The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • ‘APC is gaining more grounds with defections’

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon Philip Shaibu, has argued that the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) is gaining more grounds despite the defections of many chieftains from the party.

    Hon Shaibu who predicted that the APC would win more states in next year’s general election said President Muhammadu Buhari has more relevance than the defections in many of their home states.

    Shaibu who spoke to newsmen in Bénin City stated that the APC is now very strong in the South South and in the South East regions.

    He said the APC would come out stronger and united after the party primaries.

    The Edo Deputy Governor noted that any political party like the APC that is determined to get the grassroots involved in its primaries has won the election “because it is the grassroots that will vote after the primaries.’

    Read Also: Chairman urges support of girl child education in Katsina

    His words, “We are going to win more states in 2019. Opposition will always see danger whenever the ruling party wants to do something. During our congresses, they said we will scatter but we came out strong.

    “National convention came, they said that is where it will end but we were dancing and celebrating at the end. We came out stronger. Our primaries will make us stronger than when we went for the convention because we are democratic.

    “Every state and organ will take decision on what mode to use as the National body has directed in line with the party’s constitution on direct, indirect and consensus.

    “The preference of the party is direct primaries. Bringing the grassroots to participate and take ownership of their party. We want to completely democratize our party.“

  • Rice farmer purchase nomination form for Buhari

    Over 12 million rice farmers in the country have jointly contributed money to provide nomination form for President Muhammad Buhari.

    This was disclosed in Birnin Kebbi by the National President of the Association Alhaji Aminu Goronyo during a courtesy call on Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

    The National President who led other National and State Officials of the association on the visit explained that they decided to pay homage to him in his capacity as the Chairman Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat Production in Nigeria and Vice Chairman National Food Security Council, to lead them to President Buhari to deliver the form.

    Alhaji Aminu Goronyo was grateful to President Buhari and Governor Bagudu for encouraging rice production in the country which significantly reduced rice importation.

    He recalled that Governor Bagudu recently led members of RIFAN to the Presidential Villa to present membership card to President Buahri.

    In response, Governor of Bagudu welcomed the gesture by rice farmers to procure nomination form for President Buhari.

    He commended Farmers Association for mobilizing its members nation-wide to embark on massive rice production.
    Senator Bagudu commended Buhari for giving Rice and Wheat Farmers necessary financial support and input to sustain cultivation.

    The Governor said a date will soon be fixed for members representing all the states to converge on Abuja to present the nomination form to President Buhari.

    He announced that Kebbi State Government would distribute castro-oil to youths in the state which served as lubricant for electricity transformer as well as begin honey production for sale to pharmaceutical industry for economic empowerment of youths and the public.

  • FOCAC : Buhari returns to Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night returned to Abuja after attending the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation ( FOCAC ) in Beijing.

    During the six-day visit to China, Buhari held bilateral talks and witnessed the signing of some agreements between Nigeria and China in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the economy.

    He also participated in the High-Level Dialogue between Chinese and African leaders and business representatives.

    At the FOCAC meeting, Buhari expressed the appreciation of ECOWAS member states for China’s increasing investment in the sub-region with the aim of building a prosperous and shared future.

    He noted that China was the largest investor in the sub-region in both private and public sectors, covering areas, such as infrastructure development in energy, agriculture, mining and healthcare.

    According to him, China also provides significant assistance in emergency humanitarian aid and response to climate change for Africa.

    Buhari at the FOCAC Round Table on Tuesday, attended by African leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Nigeria’s partnership with China through FOCAC had resulted in the execution of vital infrastructure projects worth over five billion dollars.

    Read Also: FOCAC: Nigeria has benefited over $5b projects – Buhari

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who was part of the president’s entourage to China, reported that Buhari won the crucial support of Jinping, for Nigeria’s aspiration to build the 3050 Megawatts Mambilla hydro-power project.

    He revealed that Nigeria and China also signed the agreement of 328 million dollars for the Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II (NICTIB II) project.

