepted the results and congratulated Gen. Buhari. Now, this is the way.

    “I was in Ethiopia on African Union (AU) mission. The feeling before what happened was tension, anxiety, and worry by all in African states. When the result was announced, I was just leaving Ethiopia to come back to Nigeria; come and see the joy in the people of Africa at that meeting.

    “So, that was the sort of things I will really say we should have so that we can have a peaceful election that is credible, peaceful and people should accept the results of the election for the sake of Nigeria.

    “Where things go wrong, try to improve for the next time. It is my hope and prayer that things will go well. I hope all of you will play your parts to ensure a peaceful election.  If you make your own contributions that way, then we will be well.”

  • Buhari greets Emir of Zuru at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Sami, on his 75th birthday.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President noted that the birthday is a milestone marked with remarkable years of meritorious service to his people and the nation.

    He joined the Zuru Emirate Council, the government and people of Kebbi State, the Emir’s family and friends in celebrating the landmark age of the royal father, who has spent all his working life, since he was enlisted into the Army in 1962, in leadership positions that involved protecting the interest of people and the country.

    The President recalled that Alhaji Sami, as a governor, instituted agricultural projects to diversify the economy of the states he served, and strongly promoted values of education, particularly inspiring youths to pursue knowledge, wisdom and entrepreneurship.

    He saluted the Emir’s wisdom in introducing an inter-religious committee in Zuru Emirate on assumption of the throne in 1995, which created peaceful co-existence and harmony, as he deployed his versatile experience to set up a health foundation on HIV/AIDS and ensured peace in his domain.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will grant Alhaji Sami longer life and good health to continue serving humanity.

     

  • Buhari greets Emir of Zuru at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Sami, on his 75th birthday.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said that it’s a milestone marked with remarkable years of meritorious service to his people and the nation.

    He joined the Zuru Emirate Council, the government and people of Kebbi State, his family and friends in celebrating the landmark age of the royal father, who has spent all his working life, since he was enlisted into the army in 1962, in leadership positions that involved protecting the interest of people and the country.

    Read Also: Corruption still remains our major headache – Osinbajo

    The President recalled that Alhaji Sami, as a governor, instituted agricultural projects to diversify the economy of the states he served, and strongly promoted values of education, particularly inspiring youths to pursue knowledge, wisdom and entrepreneurship.

    He saluted the Emir’s wisdom in introducing an inter-religious committee in Zuru emirate on assumption of the throne in 1995, which created peaceful co-existence and harmony, as he deployed his versatile experience to set up a health foundation on HIV/AIDS and also ensuring peace in his domain.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will grant Alhaji Sami longer life and good health to continue serving humanity.

     

  • Corruption still remains our major headache – Osinbajo

    Vice president Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday that corruption remained the major challenge of Nigeria, saying the country was lucky to have President Muhammadu Buhari as the nation’s leader.

    Osinbajo made the statement in Bauchi when he paid a courtesy visit on the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu.

    “One of the things that have surprised me the most in government is that it is not that we do not have money.

    “It is that most of the money that should be used on projects and the poor, is stolen; corruption is the major problem of this country,” he said.

    According to him, it is a blessing for Nigeria to be blessed with a leader like President Muhammadu Buhari at this material time, who is committed in tackling corruption.

    “I think it is a blessing that God has given our country Muhammadu Buhari to be the president of our country at this time. This is because everybody knows he would not steal our money.

    “Despite the fact that we are earning 60 per cent less than they were earning in the previous government, we are spending almost five times more on projects today.

    “For the first time, we are spending N2.7trillion on capital projects ,” he said.

    The vice president also said that the Federal Government would be launching a “One Stop Shop” programme for the regulatory agencies in Bauchi, where traders could go and have their problems solved with ease.

    “For the first time in Bauchi, we are launching what we call ‘One Stop Shop’ for the regulatory authorities.

    “This means we would have the NAFDAC, SON and Corporate Affairs Commission under one roof here in Bauchi, so that any trader or small businesses owner can go and have his or her problems solved,” Osibanjo revealed.

    Read Also: NDDC plans industrial development centre in A/Ibom

    In his remark, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, thanked the Federal government for its kind gesture towards the state, adding that Presidnet Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had been addressing issues that the people considered relevant in their lives.

    “We are optimistic that the Federal Government has come to this state in big way; the present scheme will lead to improvement and success stories in the state,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Vice President was in Bauchi to launch the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic.

  • Idiagbon was a rare example of loyalty, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that his deputy as a military head of state, the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, was a very rare example of what loyalty to fatherland and to a superior should be.

