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Tag: BUHARI

  • 2019: Niger Delta militants endorse Buhari

    Niger Delta creek warlords under the auspices of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers ( RNDA ) on Monday backed the second term ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari .

    The militants declared that Buhari is the only Nigerian President that has shown practical commitment to peace and willingness to develop the Niger Delta region.

    The Leader, RNDA, ‘Maj.-Gen’. John Mark Ezenobi aka Obama in a statement said they took the decision to support Buhari at a crucial meeting attended by the group’s service commanders in Benin River of Egbema in Rivers State.

    The RNDA said it reviewed the activities of past presidents including those of former President Goodluck Jonathan and came up with a verdict that Buhari remained the best among them.

    The RNDA, a coalition of nine militant groups, said the Niger Delta region suffered from under development and massive looting of oil resources under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It described the 16-year administration of the PDP including the period Jonathan administered the country as a disaster.

    The group said despite ongoing devilish efforts to damage Buhari’s reputation, his integrity and sustained fight against corruption stood him out as the best candidate for the Presidency in 2019.

    RNDA said it was unfortunate that “self-acclaimed” leaders of the Niger Delta region and “so-called” PDP South South Governors were still celebrating looters, who contributed to the under-development of the Niger Delta region.

    It dismissed members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) as a group of failed and corrupt PDP members and self-acclaimed fathers to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    RNDA said most of the people parading themselves as PANDEF misled Jonathan and the likes of former ministers of Petroleum and Niger Delta Affairs, Diezani Allison-Madueke and Godday Orubebe and looted the funds meant for the development of the region.

    The statement said: “The RNDA with the coalition of the nine militant groups in the creeks has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for another term in office.

    “This endorsement is because of the President’s integrity characterized so far in fighting against menance of corruption to standstill in the country because the it is corruption and bad leadership that have contributed to the under development of the Niger Delta region and the country at large,

    “Buhari-led Federal Government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has shown much commitment to address the under-developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region for decades caused by the corrupt previous bad administration of PDP, which wasted 16 years of governance.

    “RNDA note with regret that the six years administration of former President Good luck ‘Badluck’ Jonathan was characterised by massive corruption, looting, favouritism and gross non-supervision of his appointees with no completed project in the long-neglected region.

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    “Jonathan’s government took the people of the Niger Deltaand region back to the stone age of under development”.

    “RNDA accepted the Federal Government’s ceasefire agreement in 2016 for dialogue. This led to the remarkable and sustained peace process in the region following renewed destruction and bombing of oil installation and facilities that crippled the nation’s crude oil output and eventually led to recession.

    “Most worrisome and painful is the fact that Former President Jonathan’s administration goofed on the development of the region as he was unable to complete the road to his Otuoke community in Bayelsa State.

    “RNDA is pleased with President Buhari’s willingness and commitment to the development of the Niger Delta since he came on board in 2015 inspite of the economic recession that greeted the emergence of his administration as the crude oil price hit an all time low of N35 per barrel.

    “President Buhari fight against corruption which was the signpost of the previous PDP administrations clearly defined his stand on the development of the region.

    “We commend him for the smooth take off of academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, and we commend the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for the approval for the dredging of the Escravos River to enable cargo vessels access Warri which will in turn boost economic activities”.

    The militants, however, urged the Federal Government to look into the implementation of the three percent gas fund to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    They appealed to Buhari to expedite efforts in the construction of Bonny inland roads, completion of the East West road, approval for the deep Sea Port project at Akwa Ibom State, Gas Flare penalty fund and pipeline surveillance jobs.

    Others they said required government’s attention are, proper funding of the NDDC and release of 10 licences for modular refineries as well as the relocation of the headquarters of multinational oil companies to the Niger Delta.

    The militant coalition identified good leaders of the region saying their superlative efforts brought the peace and development in Niger Delta.

    The named the leaders as the Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom and National leader of the Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNPDC), HRM Pere Charles Ayemi Botu (Former National Chairman of TROMPCON), the Ibenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, HRM Elder Captain Joseph Timiyan and Alabo Graham Douglas.