    The concessional loan agreement between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited (HUAWEI) was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance Kemi Adesoun and Wang Xiaotoa, Director-General, International Development Agency of China.

    The presidential aide disclosed that Nigeria and China also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).

    In Beijing, Buhari also received assurances from the Joint Venture Partners handling the 3050 Megawatts Mambilla Hydro-power Plant of which arrangements had reached advance stage for the commencement of work early in 2019.

    Buhari received the assurance when he was briefed on time lines for the commencement of work at a meeting with Prof. Lyu Ze Xiang, the President of CGCC, the company handling the project.

    The president, at separate meetings with prospective Chinese investors on the sidelines of FOCAC, assured existing and prospective Chinese investors of high-level support for their investment plans in Nigeria.

    The president, at an interactive session with the Nigerian community in China on Saturday, had given assurance that as “a beneficiary of free and fair elections, I’m not afraid of a credible process in 2019.’’

    To this effect, the president reaffirmed his commitment to making sure that the 2019 polls would be free, fair and credible.

    Buhari pledged that Nigerians eligible to vote in the general elections would be allowed to freely elect candidates of their choices.

  • Group obtains N45m APC form for Buhari

    •‘Why the President deserves support’

    A group of Nigerians under the auspices of the Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) yesterday paid for the Presidential nomination form for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    They issued a N45 million dummy cheque in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to offset the cost of the Nomination and Expressision of Interest forms.

    Also at the APC national secretariat yesterday, an Enugu-based businessman who identified himself as Chief David Ibe, presented a cheque of N5 million to APC national Chairman Adams Oshiomhole being the cost of the Expression of Interest form for the President.

    Speaking while presenting the dummy cheque to the APC Chairman, National Coordinator of the Group Sanusi Musa said the group which was formed in 2017 to propagate the second term bid of the President, decided to pool resources together to purchase the nomination form for the President.

    He said they were aware that the President was not a millionaire, but has millions of supporters across the country, angling for him to continue in office.

    He said: “We believe in the leadership of President Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four more years.

    It is for this reason we have decided to “pool our meagre resources together and purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for the President.

    “Our members from the various villages, local governments and states hawe contributed to making this happen. We know President Buhari is not a multi-millionaire in cash, but he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form.”

    He added: “Members of our great party across the country are in unison on the applause you deserve for the work you have started towards redemption of the party. Your leadership has brought the stability. the revolution of ideas and the tme spirit of change that is needed in this journey of making Nigeria great.”

    Reeling out the “good work” that the President has done to warrant their administration for his regime, Musa said under his administration, Nigeria had become a country sought after for investments in the world having assumed its leadership role in not justAfrica but the world.

    “Nigeria‘s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state In Nigena that does not have several major Fedelal Government infrastructure project either completed or being, executed. Under President Buhari.

    “We have a stable and steadily growing economy that is departing from the monotonic oii dependence: Agriculture is now an attractive venture as farmers are becoming multi-millionaires Nigeria is now an exporter of Agricultural products as Oppose to what it was three years ago.

    “For the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians have a President who can beat his chest and state that he has never stolen from the purse of government.

    “We have a President who is not having meetings at night to strike shady personal deals but rather is ensuring that every agreement entered into by Nigeria is in the interest of the country and for its generations unborn.

    “This has indeed bosted the confidence of investors hence the increase in flow of Direct Foreign Investment into the country. Looted funds are being recovered and ploughed back to developing our country’s deficit infrastructure.

    “Almost a million farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Programme are benefiting from low interest loans that they accessed without “chua chua”. 500 000 previouslv unemployed graduates me now employed under the NPower Scheme; 400,000 extremely poor families are receiviiig_5,000 Naira monthly and that is changing, their lives. Over 8 million children are being fed daily in our public schools across the country.

    “Today, and for the lirst time in our history, we have a government that is honest and sincere in investing in the lives of the poor, the masses and the underprivileged.”

