Tag: BUHARI

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said he has never been “so sick” as he has felt in recent weeks.

He was speaking to dignitaries in the capital, Abuja, after returning from seven weeks of medical leave in the UK.

His absence led to some anxiety in Nigeria with people speculating about the president’s health.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was left in charge and Mr Buhari’s spokesperson has tweeted, external that he will formally return to power on Monday.

The 74-year-old flew into an air force base in the northern city of Kaduna from London on Friday morning.

Despite talking about how he felt, Mr Buhari did not reveal any details of his condition.

He did say he was “feeling much better now” but added that further medical checks would be required.

At the end of his nine-minute speech, Mr Buhari said that he deliberately came back towards the weekend “so that the vice-president will continue and I will continue to rest”.

One of his advisers tweeted that he was joking and his office has clarified that the formal constitutional procedure for him to retake the reins of power will happen on Monday.

Read Also: Nigeria declares seven days of mourning for  ex-President

President Buhari was in good spirits, joking with senior officials and journalists.

But as his address went on the president appeared to ramble, referring to the importance of technology and education.

He even urged Nigerians not to self-medicate.

These comments will do little to reassure critics who are questioning whether the president is fit enough to hold office.

His every public appearance in the coming days will be scrutinised with an unusual intensity for any signs of weakness.

Comparisons will also be drawn to the vice-president, who displayed an energy as acting leader in the past few weeks that was strikingly different to President Buhari’s own style.

The president may be back but for now it is not business as usual.

An official statement on Thursday said President Buhari had left Nigeria for a “vacation, during which he had medical check-ups”.

“The holiday was extended based on doctors’ recommendation for further tests and rest.”

The president handed power over to Mr Osinbajo in January before he left for the UK.

The country is currently suffering from its worst economic crisis in years, following a sharp fall in the price of oil, its major export.

It is the second time in less than a year that Mr Buhari, who won elections in 2015, has sought medical assistance overseas.

Last June, he spent nearly two weeks, again in London, for treatment for an ear infection.

Little information has been made public about his latest stay in the UK capital, but he was pictured on Thursday meeting the most senior cleric of the world Anglican congregation, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

• (This report was published by the BBC on March 10, 2017)

“Matters miscellaneous,” as many a fellow commentator has graciously acknowledged, is the platform I patented back in my days at Rutam House for attending to a glut of occurrences in broad strokes and short takes, lest the people who make and the people who consume the news feel neglected.

Here, in all its eclecticism, is the bulletin du jour.

In journalistic reckoning, the case of Buhari’s Double has to be the top item.

Since 2017, so goes the tale reportedly originated by the fugitive leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nigeria has been ruled by a Buhari look-alike, Jubril al Sudan, a native of Sudan — or Niger, take your pick. Buhari had died in the UK in 2017, where he was undergoing medical treatment.

Notwithstanding the fact that Queen Elizabeth had sent a message of condolence to the Nigerian government, the entrenched Cabal in Aso Rock had procured a Buhari double in Sudan and pressed him into service as Nigeria’s president.

Read Also: AU, ECOWAS mourn Buhari

Despite occasional stumbles and apparent loss of memory, the transition had gone so smoothly that the only tell-tale sign of the infernal switch was a scar on Jubril’s left earlobe that was not a part of Buhari’s profile.

Kanu, or whoever began the tale, and those who have been peddling it, should update their material.

I can report authoritatively that representatives of the Jubril family, having discovered the gigantic swindle, suddenly showed up in Abuja the other day and demanded to be compensated with a power-sharing arrangement at the federal level in perpetuity, plus 50 per cent of Nigeria’s oil revenues for ten years in the first instance. Failing this, they warned, they would tell their story to the whole world.

I can also reveal that the Nigerian authorities have entered into frantic negotiations with Jubril’s family to head off what is sure to earn a double entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s Dirtiest and Worst-kept Secret.  The UK authorities are mediating.

Meanwhile, dependable sources tell me that Abuja is close to unravelling the true identity of the fake Jew parading himself on faked foreign soil as Nnamdi Kanu.

(https://thenationonlineng.net/matters-miscellaneous-13/)

• (Published November 27, 2018, under Matters Miscellaneous)

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has mourned ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said: ‘’With heavy heart and profound sense of personal loss, I join millions of Nigerians and friends around the world to mourn the passing of former President Buhari.

‘’I extend my condolences to his beloved wife, Aisha, his children and his extended family. I also condole with the government and people of Katsina State, especially the Daura Emirate where ex-President Buhari’s journey in life began — a town whose name has become inextricably linked with his legacy.

‘’President Buhari’s record of service to Nigeria is almost unparalleled. From the battlefield to the ballot box, he stood as a sentinel of duty. As a military officer, Head of State and twice-elected President, he offered over five decades of his life to the service of our nation in times of strife and in peaceful times — guided always by a belief in discipline, integrity and nationhood.

