The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Saraki: PDP calls for arrest of Miyetti Allah leader

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest of the National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo.

    Gololo had, in an interview published in a national newspaper on Wednesday, called on the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki to resign his position or be forced to do so.

    Gololo however, did not state how the association intend to force Saraki out of office.

    But in a reaction Wednesday by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the outburst of the Miyetti Allah leader as being in tandem with the threats by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and “agents of the Buhari Presidency” to force Saraki out of office.

    Saying Gololo’s outburst was “ominous and revealing”, the PDP noted that his statement has exposed the synergy between the APC and some “troublesome elements” who are being used to stoke division and create violent crisis that had resulted into daily bloodlettings in various parts of the country.

    The statement said, “It is now abundantly clear to Nigerians that those fomenting crisis, including the bloody clashes in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Edo, Borno, Yobe, Enugu, Kogi, Adamawa and other states in our country, have political backers, who now want to channel them to achieve their unpatriotic quest to subvert our constitution and forcefully take over the National Assembly.

    “Before now, to majority of Nigerians, the Miyetti Allah has always represented the military wing of the APC and the Buhari Presidency. It is incontrovertible that they have now become the fourth arm of government that can determine when and how to forcefully remove the number three citizen, the President of the Senate.

    “It is common knowledge that Mr. President has come under heavy public criticisms on how his body language has condoned the unguarded utterances and actions of these characters.

    “However, in the light of these treasonable and inciting utterances by Miyetti Allah, we demand that President Muhammadu Buhari, should within the next 24 hours, order the arrest and commence immediate trial of the leadership of this group, otherwise Nigerians will henceforth hold him directly responsible for the utterances and actions of the Miyetti Allah.

    “Finally, the PDP is aware that Miyetti Allah does not represent the views and interests of the vast majority of cattle breeders or even any ethnic group in the country.

    “We therefore urge all good spirited Nigerians to rise in condemnation of the actions and utterances of these misguided elements, who are being used to attempt a constitutional breach that portends grave danger to national cohesion and our hard earned democracy”.

  • Buhari pledges to assist visually-impaired Corps Member

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to fund the cost of medical treatment of a 28 year old serving member of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Okenala Ahmed who is visually-impaired.

    Ahmed, a graduate of Insurance from the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, is undergoing his service year in Daura, Katsina State.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Ahmed was among the Corps members who paid Sallah homage to President Buhari on Tuesday in Daura, as part of activities to mark the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.

    He said “In the course of the President’s interaction with the Corps members, the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO), Jibrin Ishak, had appealed for assistance for their physically challenged member.

    Read Also: Buhari fit to contest in 2019, says Presidency

    “According to the CLO, the indigent Corps member, who is from Offa, Kwara State, had earlier contemplated redeployment from Katsina State due to his health condition.

    “President Buhari will undertake the cost of medical care and treatment of Ahmed, who is an Economics NYSC teacher at Government Day Senior Secondary School, Daura.” it s

  • Why we focus on common man – Osinbajo

    *Says Buhari administration will continue to develop more infrastructure, support Nigerians

     

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the Buhari administration will continue to focus on the common man and taking Nigerians out of poverty through its social investment programmes.

    He however called for unity among all Nigerians.

    Prof. Osinbajo said this during a townhall meeting on Tuesday in Bariga/Somolu LCDA in Lagos State to felicitate with Lagosians on the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    The Vice President, who addressed a gathering comprising APC chieftains in the state, youth groups, state government officials and the LCDA Chairmen of Somolu and Bariga, noted that the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) were geared towards improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said “The President focus has always been on the common man. So, when we came, we decided on a few things to tackle youth unemployment. First, the N-Power programme to engage as many young people who are graduates as possible.

    “We started with 200,000, and just this month, we have employed another 300,000. So, in our N-Power programme, we have 500,000 young graduates who are employed in the programme. Now every local government in Nigeria has N-Power graduate.”

    He added that the Buhari administration has been able to embark on the completion of more infrastructure projects and achieve more with less funds because of President’s Buhari’s honesty and the seriousness of the administration to improve the country’s fortunes.

    He said, “In the past four years of the previous administration, over US$393 billion was earned in oil proceeds alone. In the past three years, we have earned US$94 billion, look at the difference. And the reasons are very straightforward. The price of oil was about half of what it used to be. But with the same $94 billion, we have been able to do far more.

