The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Akpabio I’ll assist Buhari fight poverty

    Senator Godswill Akpabio has said that he will support President Muhammadu Buharin to generate jobs and eradicate poverty.

    Acknowleging the anti-corruption drive of the President, Akpabio said he would join in fighting its “twin-brother which is poverty.”

    “I am joining the APC to stabilize the government and to assist the government to create employment opportunities for Nigerians so that we can fight the twin brother to corruption, which is poverty.

    “Poverty creates corruption and corruption deepens poverty, so we need to fight the two together. And that is one of the things I find attractive with the APC and believe me, with my people in Akwa Ibom State, with my presence in the APC, my people in South South have now seen the light and they say APC is the party to vote for come 2019.” he added.

    He told reporters after the National Caucus meeting at the Villa that

    “The meeting went very well and a lot of topical issues were discussed bothering on the interest of the nation. The resolutions are fantastic and I believe that the resolutions will not only move the party forward but will help to alleviate the situation in the country today and Nigerians will be happy for it.”

    Akpabio praised President Buhari’s leadership, saying “the President has kept his integrity intact.”

    He added: “He has been able to improve the image of Nigeria and restored a lot of respect for Nigeria before the international community.

    “I can assure you that he alone can attract millions of people, he is that infectious.”

  • Why Buhari withheld assent to PIGB

    The Presidency on Wednesday disclosed why President Muhammadu Buhari withheld his assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

    Speaking with State House correspondents,  the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, pointed out that one of the issues was the 10 per cent proposed for Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which he said was on the high side.

    He said: “By Presidential communication of July 29, 2018 addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives, Mr. President did communicate decline of assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, 2018 for constitutional and legal reasons stated therein.

    “By convention, it is inappropriate to speak on the content of Executive communication addressed to the Legislature until same has been read on the floor in plenary.

    “But I plead for the understanding of the legislature that due to the misrepresentations in the public domain and apparent deliberate blackmail, which if not promptly addressed may set both the executive and the legislature against the public and even the international investment community, this be excused.”

    According to him, none of the reasons for withholding assent by Mr. President adduced by the media was true. “In deference to the National Assembly, I please state very limited of the rationale communicated to the legislature, to wit: a) That the provision of the Bill permitting the Petroleum Regulatory commission to retain as much as 10 per cent of the revenue generated unduly increases the funds accruing to the Petroleum Regulatory commission to the detriment of the revenue available to the Federal, States, Federal capital Territory and Local Governments in the country

    “b) Expanding the scope of Petroleum Equalisation Fund and some provisions in divergence from this administration’s policy and indeed conflicting provisions on independent petroleum equalisation fund

    “c) Some legislative drafting concerns which if assented to in the form presented will create ambiguity and conflict in interpretation.

    “May this please answer some of the issues raised until the communication is read on the floor.” he stated

  • Photos: Buhari, Theresa May in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    May’s visit to Nigeria is part of her tour of some Africa countries.

    Read Also: Buhari to Theresa May: 2019 Election will be free, fair, credible

  • Uduaghan, Marwa, others join Buhari at APC meeting

    •Tinubu, Onoja, Akpabio, Elechi, others plan battle for 2019

    The new shape of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national caucus emerged yesterday.

    There are new faces, such as former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio.

    Uduaghan’s membership of the APC was largely unknown until last night when President Muhammadu Buhari met with the party’s national caucus at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Also at the meeting, which is expected to kickstart the APC’s preparations for next year’s general elections, were former Lagos State Military Administrator Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) and former Military Governor of Katsina  State Gen. Lawrence Onoja (retd.).

    Gen. Marwa is from Adamawa, home state of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who quit the APC to pursue his presidential ambition in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was active in the CPC.

    Information Minister Lai Mohammed was at the meeting. He is now the leader of the party in Kwara State, following Senate President Bukola Saraki’s defection to the PDP.

    Former Ebonyi State Governor Martins Elechi, formerly of the PDP, was also at the meeting.

    The Caucus meeting will prepare the ground for tomorrow’s National ExecutievCouncil (NEC) meeting which will ratify the plans for the party’s congresses and convention to pick its candidates for all the various offices, including the standard bearer in the presidential election.

    A decision on whether to adopt direct primaries being advocated by National Chairman Adams Oshiohmole or indirect primaries, through the delegates system was expected to be taken.

    President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the meeting held at the New Banquet Hall of the State House. Proceedings started around 8.30pm.