‘’What often went unnoticed in public commentary was his commitment to the core values that bind any serious society: order, punctuality and accountability. He did not just talk about these values; he lived them. He was perhaps the most punctual public servant I ever encountered — never late to cabinet meetings, always respecting the time of others. It may seem a small thing, but in governance, it is everything. It sets a tone.

‘’He had a deep yearning for a society governed by rules, not by impulse. This found early expression in his War Against Indiscipline, a campaign often misread as rigid but rooted in a desire to rebuild a citizenry of order, courtesy and civic responsibility.

Read Also: AU, ECOWAS mourn Buhari

‘’I feel privileged to have served in his cabinet — first in the consolidated Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and later in the restructured Ministry of Works and Housing. President Buhari was not a man to micromanage; instead, he gave you the space and the trust to deliver. With that trust, however, came the highest expectations of discipline, results and honesty.

‘’He had a quiet strength. Yet, within and outside the cabinet, I witnessed his compassion — his deep concern for the poor, the pensioner, the soldier in the trenches, the almajiri child, and the underserved in every part of this country.

‘’Under his leadership, the nation confronted formidable challenges: insurgency, economic volatility, a global pandemic, and deep political tension. Yet he remained consistent — never ruled by noise or poll ratings, only by the burden of responsibility and his belief in posterity’s judgment.

His death marks the end of a defining chapter in Nigeria’s journey — one marked by sacrifice, moral, authority and patriotic resolve. But even in death, President Buhari leaves behind a living legacy: one of service above self, of discipline without drama, of truth without theatrics.

‘’May the Almighty Allah (SWT), whom he served with devotion and humility, forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.’’

The Katsina State Government yesterday declared today work-free in the state, following the death of former President Muhammad Buhari.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Faskari, gave the directive in a statement by his Director of Press, Abdullahi Aliyu-Yar’adua.

According to the SSG, Governor Dikko Radda gave the directives to honour the late former president

He noted that the holiday was intended to enable workers and residents of the state to join the rest of the country in mourning the loss and offering prayers for the late leader.

Read Also: Nigeria declares seven days of mourning for  ex-President

According to him, Radda expressed profound condolences to the family of the late former president, the people of the state, and the entire nation.

“He described late Muhammadu Buhari as a great leader, a hero, a true democrat and a patriotic elder statesman whose life was dedicated to the service of Nigeria,” he said.

The SSG disclosed that the governor further prayed to Almighty Allah to grant mercy to the gentle soul of the late former President, forgive his shortcomings, and reward his good deeds with Aljannatul Firdaus.

He explained that details, regarding the burial arrangements will be communicated to the public in due course.

Governors across the country yesterday mourned the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died yesterday in a London hospital.

He was 82.

The governors paid glowing tributes to the man, mostly perceived as an epitome of integrity and frugality.

They condoled with the bereaved family, the Federal Government, the government and people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians on the passing of the former President.

Vacuum difficult to fill, says Aliyu

Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu yesterday said the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari has created a vacuum that will be too difficult to fill.

In a condolence message in Sokoto by his Director-General of Media and Publicity, Malam Abubakar Bawa, the governor expressed deep shock and sorrow over the passing of the former President.

Aliyu described Buhari’s death as a monumental loss to the nation, stressing that his absence would be deeply felt across all sectors.

“The late President was an embodiment of honesty, sincerity, discipline, and above all, the fear of Allah.

“He will be remembered for his uprightness, patriotism, and relentless fight against all forms of corruption,” Aliyu said.

Read Also: AU, ECOWAS mourn Buhari

The governor prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive Buhari’s shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him the highest place in paradise.

He also prayed for strength and comfort for the family during this difficult time.

The governor extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the late president, the government and people of Katsina State, and Nigerians at large over the national tragedy.

It’s colossal loss, says Mbah

Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the passing of former President Muhammad Buhari.

The governor described the death as a colossal loss to the nation.

In a condolence message he signed yesterday in Enugu, Mbah said:

“President Buhari made his entrance into the Nigerian governance space in 1984 and 2015. On both occasions, his pedigrees of truthfulness, integrity, and patriotism stood out. He demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood.

“He was an embodiment of service and dedication to the fatherland. His life was a lesson to upcoming leaders that leadership is about the downtrodden and the vast number of people who needed development.

“His public service career was glittering and outstanding. His simplicity and forthrightness were virtues that endeared him to millions across Nigeria, and even beyond.

“Although he leaves behind a void that will be difficult to fill, there is much comfort in the fact that his life was an inspiration, and his vast legacies are engraved in the sands of time.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Enugu State, I mourn the passing of this astute General, a committed patriot and a leader whose engaging persona was circumscribed around Nigeria and its people.

