The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari to name campaign council after APC convention

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said  he will soon name a Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to lead the All Progressives Congress, (APC), to victory in the February 2019 general election.

    He spoke in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

    According to him, he is aware of the yearning by Nigerians for the formation of a full Presidential Campaign Council towards the APC’s victory in the presidential elections.

    He said that he appreciates the growing interest that Nigerians have shown in this issue, and that he is conscious of their keen expectation.

    The President however implored members of the party and the public to exercise some patience regarding the constitution of the PCC.

    For now, the President and the party executives are focused on the APC convention scheduled for Saturday, October 6.

    The Presidential Campaign Council, he said, will be put in place after the convention.

    “We are the party that will free Nigeria from corruption and poor governance. We are the party of change. We will not let the country down,” President Buhari assures.

  • Buhari to Leah Sharibu’s mother: we’ll bring your daughter home

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday spoke with Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, mother of the Dapchi Secondary schoolgirl, Leah, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, assured her that his administration would do everything  to bring her daughter back home.

    He consoled the Sharibu family and assured the parents that the Federal Government would do its utmost for the safety and security of their daughter.

    “I convey my emotion, the strong commitment of my administration and the solidarity of all Nigerians to you and your family as we will do our best to bring your daughter home in peace and safety,” Buhari told her.

    He assured the mother that his heart was with her family, as that of the entire nation praying for the safe return of “our daughter, Leah”.

     

  • Buhari rues shrinking Lake Chad

    President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the effects of climate change as well as shrinking of the Lake Chad on the nation.

    The president made this known while addressing the citizens in a nationwide broadcast as part of activities to mark the nation’s 58th independence anniversary in Abuja on Monday.

    Speaking on the danger of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and climate change, the President said: “We are one of the countries in the world most affected by environmental degradation, as a consequence of climate change.

    “We are signatories to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its now evident consequences.”

    According to him,’’ the consequences on lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and the pollution caused by oil exploitation activities alone make it mandatory on the nation to be at the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more sustainable environment.

    ‘’We will continue to mobilise international support for our efforts in this regard,’’ he assured.

  • Students pledge support for Buhari

    A group of students has declared its support for  President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s  election. The students, under the aegis of Buhari Students Support Group, passed a vote of confidence on the President at a press conference in Lagos with the theme: In defence of democracy.

    They promised to mobilise students in all tertiary institutions for Buhari’s re-election, saying the president’s efforts to put the country on a good foundation should be supported by the youth.

    The group’s leader and Lagos State University student, Dhikrullah Aasim, said: “As the 2019 elections draw close, we deem it fit to pass a vote of confidence on our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, given the avalanche of achievements recorded by his administration and how he has successfully maintained the state of the nation.”

    Dhikrullah noted that the emergence of President Buhari in 2015 brought hope to the country, because people believed he would rescue the country from the maladministration of previous governments, revive the economy and enhance security.

    “For the first time, those who diverted public funds are not finding it easy,” Dhikrullah said, adding that Buhari’s administration recorded rare feat in security, which the previous administration could not do.

    “This administration has secured the release of some Chibok girls and their Dapchi counterparts abducted by Boko Haram,” he said.

    Stating why the support group was formed, Adelowo Adewale, a student of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, said members of the group believed Buhari’s integrity remains intact and helped him to set a good precedent in the fight against corruption.

    A student of the Fountain University, Lawal Muhammad, said the sole aim of the group was to help the President realise his re-election dream. “We are not in support of any party; we’re being straightforward in supporting Buhari,” he said.

    Urging Nigerians to vote Buhari in 2019, Adelakun Tufayl of LASU said: “Our Permanent Voter Card is our power; we should get it, and go out en masse to vote this man of integrity, so that he can continue with his work of change and transformation.”

  • Buhari’s retention of Service Chiefs, IGP has paid off, says group

    A pro-Buhari organisation, Re-elect Buhari Movement (RBM) has commended the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari in not yielding to calls for the sack of Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.

    A statement by its convener, Emmanuel Umohinyang, said recent experience has shown that the President digs deep in arriving at decisions on important national affairs, stressing specifically that, “recent successes in the war against terrorism and criminality have shown that the security heads have the capacity to deliver.”

    According to Umohinyang, though Nigeria was still facing some challenges in tackling insecurity, the armed forces and the police have shown that they are on top of the game, judging by recent developments.

    The group boss, therefore, stressed that what the security chiefs needed was the support to forge ahead in carrying out their assignments instead of needless criticisms.

    The statement reads: “Since their appointment, the service chiefs and the IGP have shown character.  They have shown quality leadership, and we have equally seen from the results from the field security wise, especially the decimation of Boko Haram in the Northeast.  We cannot but give them kudos.

    “This could not have happened if the President had not been diligent in selecting these characters, so my take is that generally, the service chiefs have performed, though we still have incidents of attacks here and there.

