The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Kwara monarch backs Buhari for 2019

    The Etsu Patigi, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta-Umar, has said the people will vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    Alhaji Chatta-Umar spoke when he received youths from Lade, Kpada and Patigi districts in his palace. The youth held a rally in support of President Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

    The monarch said the achievements of Buhari’s administration endeared him to his people, which necessitated the need for all to support him.

    According to him, the Patigi-Share and Patigi- Kpada roads, which have been in deplorable conditions for about two decades, are being built.

    The monarch thanked Buhari for touching the lives of his subjects and urged the Federal Government to do more.

    “Our roads have been there for 20 years with no repairs, and then within the three years that he came on board, the road is being rebuilt.”

    Coordinator of the Patigi for Buhari 2019 Muhammed Baba-Mahmud said the people remained grateful to President Buhari.

    Baba-Mahmud identified major achievements to include reconstruction of Patigi-Share/Patigi-Kpada roads; over 400 N-Power beneficiaries from Patigi council, about 1,200 of the Household Upliftment Programme, fight against corruption, improved security,  improved power supply and bumper harvest for farmers due to access to fertiliser.

  • How Buhari, Osinbajo plan to sack Daura was nearly aborted

    •No cracks in Aso Rock Villa, say sources
    •President to decide ex-DG DSS boss’ fate

    President Muhamnadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo agreed to review the appointment of Mr. Lawal Daura as Director-General, Department of State Security Service (DSS), barely two weeks to the commencement of the president’s 10-day vacation, according to fresh information yesterday.

    But the plan was nearly aborted by some influential backers until the two leaders stood their ground, The Nation gathered authoritatively yesterday.

    Besides, presidential villa sources said that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, there are no cracks in the relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo.

    It is understood that the duo took “big decisions together in the past two weeks.”

    Osinbajo fired Daura on August 7 following the blockade of the National Assembly by DSS operatives.

    The Vice President said Daura took the action without authority from the Presidency.

    That happened three days after the President left for London on vacation.

    Buhari returned to Abuja yesterday at the expiration of his vacation and sources told The Nation that he will decide the fate of the former DSS DG.

    Giving a rare insight yesterday into how the President and the Vice President function, a Presidential Villa source said: “Less than two weeks before the president departed for the UK on vacation there was a decision already reached to replace the former Director-General of the DSS who was later fired by the Acting President.

    “The decision however did not see the light of day when some influential backers of the sacked DG rallied together to frustrate the plan.

    “But unknown to many of the backers both the President and his deputy have always discussed the need to review the appointments of some of the security chiefs including the sacked DG.”

    Another source said there has been no crack in the presidency contrary to insinuations in some quarters.

    “The President and VP have closely been aligned all along including in the past two weeks that the Vice President governed in acting capacity,” the source said.

    “Although the President was on vacation he and the VP were in contact by phone to discuss important state issues and compare notes.

    “In all their interactions, the President always encouraged the VP to do the needful and take charge effectively.

    “It is really pointless to try to attribute some of these decisions in a manner that suggests that may be the President would not have taken them or that it was just one arm of the presidency responsible for them.

    “The President and his deputy are far much closer than any other set of leaders the country has produced at least since 1999, if not even beyond.”

    “It is therefore mischievous for some people to be comparing the two leaders. Truth is that the President and his VP act in concert and credit ought to be given to the President who has ensured over and again that the VP is certainly a major power broker in the presidency.

    “There is hardly a move the VP would make without first securing the blessing of the President and both of these gentlemen have developed mutual trust and confidence in each other and this is beneficial for the country.”

    On the overhaul of the SARS, a third source said the Vice President did not act unilaterally either.

    The source added: “the matter had featured prominently in regular interactions of both the President and the VP and also interactions by both of them with the Inspector-General of Police.

    “In a similar vein, the decision of the National Economic Council to set up a committee to work with the Inspector-General of Police and find ways to decentralize police operations is a reflection of discussions and plans that both the President and the Vice President have gone over a number of times previously.”

     

  • Buhari back, vows to jail more looters

    President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abuja last night at the expiration of his vacation in London with a vow to jail more of the thieves that brought economic problems to the country.

    His plane touched down at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 6.35p.m.

    He alighted from the plane some five minutes later.

    Speaking to reporters before heading to the Presidential Villa, Buhari said:”I think this is being expected of me, I will do it.”

    On the defection of the Senate Minority Leader, Mr. Godswill Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the president said it is one of the beauties of democracy as it affords individuals the choice of identifying with political party they are interested in.

    He, however, advised politicians to provide the necessary dividends of democracy to the people and sensitise their constituents to get the permanent voters card to enable them freely vote for candidates of their choice.