“I offer my sincerest condolences to his immediate family, the Government and people of Katsina State, the Federal Government and the entire people of Nigeria.”

• Security tightened ahead of burial in Daura
• Sympathisers throng Kaduna home

The North was yesterday plunged into mourning following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with leading regional bodies and political leaders, describing his passing as the end of a remarkable era.

Buhari, who died in a London hospital yesterday, was hailed by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as a towering figure whose public life spanned nearly six decades of military and civilian leadership, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s governance landscape.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the group said it received the news of Buhari’s demise “with great sadness,” noting that the late elder statesman was until now one of only four surviving former Heads of State.

The Forum chronicled Buhari’s storied career, recalling how he first served as Military Governor of the defunct Northeastern State, now split into six states before becoming Federal Commissioner (Minister) of Petroleum Resources, then rising to Head of State from 1983 to 1985 following a military coup.

According to the ACF, “General Buhari had led a life full of momentous activities. He was a recurring decimal in policy and governance circles in Nigeria for nearly the past 60 years, having also fought actively in the Nigerian Civil War which ended in the unification of Nigeria.”

The ACF acknowledged that Buhari’s long years of public service were not without controversies, stressing that his time at the helm both as military ruler and as twice democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023 would continue to generate debates among historians and citizens alike.

Read Also: AU, ECOWAS mourn Buhari

“It is to be expected that some of the controversies and other memories as his legacies will linger and be subjected to analyses,” the Forum noted. “However, there is no Nigerian alive today that enjoyed the love and loyalty of the Nigerian downtrodden, especially in the North, like the late President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The ACF extended heartfelt condolences to Buhari’s family, the Government and people of Katsina State, and Nigerians at large. “We mourn Gen. Buhari and pray for the peaceful repose of his soul in Aljanna Firdaus,” it concluded.

In a separate tribute, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, also joined the flood of condolences, describing Buhari’s death as a national tragedy and a deeply personal loss to the people of Kaduna.

 Sani paid homage to Buhari as “a towering figure in our national life: a soldier, statesman, reformer, and, above all, a beloved leader of the people.” He said the late President lived with “quiet dignity and unwavering commitment to the service of Nigeria,” championing the hopes and struggles of the ordinary Nigerian the talakawa with uncommon conviction.

“Though a military General, he chose the difficult path of democratic reinvention. He believed deeply in the rule of law, due process, and the supremacy of the people’s will. Kaduna mourns this great son of Nigeria, who was more than a leader to us; he was a moral compass, a father figure, and a steady voice in times of uncertainty,” he said.

He extended condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Buhari family, the government and people of Katsina, and Nigerians “now united in remembrance,” praying Almighty Allah to grant Buhari eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.

A leading northern youth group, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) also paid glowing homage to the late leader, describing him as a symbol of integrity whose passing has left a vacuum in the nation’s moral and political fabric.

AYCF President-General, Yerima Shettima, in a statement in Kaduna, said Buhari’s death marked “the end of an era in Nigerian politics,” urging all Nigerians to honour his memory by working harder towards national unity and progress.

“To his immediate family, we extend our deepest sympathies. The loss of a father, grandfather, and husband is immeasurable, and we stand with you in this time of grief,” the youth body said.

Buhari was named by the African Union (AU) as its first anti-corruption champion in Africa in 2018.

His recognition at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa late in January 2018, the AU said, was a recognition for his efforts to end graft in Nigeria.

The Presidency said it was happy at the choice of Buhari even as the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stated it was “disappointing” that the then President was inaugurated “as the continental anti-corruption champion for the year 2018”.

A statement by Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had flayed the PDP and other critics over their disapproval.

“As a matter of fact, a section of politicians and some economists have been quick to pronounce the war against corruption in Nigeria a failure because those people are the greatest losers wherever the ordinary citizens make a gain,” he said.

Read Also: AU, ECOWAS mourn Buhari

Shehu said the PDP in particular “has come to signify the face of corruption in Nigeria and they have not hidden their efforts to shrink the achievements of the Buhari Administration”.

 “They are bent, as it clearly seems, on crushing all hopes of ridding this country of the scourge of corruption,” Shehu said.

But, the theme of the year 2018: “Winning the fight against corruption: A sustainable path to Africa’s transformation”, was officially launched by Buhari on January 28, 2018, during the opening ceremony of the 30th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

He congratulated the AU for dedicating the theme of the year to the noble cause of fighting corruption on the continent.

He thanked the African Heads of State for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving as the Champion of the theme of the year. He pledged that he would do his very best to ensure that the anti-corruption agenda received the attention it deserved and make the impact the continent hoped for, during 2018 and beyond.