  • Buhari not power drunk, says presidency

    The presidency said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari was not power drunk.

    A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, reacted to allegations by former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar.

    But the presidency agreed that President Buhari was uncompromising against corruption.

    The statement reads: “Former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar was quoted by a foreign news medium as accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of being “very uncompromising, also power drunk; (and) who will not be ready to leave power without a fight.

    “Rather than use the name of President Buhari to buoy his bid to get the presidential ticket of a party, whose flag has been flying at half mast since it got trounced at the polls in 2015, the former vice-president needs to be told that President Buhari is truly uncompromising, but only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians and squandering their riches.

    “President Buhari is uncompromising in the quest to restore probity and accountability to public office. He is uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre-2015, thus the war against corruption is being fought without fear or favour. The President is resolute in the determination to ensure that Nigeria is no longer a mono-economy, depending only on oil.

    “Yes, President Buhari is single-minded in effecting change in every area of Nigerian life. So, Alhaji Abubakar is right, if that was what he meant by the President being “uncompromising.”

    “But power drunk? No! And being a man “who will not be ready to leave power without a fight?” Never! Not President Buhari, who has demonstrated in many ways that he is a committed democrat, though also a retired military general. He has no apology about that. Through a sterling military career, he served Nigeria with his heart and might, before venturing into partisan politics.

    “President Buhari, in many ways, has wielded power with decency, and as a means of serving the people, rather than for personal ends.

    “If there’s one person not intoxicated by power, it is President Buhari, and millions of Nigerians know this. That is why they will invest him with power again next year, knowing that he won’t misuse or misapply what has been entrusted to him.

    “Former VP Abubakar may want to borrow a leaf from the decorous language used by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, in answering his recent statement on the restructuring debate. That is the hallmark of statesmen, and not crying wolf where none exists, which is what the allegation of being uncompromising and power drunk truly is.

    “President Buhari is actuated by service to country, and nothing else. So, there couldn’t be anything like “not ready to leave power without a fight.”

    “Indeed, the insinuation of a fight is the mindset of a man who is either undemocratic, or has seen defeat staring him, and his party, in the face.

    “Let the former vice-president rest assured that there will be no ‘fight’ over power in Nigeria. Not under President Buhari’s watch. The people don’t want a fight. It is some political leaders we must beseech to eschew pugnacity and mind their language.”

     

     

  • Buhari assures Chinese investors

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured existing and prospective Chinese investors of high-level support for their investment plans in Nigeria.

    He gave the assurance on the sidelines of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China.

    In separate meetings with prospective investors, Buhari said Nigeria is endowed with abundant human and material resources and a young population that is very energetic and innovative and ready to work.

    He encouraged Chinese companies and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the improved business environment in Nigeria to invest in key sectors of the economy.

    Acknowledging the contributions of Chinese companies in developing the country’s infrastructure, Buhari said there was still more to do.

    The Ruyi Group, a leading Chinese company, had met with Buhari with a plan to invest $200 million for an industrial park in Kano State, cotton farms in Funtua, Katsina State and textile and garment manufacturing establishments in Aba, Abia  and Lagos states.

    The proposed investment, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, will cover the entire cotton value chain, farming, ginning, spinning, weaving and power generation to support the processes.

    Ruyi Group Chairman, Mr. Yafu Qui told Buhari that the firm settled for Nigeria after one-and-a-half year search for an African hub because of the country’s population, abundant human and material resources and a ‘strong leadership’ that has diversification agenda for the country.

    Buhari also received Prof Justin Yify Lin of the Pekin University, a former World Bank Chief Economist, currently serving as a consultant to the Nigerian government on the setting up of Special Economic Zones.

    In the meeting after the first in 2016, ProfLin told Buhari that progress has been made with the identification of the cotton value chain as a pilot for the setting up of labour intensive industrial parks, noting that the idea of the Ruyi Group as an investor was partly coming from their studies.