    “When we got into office, 24 states had not paid salaries for over six months and we ensured that these salaries were paid. And President Buhari said then, “Look, I have been a salary earner all my life, I have never done any business; the only thing I ever done is government work, either as a soldier or in government. I cannot imagine how anybody can go to sleep as a governor without paying the salaries of his workers.” So, we made sure that we paid salaries and we have done so many other things.

    “In investments, look at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; for almost 12 years, with all that money, it was never done. Now we have set about and we are doing it, we will complete it. Also, the Lagos-Kano railway project, so many of us know that we are moving towards Ibadan now. And we are going to complete it.”

    The Vice President further said the Buhari administration will continue to support petty traders and small businesses to ensure that more Nigerians are taken out of poverty.

    He said, “The other thing we have done is GEEP (Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme), a micro-credit scheme for market women and others. We are doing one now for petty traders that is called TraderMoni. We have done it in Lagos we are going to do at least 100,000 in Lagos and 2 million across the country. The traders here in Bariga must benefit from it. We also have the one for people far bigger than that which is called GEEP.

    Read Also: We’ll deliver credible elections in 2019 – Osinbajo

    “I want to emphasize that everything we are doing, our focus, first of all, is to ensure that people are taken out of poverty. Our country is a very big; over 200 million people, many young people coming out everyday. Aside from that, we also want to ensure that anybody who is doing anything at all, who is trading, artisans, mechanics; we are able to support them.

    “The reason is that when you look at the way government operates in the past; when you look at the government budget, it focuses on the middle-class, those who have industries and manufacturing plants, and those kinds of people. But the majority are at a very low level, doing little things. Those are the people that we must first of all (focus on), so that the poorest are able to do better. If the poorest do better, it would be better for all of us.” he said.

  • Buhari fit to contest in 2019, says Presidency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has shown his fitness to seek reelection in 2019 by walking 800 metres back home from the Eid ground, the Presidency said yesterday.

    After the two-rakat Eid–el-Kabir prayer, President Buhari shunned protocol and walked the 800-metre distance back to his Daura country home in Katsina State, amidst chants of ‘Sai Baba’ by well- wishers. He acknowledged cheers from people who line the road to catch a glimpse of him.

    The President joined thousands of Muslim faithful to observe the prayer.  The President arrived at the at Kofar Arewa Eid Ground in Daura with some of his relatives and aides at about 9.48 a.m.

    He performed the annual sacrifice of slaughtering of the ram immediately after the prayer.

    Chief Imam of Daura Safiyanu Dansanwai, who led the prayer, stressed the need for peace.

    Read also: Buhari to inaugurate $250m brewery in Ogun

    He called on Muslims to pray for the country’s peace, harmony and development.

    Emir of Daura Alhaji Farouk Umar was among those at the praying ground.

    Presidential aspirant and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, said last week that the President is “too old’’ to continue to rule the country beyond 2019 despite his integrity and impeccable character.

    While hosting some youth groups and student, Tambuwal said: “We love President Buhari and that was why we supported him in 2015 unconditionally, and while doing that, we are too sure that he will seek re-election after his first term, but when things are wrong we have to tell him.

    “We still believe in his integrity, patriotism and courage but these are not enough for a leader.

    “We all know that there is a vacuum in the government occasioned by his disposition probably because of his old age or health condition.

    “That is why Nigerians are yearning for younger ones to lead this country.’’

    But President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu said the trekking by the president was a positive response to Tambuwal’s diatribe.

    The spokesman said:  “I think there are two things here; one is to say that the President is responsive to the enormous support and commitment of his own people that had come out in their numbers to see him and he just decided that he couldn’t go on  riding in a black vehicle and he came out and walked to the  distance.

    “The second thing, he is curious that these days, one or two people who are aspiring to be president are campaigning on their youthfulness and good health.

    “I think the president has done one thing today – that the issue is not how old one is but how fit he is ; how healthy he is. Now that the president has proven his fitness and well-being to continue in office is a settled matter

    “I think that if people want to campaign against him they should do so on issues that are of significance to Nigerians. The President is fit, he is healthy; he is good to go for second term.’’