    “These attacks are unlike what we had in the past.  You can see that for the first time after a long while in our history, we can now hold our Independence parade at Eagles square.”

  • Buhari to name campaign council after APC convention

    President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he will soon bring all speculations to an end by naming a Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to lead the All Progressives Congress, (APC), to victory in the February 2019 general elections.

    He made the disclosure in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

    According to him, he is aware of the yearning by Nigerians for the formation of a full Presidential Campaign Council towards the APC’s victory in the presidential elections.

    He said that he appreciates the growing interest that Nigerians have shown in this issue, and that he is conscious of their keen expectation.

    The President however implored members of the party and the public to exercise some patience regarding the constitution of the PCC.

    For now, the President and the party executives are focused on the APC convention scheduled for Saturday, October 6.

    The Presidential Campaign Council, he said, will be put in place after the convention.

    “We are the party that will free Nigeria from corruption and poor governance. We are the party of change. We will not let the country down,” President Buhari assures.

  • Buhari assures Leah’s return, speaks with mother

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, the mother of Leah sharibu of Leah’s return alongside other captives.

    He disclosed this via his official twitter page on Wednesday after he spoke with Mrs Rebecca Sharibu.

    He also laid emphasis on the unstoppable determination of his administration to see to the return of the girls.

    The President further assured Nigerians that their prayers and good thoughts are surely with Leah and the other girls.

    He said: “Today I spoke with Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, to reiterate our determination to bring her daughter Leah back home safely. The thoughts & prayers of all Nigerians are with the Sharibu family, & the families of all those still in captivity. We will do everything we can to bring them back”

  • Buhari to accountants: help fight corruption

    THE Federal Government has appealed to accountants and auditors to assist it in fighting corruption.

    President Muhammad Buhari made the call while addressing the 48th Annual Accountants’ Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of National Planning and Budget, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, noted that “with regards to fighting corruption, you have a special contribution to make as accountants in this regard”.

    “Your members serving as accountants and auditors can bring to bear your special skills in ensuring that books and records are properly kept. Working closely with the statutory agencies responsible for fighting corruption, ICAN will no doubt assist government in its effort at fighting this national malaise,” the President said.

    Buhari urged ICAN members to deliberate on how they could contribute to support government’s efforts at reducing corruption, restoring the economy and ensuring security.

    In your deliberations, I urged you to avail us your wealth of experience on how to further strengthen the existing frameworks so that together we can uplift our nation’s economy and the social well-being of our people,” he said.

    On insecurity, Buhari argued that “fighting insecurity and other crimes require the collaboration and cooperation of every citizen”.

    The President said it was the responsibility of the citizens to provide credible information to security agencies.

    “We must preach and promote peace within our communities and hold on to the core values of honesty, probity, hard work and our neighbours’ keeper that define us as a people with esteemed values and as a nation where peace and justice reign,” he said.

    ICAN President Alhaji Razak Adeleke Jaiyeola lamented that “from various revelations by law enforcement agencies, the commonwealth of the country have been pillaged by a conscienceless few, thereby creating a sense of economic insecurity for the average Nigerian and the mass of the people.”

    The repatriation of young educated Nigerians from landlocked, less endowed African countries and rescue of many others from the horrors of the Mediterranean Sea, he said, “exemplify the pain, tragedy and distrust in public governance, however well intentioned.”

    Jaiyeola noted that “even in the pursuit of profit, the welfare of the people was being sacrificed by corporate entities”.

    The exploration and mining of the nation’s wasting natural resources, Jaiyeola argued, caused “great negative externalities which manifest in environmental degradation, impaired ecosystem, air, water and noise pollution, making it difficult for the environment to play its triple functions of food provider, waste assimilator and life sustainer for the present and future generations”.

    Even as the nation strives to curb wastes through computerisations, some hawks and criminals are lurking in the corners seeking to hack into systems, cause conflict between nations, losses to businesses and pain to genuine investors.”

    He warned that building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economic future “would be a mirage in a system where the collective resources of the country are in the hands of a few”.

  • Lagos APC primary fine, Oshiomhole tells Buhari

    •Chair overrules panel

    •Party: Sanwo-Olu won

    •Tinubu hails primary

    All Progresives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed fears that yesterday’s governorship primary in Lagos State was controversial.

    He said the party leadership was in control of the shadow election.

    Speaking at the Presidential Villa after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the former Edo State Governor said: “I told the President that the primaries held as planned and everything is being done to ensure there is no violence because democracy doesn’t flourish with violence.

    “Nigerians must begin to learn how to differ in opinion and in choice without fighting; this is something people have to acquire over time.

    “For me, I’m excited that if we can do it in Lagos, it can be done anywhere.

    “Everything that is being done is done under the control, supervision and direction of the NWC.’’

    In Lagos, the Clement Ebri Election Committee said the exercise did not receive its blessing because the conditions prescribed were not followed.