     

  • Buhari not sympathetic to killer-herdsmen, says presidency

    The presidency yesterday dismissed as wicked and unfounded, the conclusion by a media house that President Muhammadu Buhari is sympathetic to the activities of violent herdsmen.

    According to the report, the President has been indifferent to the killer-herdsmen’s atrocities.

    But a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, rejected the allegations of the media house.

    He said: “We reject The Punch’s September 4, 2018, editorial, which alleged that President Buhari had sympathy for criminality perpetuated by a misguided group.

    “The editorial was not only disrespectful of the President and his office, but was also reckless, thoughtless, inflammatory and totally irresponsible.

    “It is steadily becoming clear from the views, news and opinions of this newspaper that it will explore every opportunity and twist every fact to declare every Nigerian and ECOWAS member with Fulani blood a terrorists, who must be stripped of their rights as citizens, or worse subjected to ethnic cleansing.

    “We believe and strongly insist that criminality perpetrated by some miscreants should not be used to demonise other responsible and decent members of the same ethnic group.

    “The collective demonisation of any ethnic group because of the misguided behaviour or conduct of criminals is improper and no responsible government will ever do so.”

    Shehu went on: “The editorial is, therefore, sheer blackmail and mischief designed to push its own sinister and unpatriotic agenda disguised as free speech.

    “By inciting the people against an ethnic group because of the criminal activities of a few is unhelpful and deleterious to peace.

    “Rather than proffer solutions, the editorial only regurgitated simplistic narratives of complex national issues, deliberately neglecting the broader and unbiased understanding and interpretation.

    “After the highly biased and misleading editorial, the newspaper could not but come to terms with the established fact that climate change and criminality remained key drivers of the farmers-herdsmen conflict.

    “Currently, a massive and fierce military operation is going on in Zamfara State to neutralise the activities of bandits, who have been sacking communities and killing innocent people, and the security outfits have been deployed to safeguard lives and property.”

    The President’s commitment to the security and well-being of all Nigerians, he said, is unwavering and total, and no criminal group, herdsmen or ethnic militias, will be spared the wrath of the law.

    He added: “In its attempt to build a case against the President and tarnish his hard-earned reputation, the newspaper misquoted and removed from the actual context words attributed to him, one or two of which we wish to clarify here.

    “In pointing out that some Nigerians, who dare the desert and the Mediterranean in order to migrate illegally to Europe have to blame themselves, the President had a context, following severe warnings by local authorities that were clearly being ignored.

    “The unfortunate Nigerians were always lured into harmful and unsafe journeys, with high likelihood of death or slavery.”

     

     

     

  • Buhari seeks China’s support on power project

    •Signs $340.74m ICT loan

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sought Chinese government’s speedy facilitation to complete Mambilla power p-roject in Taraba State.

    He made the appeal in Beijing, China while signing a bilateral agreement bet-ween himself and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 74th summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

    Buhari hailed the Chinese government for its support for the development of infrastructure in the country.

    With the reviewed bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China, he said citizens of both countries would benefit in terms of improvement in their living conditions.

    Buhari praised President Jinping for hosting the summit, which he noted brought together African leaders and business entrepreneurs for a win-win dialogue.

    He said: “I congratulate Your Excellency and indeed the Chinese government for hosting a successful forum on China Africa cooperation for the past two days.

    “In my earlier meeting with President Jinping, I said this historic event and its outcome have provided a platform for a prosperous future for the two billion Chinese and Africans. Nigeria and China have come a long way; our journey has been that of mutual respect and support.”

    President Buhari said China in the last two years supported Nigeria in the training of security personnel, agricultural modernisation and provision of concessional loans, which had impacted on the economy.

    Said he: “In the past 24 months, the Chinese government has provided humanitarian aids for our conflict areas, scholarships for youths, military training and security support for our personnel, agriculture modernisation training and concession army loans to fund  infrastructural projects.