    He was  received at the airport by  Governor  Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Service Chiefs, FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, and  Chief of Staff of the President, Abba Kyari among others.

    Buhari departed for London on August 3.

     

  • UN, Buhari, other world leaders mourn Kofi Annan

    •Ex-UN Secretary General dies at 80
    •Ghana declares a week of mourning

    The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres,  yesterday opened the floodgates of tribute for one of his predecessors, Kofi Annan who died yesterday  in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Guterres described Annan, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 2001, as a guiding force for good.

    President Muhammadu Buhari telephoned President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Annan’s home country, to express his condolences.

    Buhari said    all Nigerians and ECOWAS member countries share in the deep loss, considering the strategic influence of the former scribe in global affairs and his vision for the repositioning of the West Coast and Africa.

    He said that the deceased, though the first elected staff of the United Nations to lead the world organisation and the  first African to win the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the United Nations, was an epitome of humility.

    He said Annan’s nobility and love for humanity set him apart for global greatness, achieving recognition and commendation for the reform of the United Nations’ bureaucracy and multiple interventions to bring peace to the world.

    In his tribute, Ambassador Dapo Fafowora, described the death as “Very sad news.  I met him several times in Geneva and New York before his election in 1993 as UNSG. He was physically and mentally impressive.  He will go down in history as Africa’s most outstanding public servant.”

    Guterres in his tribute said: “it is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.

    “Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor. I was deeply honoured by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership.

    “He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom — and I know I was not alone. He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world.

    “In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us.

    “My heartfelt condolences to Nane Annan, their beloved family, and all who mourn the loss of this proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.”

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said he “sincerely admired his wisdom and courage, his ability to make informed decisions even in the most complex, critical situations. His memory will live forever in the hearts of Russians.”

    Putin said he was “fortunate” to be in personal contact with Annan while he was leading the United Nations between 1997 and 2006.

    “For many years the life of this remarkable man and great politician was devoted to the service of the United Nations,” he said.

    “He led the UN in a difficult period… strengthening its central role in world affairs, building the UN’s peacekeeping capacity and resolving a number of regional conflicts.”

    Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, also expressed shock over the death of Annan and said on twitter that “he was a good friend whom I saw only weeks ago.”

    Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, described him as “a great man, a dear brother.”

    New leader of Amnesty International, Kumi Naidoo, said: “he was warm, compassionate and intelligent, exuding dignity and grace.”

    For Filippo Grandi, UN refugee Chief, Annan was “international leader, wise mentor, valuable adviser, good friend and role model.”

    “We at UNHCR and millions of others around the world will miss him very much.”

    The Elders, an elite group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, said  they are “shocked and deeply saddened” by the death of their colleague and chairman Kofi Annan at age 80 after a short illness.

    In a statement, The Elders called the former UN secretary-general “a voice of great authority and wisdom in public and private.”

    The group said Annan’s most recent work was in visits to South Africa and Zimbabwe, where the country was preparing for a historic presidential election.

    “His quiet advice on how best to defuse impending crises was in constant demand from all corners of the globe, in particular from Africa,” Gro Harlem Brundtland, The Elders Deputy Chairman said.

    Annan’s death was announced yesterday by his Foundation. He died after a brief illness, it said.

    The Ghanaian was the second African to head the UN after Egyptian Boutrous Boutrous Ghali, who was in charge between January 1992 to December 1996.

    His tenure as UN secretary-general coincided with the Iraq War and the HIV/Aids pandemic.

    After serving for 10 years at UN, Annan served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

    Kofi Annan described his greatest achievement as the Millennium Development Goals which – for the first time – set global targets on issues such as poverty and child mortality.

    Annan mediated in the dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula.

    Annan was born in Kumasi Ghana on April 8, 1938. After studying at Kwame Nkrumah University, he went on to study economics at Macalester College, international relations from the Graduate Institute Geneva and management at MIT.

    He joined the UN in 1962, working for the World Health Organisation’s Geneva office. He went on to work in several capacities at the UN Headquarters including serving as the Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping between March 1992 and December 1996.

    He was the first UN Secretary General to be appointed from within the organisation’s bureaucracy.

    His first marriage was to Nigerian Titi Alakija, from 1965 to 1983. After the marriage collapsed, he married Nane Maria Lagergren in 1984.

    He is survived by his wife, Nane and three children, Kojo, Ama and Nina.

  • Buhari to decide ex-DG DSS Daura’s fate

    The Nation also gathered that Buhari will determine the fate of the former Director-General of the Department of State Security Service, Mr. Lawal Daura, who was removed from office on August 7.