    Also attending were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,  Oshiomhole, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Deputy National Chaorman (South) Adeniyi Adebayo and Chief Don Etiebet were there.

    There were 17 governors at the time the meeting started. They are the governors of Lagos, Borno, Jigawa, Niger, Plateau, Kogi, Adamawa, Ondo, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Katsina, Osun, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kebbi, and Imo.

    Also at the meeting were House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senators  Kabiru Gaya and Jim Nwobodo.

    There were also former governors Segun Oni (Ekiti) Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and Oserheime Osunbor (Edo).

     

  • Afenifere accuses Buhari, APC of shunning restructuring

    The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on national interest being above personal liberty is disappointing.

    In a communique issued at the end of its monthly meeting at the home of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Afenifere accused the President and the ruling Al Progressives Congress (APC) of not believing in the restructuring of Nigeria.

    The group’s Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, who read the communique, said: “We maintain that restructuring remains the major issue in Nigeria. The meeting reviewed the comments by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, at a town hall meeting in the Unites States of America (U.S.A).

    Osinbajo was quoted as saying: “The problem of our country is not the matter of restructuring and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problem is drawn from geographical de-structuring. It is about managing resources properly and providing for people properly.”

    Afenifere said: “The statement of the Vice President should be viewed against the background that in 2016, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party inserted restructuring into its manifestos and, in 2017, when the argument about restructuring became so loud, they set up the El-Rufai Committee to provide their own idea of restructuring. Up till now, they have not told us their new definition, only for them to tell us that restructuring is not our problem.

    “…There is no amount of good governance that can alter the derivation formula. Good governance cannot address resource control. There are issues of restructuring that are outside the scope of good governance, which is an essential ingredient of restructuring…”

  • Buhari, Tinubu, APC caucus meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with the national caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    The meeting at the New Banquet Hall of the State House started around 8.30pm.
    Those at the meeting included the the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
    The serving State Governors at the meeting included Borno, Jigawa, Niger, Plateau, Kogi, Adamawa, Ondo, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Katsina, Osun, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Imo, and Lagos.
    Also at the meeting were Segun Oni, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, former Borno State Governor, Alimodu Sheriff, former Lagos State Governor, Buba Marwa, Lawrence Onoja, Jim Nwobodo, Kabiru Gaya.
    Others are former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, former Enugu State Governor, Sylva Chime, former Edo State Governor, Osunbor.
    Also in attendance were the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Ekiti State governor,  Niyi Adebayo, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Goodwill Akpabio, former Bayelsa State Governor, Sylva Timipre, Don Etiebet, and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
    Some senators and members of the House of Representatives also attended the meeting.
    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
    Details Later…

  • Electoral Act Amendment Bill: Buhari will do the needful – Presidency

    Ahead of the expiration of the 30 days constitutional provisions for the President to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Presidency on Tuesday said that there was no cause for alarm.

    The Bill was transmitted to the President for his assent on Thursday, 2nd August, 2018 after the corrected version was passed by the National Assembly on 24th July.

    The 30 days expires next Sunday.

    If the President fails to assent the bill or return it to the parliament at the end of the 30 days, the National Assembly may likely overrides President Muhammadu Buhari’s.

    But the Presidency has assured that it won’t get to that level as the President will do the needful before the expiration of the 30 days constitutional provision.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday said “We will do the needful before the Bill expires.”

    Enang, who had recently countered the allegation that the President again refused to sign the bill into law, explained that the Bill was being studied by the President’s team before he signs it.

    Enang had debunked the claims that President Muhammadu Buhari had vetoed the Bill.

    He had stated “The final clean copy of the Bill which was received by President Muhamamdu Buhari on the 2nd of August, 2018, still undergoing thorough scrutiny by the President.

    “Mr President has not vetoed the bill. What some people are not aware of was that when the second copy was received after the initial rejection, it was discovered that there were typography errors which the National Assembly needed to correct and they did it and sent it back on the 24th of July and this is still being studied before presidential assent.”

    He said, “It is good for people to cross check their facts first before feeding the public with the wrong information. As you know the President embarked on a 10 day leave soon after we submitted the Bill to him, so we should wait.”

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu had declared that the Bill will not be used for the 2019 February general election unless it was signed into law at least six months before the election.

    The Bill contains relevant provisions that is expected to guide INEC in the conduct of the 2019 election.

  • IYC commends Seifa for releasing DSS detainees

    …Calls for his confirmation

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide on Tuesday applauded the Director-General of the Department of State Security ( DSS ), Mathew Seifa, for making good his promise to review cases and release detainees held in the agency without trials.