    “These interventions have impacted on millions of Nigerians and will continue to do so for generations to come. Earlier today, I solicited the support of President Jinping on the Mambilla hydro project, which remains a priority to Nigeria.

    “Our wish is to fund this project with concessionaire loans from China. I will take this opportunity to appeal to you to support this project. President Jinping and I witnessed the signing of the belt and road initiative agreements by Nigeria, which I believe will set the foundation for many centuries and mutually beneficial relationship.”

    A copy of an agreement signed between Nigeria and China for the ICT sector read: “The Chinese government agrees that the Export-Import Bank of China (the creditor) provides for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (the creditor), represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance of Nigeria with a concessional loan (herein referred to as “the loan”) of Renminbi Two Billion.

    “Three Hundred Million Yuan Only (¥2,300,000,000.00), which shall be utilised to implement the National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II Project. The interest subsidised for the loan shall be paid directly to the Export-Import Bank of China by the Chinese government.”

    President Buhari also met Premier Li Keqiang, who lauded Nigerian government’s willingness for a stronger partnership.

    He said as the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria had a viable market good for the kind of cooperation with China.

    “I’m happy to see you again. Nigeria is an important country in Africa with the highest population on the continent. There has been a steady growth of our political relationship and our practical cooperation has been growing from strength to strength.

    “Years ago, I visited Nigeria and I was impressed by the potential of your market and your strong desire for closer cooperation with China. I am confident that your visit this time will lend new impetus to our bilateral relationship to deliver benefits to both sides,” Li added.

     

     

     

  • Buhari seeks China’s support on Mambilla­ power project

    *Signs $340.74m ICT loan

    *Seeks export waiver for Agricultural products

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sought for the Chinese government’s speedy facilitation to complete the Mambilla power p­roject in Taraba state.

    Buhari made the appeal in Beijing, China while signing the bilateral agreement between himself and President Xi Jinping on the sid­eline of the 74th Summit of the Forum on­ China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Bei­jing.

    Buhari, during the ceremony, commended the Chinese gov­ernment for its support for the developm­ent of infrastructure in the country.

    With the reviewed bilateral coop­eration between Nigeria and China, he said that major­ity of citizens from both countries stan­d to benefit in terms of the improvement­ in their living conditions.

    He also commended Presiden­t Xi for successfully hosting the FOCAC ­summit which he said had brought together African le­aders and business entrepreneurs for a w­in-win dialogue.

    He said “I will like to start by congratulating ­your Excellency and indeed the Chinese g­overnment for hosting a very successful ­forum on China Africa cooperation FOCAC ­for the past two days. In my earlier mee­ting with the President.

    “I mentioned that this historic event an­d its outcome has provided the platform ­for a very prosperous future for the 2 billion Chinese and African citizens. Nig­eria and China have come a long way, our­ journey has been that of mutual respec­t and support.”

    President Buhari explained that China in­ the last two years has supported Nigeri­a in the training of security personnel, agr­icultural modernization and provision of­ concessional loans which have impacted ­on the economy.

    He said, “In the past 24 months, th­e Chinese government has provided humani­tarian aide to our conflict areas, schol­arships to Nigerian youth, military trai­ning and security support to our personn­el, agriculture modernization training, ­and concession army loans to fund critic­al infrastructural projects.

    “These interventions have positively imp­acted on millions of Nigerians and will ­continue to do so for generations to com­e. Mr. President, earlier today, I solicit­ed the support of President Xi on the Ma­mbilla hydro project which remains a key­ priority to Nigeria.

    “Our wish is to fund this project with ­concessionaire loans from China. I will also ­take this opportunity to appeal to yo­ur good office to support this project. ­President Xi and I also witnessed the signing of the belt and road initiative ­agreements by Nigeria which I strongly bel­ieve will set the foundation for many ce­nturies and mutually beneficial relation­ship.” Buhari said.