    Speaking to reporters on the receprion he got, the President said:

    ‘‘I am very happy about it (the warm reception) and I do not expect anything less from my immediate base.’’

    Wishing Nigerians a happy and successful Sallah celebration, the President expressed delight that the country was spending less on food imports, noting that it was a major boost to the agricultural policies of his administration.

    At another event, the President received members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Daura community- an audience that has become part of his schedules during the Sallah celebrations

    Reaffirming his support for the scheme established in 1973, the President told the corps members that‘‘It is better to know all parts of the country than for people to be state-inclined.

    ‘‘I always look forward to meeting the NYSC team because since I served mostly in the South when I was in the military, some people in Lagos the only thing they know is the sea.

    ‘‘For them (NYSC members) to be brought to the desert or near the Sahel region is a very difficult thing but it will make an impact on Nigeria.

    ‘‘I have personally spoken to Gen. Gowon to thank him for having the initiative to start the NYSC programme. It is very good for Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The Corps Liaison Officer Jibrin Ishak thanked the President for prioritizing the welfare and a secured future of the Nigerian Youths through his style of leadership and developmental initiatives.

    ‘‘The voice of the people is the voice of God and by the grace of God, we pray that in 2019 you will continue to be President of Nigeria to do more for us,’’ Ishak said.

    The representative of the Corps members prayed God to sustain the President with good health, long life and prosperity.

    In his usual tradition, the President donated a bull, 10 bags of rice and half-a-million naira to the corps members.

  • Buhari to inaugurate $250m brewery in Ogun

    President Muhammadu Buhari is set to inaugurate a $250 million brewery, International Breweries PLC (IB Plc) at Flowergate Industrial Scheme, Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State.

    IB Plc, which is part of the AB InBev Group, the world’s largest brewer, which has Trophy, Hero, Betamalt, Grandmalt, Castle Lite and Eagle lager beer as its products line.

    It recently launched a global brand, Budweiser.

    The plant is the company’s fourth brewery in Nigeria, after those in Ilesa (Osun), Onitsha (Anambra) and Port-Harcourt (Rivers).

    It demonstrates the country’s capacity to attract foreign direct investment to drive socio-economic growth and development.

    The Plant Manager, Mr. Tony Agah, who addressed reporters at the brewery’s state-of-the-art facility, said it will be the company’s largest plant in Africa, outside of South Africa.

    Agah said it will also significantly have multiplier effect on the value chain within Ogun State, its environs as well as provide direct and indirect jobs.

    According to him, other dignitaries expected to join President Buhari at the inauguration on August 28, include the Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah; the Minster for Budget and Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma; President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyeama; the global Chief Executive Officer of AB InBev, Mr. Carlos Britowill.

    Also, the company’s Managing Director, Annabelle Degroot, described the plant as a major step towards its strategic goal of producing high-quality drinks locally.

    He said: “International Breweries Plc is a brand that places a premium on quality.”

    Degroot averred that Nigerians would be treated to the best traditions in brewing with outstanding recipes, superior ingredients, innovation and world-class techniques and provide a great opportunity to engage qualified locals.

    He added: “One of the objectives of the company is to create job opportunities for the people of Ogun state as well as Nigerians in general.

    “The plant will also be instrumental in empowering farmers as most of the raw materials required will be sourced locally. This will, in turn, contribute to the economic development of the country.”

    The company’s Corporate Affairs Director Otunba Michael Daramola, noted that the establishment of the plant in Nigeria was in further recognition of the corollary between having prestigious brands and a befitting world-class setting.

     

  • Borno governorship aspirant seeks support for Buhari

    Borno State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Capt. Ibrahim Mshelia, has canvassed support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mshelia said his support for Buhari was predicated on the persona of the President, which has earned him respect in his drive to transform the country.

    The pilot turned politician, in an interview in Lagos, said Buhari’s development ideology has put the country on the right track.

    He said: “A country or person with no ideology cannot deliver social justice to its people. Look at the work done quietly by Buhari, it’s because he does not collect kickbacks or bribe that contractors dare not to deliver. Look at Warri/Abuja rail line; abandoned Abuja roads are now all completed, if not near completion.