    Others are former Minister of Aviation, High Chief Francis Inegbiniki, Jude Tabai, son of retired Supreme Court Justice, Elder T. k Ogoriba, HOSTCOM National Chairman, Dr. Mike Emuh among others”

    The group described them as men of integrity who staked their lives for the peace of the region and appealed to President Buhari to begin dialogue with the individuals.

    But RNDA asked President Buhari and the office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to be wary of some some self-acclaimed leaders of the Niger Delta such like Mike Loyibo.

    He said such persons parade themselves in Abuja on behalf of the region to curry favour but have never pushed for any form of development for the region.

    “While we wish to work with the new Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Dokubo, he should be mindful of Members of PANDEF .

    “PANDEF misled the immediate past Coordinator of PAP, Retired General Paul Boroh and abandoned him when the tide was against him despite spending millions of naira on the group made up of failed and corrupt PDP politicians”, the group said.

  • Osun: Buhari to flag off basic health provision fund

    As part of Federal Government’s efforts to improve basic health care in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the national flag off of basic health provision fund in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

    Dr Niyi Oginni,the Executive Director of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS), who disclosed this at a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, said the flag off would be performed by the President and the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Sept. 20.

    Oginni said that the basic health provision fund , which was signed into law under section 11 of 2014 Health Act, would be flagged off along side Osun Health Insurance Scheme by the President.

    He said that after the flag-off, malaria treatment, high blood check, diabetics screening would be free of charge for all residents.

    Oginni said that under the scheme, delivery, anti-natal, post-natal and family planning would be free for pregnant women, while immunisation would be free for children.

    He said other pilot states where the basic health fund scheme would be flagged-off include Abia, Niger, Katsina, Yobe and Edo.

    Oginni said the basic health fund would be disbursed through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Social Health Insurance scheme.

    He said the primary health care development agency would be responsible for personnel, infrastructure and purchase of consumables and drugs.

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    “While the health insurance scheme will capture the data of those who have received services under the basic health fund,” he said.

    Oginni explained that under the insurance scheme, those who require further services, which basic health fund could not cover, would have to be enrolled into the scheme.

    He said for civil servants and those in organised formal sector, who would be enrolled into the scheme, 1.5 per cent would be deducted from their basic salary while their employers would contribute 3 per cent on a monthly basis.

    He said the beneficary could add their spouse and four children who are under the age of 18 years.

    He said those in the informal sector could also be enrolled under the scheme.

    Oginni said the health insurance scheme would provide robust health services for the people of the state

  • 2019: Akwa Ibom Christian youths endorse Buhari, Ekere

    Akwa Ibom Christian youths under the aegis of Christian Youths Leaders Assembly on Saturday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for the 2019 presidential and governorship elections.

    The duo was endorsed and presented with symbolic keys to State House, Abuja, and Government House, Uyo, during a solemn assembly held at Uyo Township Stadium and attended by members of the organization drawn from 329 wards and 2,273 villages in the state.

    Accepting the endorsement, President Buhari, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly (Senate) Matters, Senator Ita Enang, appreciated the Christian youths for his endorsement and that of Mr Ekere and urged them to take advantage of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill, which he recently signed into law, to participate more actively in politics.

    He said his government was addressing the security challenges in the country which have wrongly been given religious colouration, assuring that he will not do anything to make one religion look superior to the other.

    President Buhari said he was adopting all proper measures to free Leah Sharibu, the Christian girl still in captivity by Boko Haram terrorist group.

    In his speech, Mr Ekere commended the Christian youths for choosing a different path from some Christian leaders in the state who have been going round preaching hate.

    “Today, you have redeemed Christianity. Before I came here, I heard all sorts of stories about Christian leaders turning themselves into a political organization and going from church to church, preaching hate. Christianity teaches us that we should love one another. I think it is not Christianity for a father to choose a child over another. The Spirit of God will go with us and He will be our enabler, our strength,” he said.

  • ‘Buhari should tighten border security’

    The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to equip security operatives at the 203.5km border with Niger Republic in Katsina State to perform well.

    The Emir spoke when Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Tambuwal, and Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Mohammed Babandede, visited his palace.

    According to him, equipping the operatives with modern gadgets and communication facilities will enhance their efficiency and reduce crime along the corridor.