    A copy of an agreement signed between Ni­geria and China for the ICT sector read in part; “The Chinese governm­ent agrees that the Export-Import Bank o­f China (the creditor) provides for the ­government of the federal republic of Ni­geria (the creditor) Represented by the ­federal ministry of finance of Nigeria w­ith a concessional loan (herein referred­ to as “the loan”) of Renminbi Two Billi­on.

    “Three Hundred Million Yuan Only (¥2,300­,000,000.00) which shall be utilized to ­implement the National Information and C­ommunication Technology Infrstructure Ba­ckbone Phase II Project. The interest su­bsidized for the loan shall be paid dire­ctly to the Export-Import Bank of China ­by the Chinese government.”

    President Buhari also met with the Chine­se Premier Li Keqiang who expressed happ­iness with the Nigerian Government’s willingness for a stronger partnership.

    He noted that as the largest economy­ in Africa, Nigeria has a viable market ­that is good for the kind cooperation with China.

    “I am very happy to see you again. Nigeria­ is very important country in Africa wit­h the highest population in the continen­t. There has been a steady growth of our ­political relationship and our practical­ cooperation has also been growing from strength to strength.

    “Several years ago, I paid a visit to Nigeria and I was deeply impressed by the ­tremendous potentials of your market and­ your strong desire for closer cooperati­on with China. Iam confident that your v­isit this time will lend new impetus to o­ur bilateral relationship to deliver ben­efits to both sides.” Li added.

  • Atiku’s allegations: Buhari not power drunk – Presidency

    *Says Buhari uncompromising against corruption

     

    The Presidency on Wednesday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari was not power drunk.

    A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, was reacting to allegations by the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    But the Presidency agreed that President Buhari is uncompromising against corruption.

    The statement reads “Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, was quoted by a foreign news medium as accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of being “very uncompromising, also power drunk; (and) who will not be ready to leave power without a fight.”

    “Rather than use the name of President Buhari to buoy his bid to get the presidential ticket of a party, whose flag has been flying at half-mast since it got roundly trounced at the polls in 2015, the former Vice President needs be told that the President is truly uncompromising, but only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians, and squandering their riches.

    “President Buhari is uncompromising in the quest to restore probity and accountability to public office. He is uncompromising in cleaning the rot Nigeria was consigned into pre-2015, thus the war against corruption is being fought without fear or favour. The President is equally resolute in the determination to ensure that Nigeria is no longer a mono-economy, depending only on oil.

    “Yes, President Buhari is single-minded in effecting change in every area of Nigerian life. So, Alhaji Abubakar is right, if that was what he meant by the President being “uncompromising.”

    Read Also: FEC okays N6.01 trillion national health plan

    “But power drunk? No! And being a man “who will not be ready to leave power without a fight?” Never! Not President Buhari, who has demonstrated in many ways that he is a committed democrat, though also a retired military general. He has no apologies about that. Through a sterling military career, he served Nigeria with his heart and might, before venturing into partisan politics.”

    According to him, President Buhari, in many ways, has wielded power with decency, and as a means of serving the people, rather than for personal ends.

    “If there’s one person not intoxicated by power, it is President Buhari, and scores of millions of Nigerians know this. That is why they will invest him with power again next year, knowing that he won’t misuse or misapply what has been entrusted to him.

    “Former VP Abubakar may want to borrow a leaf from the decorous language employed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in answering his recent press statement on the restructuring debate. That is the hallmark of statesmen, and not crying wolf where none exists, which is what the allegation of being uncompromising and power drunk truly is.

    “President Buhari is actuated by service to country, and nothing else. So, there couldn’t be anything like “not ready to leave power without a fight.”

    “Indeed, the insinuation of a fight is the mindset of a man who is either undemocratic, or has seen defeat staring him, and his party, in the face.

    “Let the former Vice President rest assured that there will be no ‘fight’ over power in Nigeria. Not under President Buhari’s watch. The people don’t want a fight. It is some political leaders we must beseech to eschew pugnacity, and mind their language.” he stated