    He spoke while receiving APC governorship aspirants and members of the party from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State at State House, Abuja.

    “Tunde was strong, loyal and extremely committed to the cause of positively changing the narrative about Nigeria, which the administration set out to do at that time,” the President said.

    He noted how his former deputy, who, while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when the administration was overthrown in 1985, insisted on returning to the country despite the political uncertainty, especially as he had learnt that he, as Commander-in-Chief at that time, had not been killed in the take-over.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, added that the late Idiagbon rejected the offer from the King of Saudi Arabia to bring members of his (Idiagbon) family from Nigeria to the kingdom, as he was his guest at that time, and eventually returned to Nigeria to suffer arrest like he (Buhari) did.

    Buhari enjoined Nigerians to remain faithful and loyal to the country in all their dealings.

    “You don’t have to be in uniform to be loyal.  What I said long ago in 1984 is still valid today. We have no other country, but Nigeria. Others, who feel they have another country, may choose to go. We will stay here and salvage it together,” he said.

    The President thanked the APC stakeholders for the position they have taken to continue to support the party regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

    He assured them that, with the unity displayed so far, APC will form the government in Kwara State after the 2019 elections.

  • Buhari: why anti-graft war is tough

    “Though tough, we are not relenting”, President Muhammadu Buhari has said of his administration’s anti-corruption battle. In his remarks at the 24th edition of the National Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, the President says some powerful individuals are frustrating the efforts, Assistant Editor NDUKA CHIEJINA and MOSES EMORINKEN report.

    SOME corrupt individuals have built financial war chests to frustrate the battle against systemic corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday at the opening of the 24th National Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja.

    The President, who took his administration’s anti-graft crusade to the NES, said the individuals are staking everything to frustrate their investigation and prosecution for corruption-related offences.

    He reiterated the need to tackle corruption, which according to him is not stunting economic growth, but discouraging inflow of investments.

    Lamenting persistence of corruption in the system, President Buhari said that perpetrators of corrupt acts “will always find ways to contaminate the reformed system to ply their unwholesome trade.”

    Represented by Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari said:  Those involved in corruption have a way of fighting back using the looted resources at their disposal. These corrupt officials have built formidable contacts and financial war chest to frustrate their investigation and prosecution.”

    Assuring that his administration will push on with the battle against graft, President Buhari assured that his “administration will never be deterred in its anti-corruption war, considering the destructive and contagious nature of the malaise.”

    He described grand corruption “as outright diversions of public funds by officials of government for Private or personal use. There are other layers of corruption such as taking a percentage kick back from procurement services.”

    Speaking at the first plenary session, moderated by the founding Dean, Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, Mrs. Ngaire Woods, Prof Osinbajo said:  “Corruption in Nigeria attained alarming level prior to now. By 2050, Nigeria will become the World’s third most populous nation and over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population will be youth. High oil revenue does not translate to job creation because grand corruption is the biggest problem of Nigeria.”

    Asked by the moderator to name influential Nigerians that have tried to prevent prosecution of corrupt persons, Osinbajo said: “I would like to refer to the Nigerian elite, and it’s probably not fair to be that broad, but practically, every segment, because people who have access to you, they could be political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders, whoever has access to you.

    “We have a system where people just feel like, ‘why don’t you just give this guy a break?’ Which again is part of the problem? You don’t get one call, you get several calls.”

    Osinbajo described the slow pace of prosecution as one of the most frustrating parts of the fight against corruption.

    The vice president said: “Confronting it is crucial as you really can’t avoid it and the only way to confront it is for government to be determined, to be committed to it.

    “Especially by strengthening the systems that will make corruption become something that will attract consequence, something that will attract sanctions.

    “If government is committed to it and focused on a number of indices, then I think things will change, and people really want to see some results.’’

    He, however, described as encouraging that the government has secured the conviction of two former governors, a development he noted “has shown that the hand of justice may be slow, but it would eventually catch up.”

    On the significant step so far taken by the government on corruption, Osinbajo said the government had not been folding its arms.

    He said that the government has been holding those that had made away with public funds accountable,  charging them to court and seizing their assets both locally and internationally.

    He said: “To an extent, those individuals have been brought to book. Although, the administration of justice process has been slow, the justice system has its own delays many of which can be resolved by legislation.

    “And there is the attitude of counsel to engage in tactics to keep cases on as long as possible to find a way out for persons accused of crimes.

    “What we need is a much more efficient system that is able to decide very quickly and take appropriate steps.

    “We need to pay close attention to the judiciary and the personnel to ensure they are persons of integrity.’’