    He said: “I have spoken to President Muhammadu Buhari that agencies under Internal Affairs must be equipped to perform their duties, especially in communication. We have set up committees and development associations to monitor criminals and their activities.

    “There should be strict punishment of arrested criminals and there should be no preferential treatment for anyone.”

    Tambuwal told the Emir that they were in the state to open the newly established border patrol base by the NIS at Jibia border with Niger Republic

    He said: “This is an important national assignment for the security of the country. Katsina has a long standing history on migration and the government felt it is expedient to establish a facility that could tackle security challenges along the border areas. We jettisoned the idea of walling the borders because of the cost and opted for land and air patrols instead.”

  • Buhari mourns Iloh

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death  of Rev. Moses Iloh, the general overseer of Soul Winning Chapel.

    He made his feelings known yesterday in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja.

    The President extended his heartfelt condolences to Rev Iloh’s family, friends, associates and the Christian community in Nigeria, who mourned the demise of an exceptional statesman and religious leader.

    He said the faith-based community and the nation would miss “the bold cleric who, throughout his public life and ministry, abhorred corruption, promoted morality and influenced his followers to seek righteousness that truly exalts a nation.”

    Buhari believed that the deceased, whom he described as a philanthropist, labour leader, humanist, sportsman and great teacher of the gospel, would be long remembered and honoured as a worthy patriot.

    According to him, Iloh stood for social justice, peace and truth.

    The President urged all who mourned Dr. Iloh, who left a worthy and commendable legacy for other patriotic Nigerians to build upon, to be inspired by his deep love, devotion and dedication to humanity.

    He prayed almighty God to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort those he left behind.

  • Presidency attacks HSBC over Buhari 2019 prediction

    The Presidency on Saturday drew the attention of  all Nigerians, and the global banking giant, HSBC, that what killed Nigeria’s economy in the past was the unbridled looting of state resources by leaders.

    The looters were said to have been actively supported by the global banking giant HSBC.

    HSBC has also said that the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the Nigerian economy.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “A bank that soiled its hand with ‘‘millions of US dollars yet-to-be-recovered Abacha loot’’, and continued until a few months ago to shield the stolen funds of one of the leaders of the Nigerian Senate has no moral right whatsoever to project that a “second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration.”

    “Rather, we ask them to heed President Buhari’s constant refrain: return our stolen assets, then see how well we will do.

    “From the facts available to our investigation agencies, HSBC’s put down on President Buhari is no more than an expression of frustration over the administration’s measures put in place which has abolished grand corruption, the type which this bank thrives on in many countries.

    “They may also just be out to discredit the President out of the fear of sanctions and fines following the national assets that are stolen.” he said

    According to him, with the coming of President Buhari,corrupt individuals, banks and other corporate entities that aided corrupt practices are under investigation for various offenses.

    He said that for many of them, including their friends in the media, they would rather have President Buhari out of their way, for business as usual to return.

    He went on “Our investigation agencies believe that HSBC had laundered more than USD 100,000,000 for the late General Sani Abacha in Jersey, Paris, London and Geneva.

    “Among these accounts on the records are: AC: S-104460 HSBC Fund Admin Ltd. Jersey ($12,000,000); AC 37060762 HSBC Life (Europe), U.K ($20,000,000) and AC: 38175076 HSBC Bank Plc. U.K ($1,600,000).

    “The bank is also suspected in the laundering of proceeds of corruption involving more than 50 other Nigerians, including a serving Senator as earlier indicated.

    “In a book, “Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation”, published in 2017, Jack Bernstein told the story of global money laundering highlighting the unenviable place of the HSBC.

    “This is a bank that states and federal authorities in the U.S. forced to pay $1.92 billion to settle charges of money laundering; fined $1.2 billion in Hong Kong for “systemic deficiencies” in bond sales and was made to pay $100 million in currency rigging settlement as reported by The Telegraph of 18th January, 2018.” he said

  • 2019: APC youths pledge 2m votes for Buhari, El-Rufai

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Kaduna State on Saturday pledged two million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov Nasir El-Rufa’i in the 2019 general elections.

    The youth made the pledge in a communiqué at the end of a summit tagged, “Kaduna State APC Emerging Young Leaders Summit’’, to break the barriers to youth leadership in the state.