    Party Chairman Tunde Balogun rejected the Committee’s verdict, saying the election was free and fair.

    Leaders of the party, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, commissioners, aspirant Babajide Sanwo-Olu and party members who turned out in large numbers, participated in the election.

    But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was in his hometown Epe for the primary, remained indoors.

    Reporteers who accompanied him to Epe were asked to leave for Lagos shortly before 11a.m.

    Ebri said at about 4.30 pm when he addressed the media was just ready for the primary.

    He said he had contacted the APC national secretariat for further directives.

    “We are ready to give the state the most credible election. It is not our fault that this exercise took this long. In some states, primary has been moved to Thursday.

    “We were waiting for the (Lagos State) party chairman to provide certain information that will enable us post people to the wards. We have two aspirants and we needed to be fair to both parties. The information we demanded for came in about an hour ago. And we had to struggle this period to balance the equation,” Ebri said, adding:

    “We have five persons from the local organising committee and four for each ward. They will all go out to ensure the primary is conducted. We all understand the terrain in the state, especially as it concerns the traffic situation. So, the materials are available now and ready for deployment.

    “The national secretariat advised us to use ballot papers and we came into Lagos with thousands of them. But during the stakeholders meeting, it became obvious that the state chapter of the party wasn’t ready for such primary. They claimed that there was no time to educate the members and others. And based on the submission made at the stakeholders meeting, some changes were made.

    “And we were advised to conduct the open ballot in a manner that would be objective to all parties. And that is one of the adjustments we made to accommodate views of the stakeholders.

    “We had a session with representatives of both aspirants here at about 8 am. And we asked that they should bring names of their representatives that would be used for the exercise. But the names didn’t arrive early from both parties.”

    Ebri went on: “Because of the political tension in the state, we decided to be very careful, very methodical and very meticulous in doing it. As party men, peace is very important to us than victory; we want victory that will be celebrated by both parties; we want victory that will be credible; a victory that will be in line with the guidelines and extant rules and laws in this country. We are ready to go to the field and execute this in clinical fashion.

    “Lagos is a flagship of APC and must continue to remain so for years to come and so in conducting anything that has to do with Lagos, we have to do it with a lot of circumspection and objectivity and it should be a showpiece for the rest of the country.

    Displaying the result sheets, the Panel Chairman said it was “in impeccable condition and not one single sheet is missing and it is not possible for this committee to do any other thing than it has been instructed to do”.

    “We have guidelines and we will stick to those guidelines to be sure that we are fair to both parties.”

    Balogun insisted that the primary was devoid of violence and, therefore, credible.

    He said the agents of the two parties were present at the wards where the election took place and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and election observers witnessed the exercise.

    “The election took place simultaneously in all the 245 wards. Some of our members were visible in the local governments. For example our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at Ikeja, his own ward.

    “He took part in the election and we saw the results. The results have been signed by the agents of the two aspirants.  Those results were credible because the INEC too were there and they all signed. We were all witnesses to the conduct of the election. There were no violence, no chaos; it was free, fair and transparent.”

    Asked whether any member of the NWC panel members was there, he said: ‘’What I know is that I did not go round the wards. The venue I went to, I saw some observers apart from the agents and INEC. They were publicly conducted, constitutionally done and I think we will leave the rest for the people and the press . That is  why we have to wait for the committee charged with the responsibility to announce the results. We are not to announce the results.

    Some women from Shomolu/Bariga who protested at the Ikeja hotel where the panel members addressed the media, complained that they were not allowed to vote in their wards because they are known supporters of Governor Ambode.

     

  • Buhari to accountants: help fight corruption

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on accountants and auditors to assist in fighting corruption.

    Addressing the 48th Annual Accountants’ Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja, Buhari, represented by the Minister of National Planning and Budget, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said accountants have a special contribution to make with respect to fighting corruption.

    He said: “Your members, serving as accountants and auditors can bring to bear your special skills in ensuring that books and records are properly kept. Working closely with the statutory agencies responsible for fighting corruption, ICAN will no doubt assist government in its effort at fighting this national malaise.”

    He urged ICAN members to deliberate on how they “can contribute to supporting our efforts aimed at reducing corruption, restoring the economy and ensuring security.

    “In your deliberations, I urge you to avail us your wealth of experience on how to further strengthen the existing frameworks so that together we can uplift our nation’s economy and the social well-being of our people.”

    He implored all ICAN members to “come together to condemn all forms of criminal activities and say ‘NO’ to hate speech and acts that could destabilise the cooperate existence of our nation.”

    On the economy, Buhari said his administration is currently putting in place the right infrastructure aimed at  diversifying the economic base away from oil dependence.

    “We recognise that there will always be some people left behind. That is why as a government, we have introduced the Social Investment Programme under which we are bringing jobs and relief to many of our unemployed youth, the poor, the excluded and the vulnerable in our society,” he said.