    “We cannot continue to allow men with no ideology run the affairs of a country with beautiful ideology like Nigeria. See how evidently the politicians have shown themselves by the series of defection and counter defections; it’s all about them and not the country.

    “We are wiser now and God has used Buhari to show us that development is easily achieved if you elect a leader that will not take bribe.

    “Let us, therefore, not continue to allow the mismanagement of our country by people who have had inferior patriotism, knowledge and ideas to take it forward.”

  • 2019: Presidency replies Tambuwal as Buhari treks 800 metres

    The Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated his fitness to run for a second term by trekking 800 metres from the Eid-praying ground in Daura to his private residence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria  reports after the Eid-prayers, President Buhari shunned protocol and opted to trek some 800 metres, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians, who lined up on his home route to catch a glimpse of him.

    One of the aspirants interested in the president’s office is Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state. He said last week that President is “too old’’ to continue to rule the country beyond 2019

    According to Tambuwal, President Muhammadu Buhari is just too old to be Nigeria’s leader, despite his integrity and impeccable character. Tambuwal stated this during a solidarity visit of students and youth in Sokoto, last week.

    Tambuwal said: “We love President Buhari and that was why we supported him in 2015 unconditionally, and while doing that, we are too sure that he will seek re-election after his first term, but when things are wrong we have to tell him.

    “We still believe in his integrity, patriotism and courage but these are not enough for a leader.

    “We all know that there is a vacuum in the government occasioned by his disposition probably because of his old age or health condition.

    “That is why Nigerians are yearning for younger ones to lead this country.’’

    However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the trekking by the president was a positive response to Tambuwal’s diatribe.

    Read Also: Buhari to inaugurate $250 million brewery in Ogun

    “I think there are two things here; one is to say that the President is responsive to the enormous support and commitment of his own people that had come out in their numbers to see him and he just decided that he couldn’t go on riding in a black vehicle and he came out and walked to the distance.

    “The second thing, he is curious that these days, one or two people who are aspiring to be president are campaigning on their youthfulness and good health.

    “I think the president has done one thing today – that the issue is not how old one is but how fit he is ; how healthy he is. Now that the president has proven his fitness and well-being to continue in office is a settled matter

    “I think that if people want to campaign against him they should do so on issues that are of significance to Nigerians. The President is fit, he is healthy; he is good to go for second term,’’ he said.

  • Buhari to inaugurate $250 million brewery in Ogun

    President Muhammadu Buhari is set to inaugurate $ 250 million dollars new brewery, International Breweries PLC (IB Plc), sited at Flowergate Industrial Scheme, Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State.

    IB Plc which is part of the AB InBev group, the world’s largest brewer has Trophy, Hero, Betamalt, Grandmalt, Castle lite and Eagle lager as its products line. It also recently launched a global brand, Budweiser.

    The plant is the company’s fourth brewery in Nigeria, after those in Ilesa, Onitsha, and Port-Harcourt, demonstrating the country’s capacity to attract foreign direct investment to drive socio-economic growth and development.

    The Plant Manager, Mr. Tony Agah, who made this known to reporters at the at brewer’s state – of – the – art facility on Monday, said it will be the Company’s largest plant within the group in Africa, outside of South Africa.

    Agah added that it will also significantly engenders multiplier impact on the value chain within Ogun State, its environs as well as provides direct and indirect employment.

    According to him, other dignitaries expected to join President Buhari to perform the commissioning of the facility on August 28, include Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Minster for Budget and Planning, Mr. Udo Udoma, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyeama, the global Chief Executive Officer of AB InBev, Mr. Carlos Britowill.

    Read Also: Buhari  marks Eid -El-Adha with prayers, 800 metres walk

    Also, the Company’s Managing Director, Annabelle Degroot, described the plant as a major step towards the company’s strategic goal of producing high-quality drinks locally.

    Degroot said “International Breweries Plc is a brand that places a premium on quality.”

    Degroot assured that Nigerians will be treated to the best traditions in brewing, with outstanding recipes, superior ingredients, innovation and world-class techniques and provide a great opportunity to engage qualified locals.

    “One of the objectives of the company is to create job opportunities for the people of Ogun state as well as Nigerians in general.

    “The plant will also be instrumental in empowering farmers as most of the raw materials required will be sourced locally. This will, in turn, contribute to the economic development of the country,” she said.