    Osinbajo, therefore, urged Nigerians to join forces and support the fight against corruption in the country for the benefit of all.

    He said: “The most important thing is to have the critical mass of individuals in the private and public sectors who are committed to the same ideal, especially as it regards corruption.

    “Frankly, I do not think it involves everyone; I think it requires a few people who are prepared to join forces with those who want to fight corruption.

    “What is required is for them to see that this is important for all of us and it is in our best interest to fight corruption.’’

    High growth rate amid poverty

    He identified the factors responsible for the high growth figures, rising poverty and unemployment rate in the country.

    According to him, absolute poverty, defined as the number of those who could not afford the bare essentials as food, shelter and clothing, had been the biggest economic challenge for Nigeria in the past three decades.

    The President noted that the biggest drain on Nigeria’s resources was grand corruption, which he described as stealing of large sums of the public resource by public officials in collaboration with private individuals

    He said that the problem of poverty and the attendant deficits in human development indices were significant because Nigeria’s population continued to grow at about three per cent annually.

    Buhari, however, explained the paradox of high growth figures amid rising poverty and unemployment figures.

    His explanation: “The first is that high oil revenues do not necessarily translate to jobs. The high revenues can only translate to jobs and better living standards if the revenues are invested in diversification of the economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection for those who cannot work.

    “The question of course is what happens to the revenues? The most important drain on our resources is grand corruption; the stealing of large sums of the public resource by public officials in collaboration with private individuals.

    “The second reason that explains the paradox of high growth figures and rising poverty and unemployment figures flows from the first, namely: the poor investment in infrastructure and the non-creation of an enabling environment for business.

    “The third is the lack of commitment to diversification of the economy; which would in turn provide multiple streams of revenue; this is both an issue at the National and sub-national levels.

    “The fourth reason that explains the paradox of high growth figures and rising poverty and unemployment figures is the low investment over the years in the businesses at the bottom of the pyramid.’’

    He said that in addressing the identified challenges, there was a focus on empowering the jobless youth and millions in extreme poverty, by a mix of micro-credit schemes.

    According to him, the Federal Government is also focusing on infrastructure support for markets and small business clusters, welfare for the most vulnerable and direct creation of jobs.

    The President said the Federal Government under his watch was committing at least 30 per cent of the yearly budget on capital, especially infrastructure.

    He listed other measures aimed at addressing poverty as diversifying the economy especially agriculture, mining and the promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    Others are: strong fiscal discipline, especially zero tolerance for grand corruption; support to states for payments of salaries and emoluments; social protection programmes covering at least five million of the poorest.

    The President said that most of the measures were captured in details the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    “Generally speaking, we have kept faith with these objectives; by putting in place stricter regime of fiscal discipline, we provided for 30 per cent capital expenditure from 2016 in spite of earning 60 per cent less.

    “We invested so far a total of N2.7 trillon in capital spending; the highest ever in the history of the country.

    “This covers investments in rail, roads, power and dams.

    “In diversifying the economy, Agriculture has been a major success story with increasing budgetary allocation to Agriculture from N8.8 billion in 2015 to N46.2 billion in 2016 and N103.8 billion in 2017.”

    First gold refining licence issued

    Budget & National Planning Minister Udo Udoma, said that the Federal Government has issued the first gold refining licence to Kian Smith Limited, as part of its effort to revamp and diversify the economy.

    The issuance of the gold refining license, he said, was a product of the Focus Labs as contained in the nation’s economic blueprint – the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    He said: “The primary objective of the ERGP was to get Nigeria out of recession, which the policy document has successfully achieved.”

    As an outcome of the ERGP, the Focus Labs, Senator Udoma said “have also been able to accelerate the development of the national gold development policy and the establishment of a federal gold reserves scheme in Nigeria.”

    He said: “I am happy to inform us that the first gold refining licence has been issued to a company called Kian Smith Limited, which was one of the companies that participated in the labs. The Federal Government is finalising modalities to purchase gold from local refiners, via a federal gold reserves scheme.”

    Kian Smith is a Nigerian company, registered seven years ago, with focus on minerals, commodities and marine services.

    The minister also said: “A local automobile assembly plant was being supported to double it delivery in Nigeria and help drive economic growth.”

  • Court orders police to pay Charly Boy N50m

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Abuja to pay musician, Charles Oputa (Charly Boy) N50million for violating his rights.

    Justice John Tsoho, in a judgment on Monday, also ordered the respondents to tender public apology to the applicant, which should be published in two national newspapers.

    The judgement was on a fundamental rights enforcement suit by Oputa, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/343/2018 , filed on March 29 this year.