    IYC also called on the Presidency to confirm the appointment of Seifa and make him the substantive head of the DSS.

    The Nation reported exclusively that the DSS commenced a process of granting freedom to suspects detained for some years without trials in its facilities in Abuja.

    Seven of the suspects, who were arrested in 2016 in Bayelsa State, were brought to Yenagoa at the weekend.

    They were brought from the DSS Headquarters in Abuja to the office of the DSS in Yenagoa and released to their family members and friends, who milled around the agency’s office.

    Some of the suspects were seen shedding tears of joy in the warm embrace of their friends when they finally marched out of the DSS facility.

    The suspects looked unkempt with overgrown bears, rough skin and dirty clothes.

    One of them, who identified himself as Clinton Ohaigbofa, confirmed that suspects held without trial were being massively released across the country.

    Read Also: IYC, Ohanaeze youths back pro-restructuring candidates

    Clinton, who hails from Ebedebiri in Ogbia Local Government Area, attributed the development to the disposition of the new DSS boss.

    He said they were held in underground cells in Abuja for over two years, adding that they untold hardship.

    The IYC in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Alfred Kemepado, expressed satisfaction and comfort with the recent strides of Seifa describing him as a true democrat.

    Kemepado said the recent release of persons detained in the custody of the DSS without trial gave hope and value to democracy.

    He, however, urged Seifa to look into high profile cases detainees like that of El-zazaky, the leader of the Shiites in Nigeria and dispense fairness to all.

    He said: “IYC has spoken to colleagues from other ethnic nationalities and most have expressed their confidence that Mr. Seiyefa will tackle the humongous security challenges facing Nigeria today from Boko Haram to the herdsmen palava and to recent activities that threatens our democracy”.

    Kemepado thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Osibanjo for considering a competent son of the South of Nigeria to head the DSS.

    “This is positively contrary to our earlier beliefs that the President disrespected us. We want to appeal to President Buhari to confirm Seifa’s appointment as we are willing to work with him and others to sustain the peace in Nigeria and in the Niger Delta especially.

    “We call on all groups to continue to support Seiyefa with information and prayers for the overall good of all. The IYC appeals to Seiyefa not to yield to the antics of politicians but to uphold the values of his service and also uphold our growing democracy”, he said.

  • Buhari sympathises with Kebbi flood victims

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with the government and people of Kebbi State on the flood disaster that ravaged 11 local government areas of the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi Governor, Abubakar Dakingari made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

    He said the president’s message was read to the affected Koko, Koko/Besse Local Government Area of the state by Gov. Atiku Bagudu while addressing victims.

    Read Also: Buhari won’t rest until Leah Sharibu, others are released, says Presidency

    According to the statement, President Buhari is deeply sympathetic with the victims and prayed Allah to provide succor to all of them.

    The governor advised people in the flood prone areas to refrain from construction and building on waterways to prevent future occurrence.

    “The government will embark on clearing and evacuation of rubbish from drainages to ensure free flow of water,’’ Bagudu said.

  • I regret supporting Buhari, says Kwankwaso

    Former Kano State Governor Abiu Musa Kwankwaso has said he and others who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, to support President Muhammadu Buhari against then President Goodluck Jonathan, are regretting their action.

    Kwankwaso, a presidential aspirant, who was in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on a consultation visit to PDP members, condemned President Buhari’s approach to “reviving the economy”.

    The senator condemned the poor state of infrastructure in the Southeast, saying the anomaly could only be corrected by a change of government at the centre next year.

    He hoped that the PDP would form the government at the centre and in many states.

    Kwankwaso said Nigerians were fed up with the All Progressives Congress (APC), “and will be happy seeing PDP return to power.”

    “From North to South, the citizens are looking for a government that will not place emphasis on religion, ethnicity and culture, but national development. The PDP government shall bring development, create platforms and provide jobs for Nigerians.

    “I have been in Southeast in the last few days. The state of infrastructure in this region is incredible. It is either that the government lacks the capacity to improve the economy or something. Electricity is important in this country. The people need a government that will be just and provide employment for teeming young Nigerians,” he said.

    Elder statesman and PDP Board of Trustee (BoT) member Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu described Kwankwaso as a good material for the president.

    He urged Nigerians to join PDP to “vote out a government that has failed the country.”

    State PDP Chairman Charles Ezekwem, represented by his Deputy, Martin Ejiogu, said the Igbo would only vote for a presidential candidate that would restructure the country and create an additional state in the region.