    On his part, Otunba Michael Daramola, the Corporate Affairs Director said that establishment of the plant in Nigeria is in further recognition of the corollary between having prestigious brands and a befitting world-class setting.

  • Buhari marks Eid -El-Adha with prayers, 800 metres walk

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday joined the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk and other Muslim faithful, to observe the Eid prayers at Kofar Arewa Eid Ground, Daura, Katsina State.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, had the honour of performing the symbolic slaughtering of the ram at the Eid ground, signifying total obedience to the will of Allah as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.

    After the prayers, the President shunned protocol and opted to trek some 800 metres, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians who had trooped out en masse to attend the Eid prayers and also catch a glimpse of Mr President in his hometown.

    Speaking to reporters at his residence after the walk, the President said he didn’t expect anything less from his ‘immediate constituency’ even as he thanked the almighty God for a bumper harvest and Nigeria’s steady progress towards food sufficiency.

    ‘‘I am very happy about it (the warm reception) and I do not expect anything less from my immediate base.’’ he said

    The President who wished all Nigerians a happy and successful Sallah celebrations, expressed delight that the country was spending less on food imports, noting that it was a major boost to the agricultural policies of his administration.

    At a separate event, the President received members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) currently serving in Daura community- an audience that has become part of his schedules during the Sallah celebrations in the past years.

    Reaffirming his support to the scheme established in 1973, the President told the corps members: ‘‘It is better to know all the country than for people to be state-inclined.

    ‘‘I always look forward to meeting the NYSC team because since I served mostly in the south when I was in the military, some people in Lagos the only thing they know is the sea.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari slaughters his Sallah ram (Photos)

    ‘‘For them (NYSC members) to be brought to the desert or near the Sahel region is a very difficult thing but it will make an impact on Nigeria.

    ‘‘I have personally spoken to Gen. Gowon to thank him for having the initiative to start the NYSC programme. It is very good for Nigeria,’’ he said.

    The President formally welcomed the Corps members to the ancient town of Daura and asked them to enjoy their national service year.

    In his remarks, the Corps Liaison Officer, Jibrin Ishak, thanked the President for prioritizing the welfare and a secured future of the Nigerian Youths through his style of leadership and developmental initiatives.

    ‘‘The voice of the people is the voice of God and by the grace of God, we pray that in 2019 you will continue to be President of Nigeria to do more for us,’’ Ishak said.

    The representative of the Corps members prayed God to sustain the President with good health, long life and prosperity.

    In his usual tradition, the President, in the spirit of the season, donated a bull, 10 bags of rice and half-a-million Naira to the Corps Members.

  • 2019: Use PVC to elect leaders not weapons – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs ( NSCIA) Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar on Tuesday urged Nigerian youths to use their PVCs not weapons to choose their leaders.

    According to the reverred leader, is the only sure way to ensure the success of their parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    ‎”I urge you to obtain your PVCs. Without which you cannot not vote for your favourite party and candidates in the forthcoming elections in 2019.

    “We should see our PVCs as religious and weapons not the kind of weapons given to our youths by unscrupulous politicians to cause mayhem in our societies.

    ” If you love Buhari, the only way you can ensure his success is obtaining your PVCs and same thing with Governor Tambuwal and other aspirants,” he said

    Sultan made the call in his message to Muslims on the occasion of Ed-el-Adhan.

    The religious monarch also reiterated his call on them to shun acts of thuggery or violence, saying no election worth a precious life of any Nigerian.

    He maintained that traditional rulers have no favourite party or candidate other than the choices of their subjects.

    Read Also: 2019: Fight for political offices, Youths urged

    However, the royal father appealed to politicians and political parties not to take politics as do or die affairs, stressing that only God gives power to whoever He wishes and at the time He wishes so.

    “We should therefore play the game by its rules. We should avoid making inflammatory and divisive statements in our politicking. And after the election whoever God gives the office we should support him to succeed,” he said

    He further urged Nigerians to continue supporting their leaders with prayers and advices in order to deliver on their mandates successfully while reminding them of the need‎ to also pray fervently for a sustained peace across the country as according to him, no country would progress without a permanent peace and tranquility.

    In the same vein, the religious leader commended the efforts and resilience of security agencies in their drive towards securing the country.