    The applicant had, in an affidavit, said policemen, numbering over 100 from the Federal Capital Territory (FC() Police Command, invaded the Unity Fountain in Abuja on August 8, 2017 and attacked him and his group with teargas canisters, hot water cannon and wild police dogs during the Resume or Resign protest when he led other activists to protest the prolonged absence of President Muhammadu Buhari from Nigeria on account of his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

    He claimed that the attack by the policemen was so severe that he collapsed in the process and was rushed to the hospital.

    Oputa claimed that the police attacked them because of claims that their protest over the President’s absence, which had exceeded 90 days on the second day of their daily sit-out protest, had gone international and brought serious embarrassment to the country.

    Justice Tsoho, in the judgement rejected the respondents’ claim that miscreants invaded or stormed the premises of the protest. The judge said there was no evidence to support such claim.

    Read Also: CBN revokes nine micro-finance banks’ licences

    The judge said the applicant was entitled, under the Constitution, to stage a peaceful protest.

    Justice Tsoho noted that protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right, provided it is done peacefully.

    He further noted that even if miscreants were on the scene to hijack the protest, the respondents (the police) possess enough measures to dislodge such persons and maintain law and order.

    The judge noted that the respondents, in their counter affidavit, admitted that they resorted to using teargas canisters and hot water canon in order to disperse the ’miscreants’’ who suddenly took over the protest.

    Justice Tsoho said the respondents’ claim that the teargas canisters and hot water canon were not directed at the defendants lacks substance as teargas circulates and affects all persons around where it is expended.

    The judge held that the applicant disclosed a reasonable cause of action against the respondents.

    He further held that the respondents violated the applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association as enshrined in sections 34, 39, and 40 of the Constitution.

    The judge was of the view that “the law is that the court has the right to grant redress to anyone whose right is violated and the Applicant is entitled to a remedy.”

  • Only beneficial treaties ‘ll be signed, Says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that Nigeria will no longer sign any treaty without assessing the impact it will have on the lives of Nigerians.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa, while inaugurating the nation’s Committee for Impact and Readiness Assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

    The President said that Nigeria will henceforth take its time and breakaway from the past practice where treaties were signed without considering the needed positive gains for the country.

    He said “We are determined to breakaway form the past practice of committing Nigeria to treaties without a definite implementation plan to actualise the expected benefit while mitigating the risks.

    “We cannot go back to the days of signing agreements without understanding and planning for the consequences of such actions and our country being the worst for it.

    “Few months ago I directed a nationwide stakeholders’ engagement on the Africa Free Trade Continental Area Agreement to understand the true impact of this agreement on Nigeria and Nigerians, considering the existing domestic and regional policies as it relates to trade.

    “From the consultation, the key issues raised by stakeholders were abuse of rules of origin, smuggling arising from difficulties in border controls, unqualified impact of legacy preferential trade agreements, low capacity and capability of local businesses to conduct international trade, costly finance, insufficient energy and transport logistics infrastructure but our Economic recovery and Growth Plan is addressing these issues,” he said.

    The President charged the committee to concentrate on the issues raised during the nationwide consultations in order to find lasting solutions to them.

    He said: “Your task as members of the Impact and Readiness Assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Area Committee is to address the issues raised during the stakeholders’ consultations on the Africa Continental free trade Agreement. You are expected to develope short, medium and long term measures that will address any challenges arising there from.”

    He noted that Nigeria’s vision for intra-African trade is for a free movement of made in Africa goods.

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    Stressing that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, he regretted that for too long, the country’s domestic productive capabilities were neglected in favour of imports.

    He said that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan introduced by the current administration will help revive key job creating and import substitution sectors like agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah gave the terms of reference of the committee.

    He said: “Following consultations, the terms of reference of the Presidential Committee on the Africa Continental free Trade Area Impact Assessment and Readiness are; Assess the potential cost and impact of the Africa Continental free Trade Area AFCTA for Nigeria in relation to the benefits, identify the short, medium and long term measure to prepare Nigerian businesses for the take off of AFCTA trading group and a backup plan that covers selected scenarios and view the trade remedy options to safeguard the Nigerian economy form predatory and failed trade practices.”

    He said an updated trade policy is being prepared for Nigeria and the draft would be ready for review by the end of the year.

    The Presidential Committee has the Minister of Industry as its Chairman, with the Chief of Staff to the President as Co-Chairman.

    Ministers of Budget and National Planning, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, and the Economic Adviser to the President.

    Other members included representative of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, President Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and President, Nigeria Labour Congress among others, as members.