    In the communiqué, signed by the APC Youth Head of Mobilisation, Malam Umar Yaro, they, however, appealed for more opportunities in 2019.

    “We the youth of Kaduna State at the end of the Kaduna Emerging Young Leaders Summit, resolve the following:

    “We agreed to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i for the presidency and Governor of Kaduna State respectively in the 2019 elections because we have hope in them.

    “With the support of local government chairmen in the state, we will replicate the summit in all local government areas to mobilise the youth for a youth-friendly government in Kaduna state.”

    The summit was organised to bring youths, young professionals and emerging leaders together to discuss societal issues with a view to bringing positive change in their communities.

    It is geared towards giving youths a platform to hear, learn, engage and collaborate with young professionals on academic, decision making and advocacy for societal change and development.

  • Buhari pushes for ECOWAS single currency

    Having failed to meet the convergence criteria again, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on countries under the ECOWAS sub-region to put in more efforts to achieve the single currency program by 2020.

    President Buhari insisted that “convergence must be based on sound and sustainable macro economic fundamentals.”

    The President said, there is no denying that considerable amount of resources, time and effort had been expended in the pursuit of regional integration agenda. He said this should be justified by achieving the objectives of the monetary union by 2020.

    He assured West African leaders that Nigeria is still committed “to providing a leadership role in assisting ECOWAS achieve the single currency regime as well as moving the ECOWAS integration agenda forward.”

    President made this assertion at the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) 2018 mid-year statutory meetings in Abuja yesterday.

    President Buhari who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, noted that, as the largest economy in the sub-region, a lot of responsibility rest on Nigeria for the establishment and sustainability of the monetary union.

    With barely 18 months to the target date for the introduction of ECOWAS single currency, Buhari, urged Members of council to situate the issues within the global context and the challenges confronting existing monetary zones.

    According to him, “the lessons of the euro zones for example should guide us in putting in place robust frameworks for the establishment of a durable monetary union.”

    He admitted that compliance with fiscal deficit criterion is the most challenging of the four fiscal macro-economic convergence criterion for member states, and noted that “there is need to identify those developments that derail fiscal policy implementation in member countries and relate them to the overall objectives.”

    According to him, “Nigeria remains committed to the integration agenda and a sustainable development of our community with the over all goal of improving the quality of life of all ECOWAS citizen.

    Buhari also pleaded with member countries to reconsider the issue of transforming the West Africa Monetary Institute (WAMI) into a commission.

  • Buhari promises textile investment for S/East 

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja expressed optimism that new investment coming to Nigeria’s textile sector, of which Aba is a major beneficiary, will be actualized within the shortest possible time.

    He gave the assurance while receiving traditional rulers from Abia State led by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba.

    The President also assured the monarchs that the issue of unstable electricity and other basic infrastructure in the Ariaria Market, a major trading hub in West and Central Africa, would soon be a thing of the past.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rapidly industrialize the country through projects that promote import substitution.

    The President said the investment in the textile industry would create thousands of jobs for youths in Aba.

    He said: ‘‘Just last week, I was in China to attend the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. During that visit, I personally met with executives of one of the largest cotton and garment companies in the world who would soon establish operations in Aba.

    ‘‘This is following a joint effort of attracting this investor by both the Federal and Abia State governments.

    ‘‘The proposed investment will create thousands of jobs for the vibrant and creative youths in Aba.

    ‘‘I am very excited about this project. I have directed the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure this investment is actualised within the shortest possible time,’’ Buhari said.

  • Buhari greets Alake of Egbaland at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, on his 75th birthday.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the entire Egbaland in celebrating the joyous and historical milestone for the royal father, whose ascension to the throne of his forefathers took place in 2005.

    The President noted that he has brought peace, unity and prosperity to the people.

    He also congratulated family members and friends of the traditional ruler, while recalling his visionary, purposeful and responsive leadership style, which has greatly impacted on the lives of those in his domain.

    The stamen reads: ‘’As Alake of Egbaland turns 75, the President reaffirmed that his counsels to community members, the State and Federal Government have helped substantially in the successful political transitions in the country.

    ‘’He prayed that the almighty God will grant the Alake of Egbaland longer life, good health and strength to keep serving his people and the nation.’’