    Cabinet and kitchen cabinet members of the President are said to be holding divergent views on the sack.

    Daura has been in protective custody since he was relieved of his appointment.

    Apart from the  report by Police Inspector-General Ibrahim Kpotun Idris which was submitted to Osinbajo, other findings against Daura remained confidential  last night.

    Although the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina had said the presidency was one on the action taken against Daura, it was learnt that the sack was trailed by some intra-cabinet rumblings.

    Sources said that the president will, in the next few days, decide on the followings:

    * Consider the IGP report and classified findings on Daura

    * Determine whether Daura should be released immediately from safe custody unconditionally; with conditions; or should face trial for any infractions allegedly committed on August 7

    *Likely reinstatement of Daura or redeployment to any agency in the light of the findings by all the agencies, especially a declaration by the DSS that no cash was found in his home.

    *Possible restructuring/ overhauling of DSS and  appointment of a substantive DG for the service including retirement of some top directors.

    A well placed source said: “Daura is still in a safe house where he was debriefed by the police and other agencies. But it is only the President who can determine his fate.

    “Now that the President is back, he has to consider all reports and findings on the former DG of DSS and take appropriate decisions.”

    Continuing, the source said: “the President needs to give approval for either the release of the former DSS boss or his trial for any infractions spotted.

    “Some forces are also pushing for the reinstatement of Daura or his redeployment to another agency. It is always difficult for any government to reverse itself on any issue, even if there are glaring errors, but the final say lies with the President.

    “Don’t forget that the Acting President assured the nation that all those involved in the August invasion of the National Assembly will be punished.

    “There might be some restructuring/ overhauling of DSS and appointment of a new substantive DG. Some directors might also be retired to pave the way for a new DG.

    “It is too early to say whether or not the acting DG of DSS, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa from Bayelsa State will be confirmed.

    “Seiyefa missed a similar opportunity to be the DG of DSS in 2010 during the tenure of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. He lost out to ex-DG Ita Ekpenyong.

    “This post is always determined by competence and loyalty in view of the sensitive nature of the office.”

     

  • 2019: Buhari assures on non-interference. Really?

    IN a speech read on his behalf at the 2018 annual political summit organised by the Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari promised not to interfere in the electoral process in 2019 in order to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. Hear him: “Today, I pledge to Nigeria, my country to promote free fair and credible election devoid of any form of interference in the activities of INEC, to ensure security and promote a violence free election devoid of animosity and hate speeches, to abide by the extant laws governing political parties and adhere strictly to the code of conduct of political parties in Nigeria. So help me God…What has brought us together is our strong desire to build a budding democracy through a peaceful 2019 general election. No matter the nature and level of our political influences, we do not have another nation than Nigeria. These differences should not divide us but should make us stronger. With commitment and perseverance, we will triumph.”

    He was not done promising. “On our part,” he added, “I want to reassure the nation that this administration is committed to a democratic process characterized by free, fair and credible election. We are committed to providing an enabling environment and a level playing ground for all political parties in the electioneering process without hindrance.”

    The problem with the president’s promises is not that they are not believable or that his seriousness and genuineness are not infectious. They are. What ails his promises in fact is that once he gives his word, he moves on, far away from the theatre of conflict. Not being a details man, he frequently leaves the nitty-gritty to be tackled by his aides and subordinates, most of whom are brimful with their own schemes and stratagems. He gave his word on democracy and the rule of law after he was sworn in, but his aides have managed to concoct their own unique interpretation of what democracy is and what the rule of law constitutes. Predictably, their interpretations are often at variance with the understanding the country has of the president’s promises.

    Now, the president has given his word on non-interference with the electoral process of the 2019 elections. He will as usual move on and leave the unpleasant task of implementing his promises to his aides to wrestle with. As they are accustomed to, however, they will define what non-interference means and proceed to restrict its boundaries. If experience is any guide, those aides can be trusted to dispense with niceties and embark on strong-arm tactics to win the coming polls. They are demonstrating it in the Bukola Saraki senate presidency affair, and in muscling defectors from the ruling party. No one should expect convergence between the president’s promise and the actions of his aides. They have an election to win; the president can, in their opinion, afford the leisure of theorising.

  • Buhari back from London

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday returned to Abuja from London.
    He left Nigeria on 10 working holiday in London on August 3rd.
    His plane touched down at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja around 6.35p.m.
    The President alighted from the plane around 6.40p.m
     In an interview at the airport, President Buhari said he was going to jail more of the those that brought economic problems to the country.
    He said, “I think this is being expected of me, I will do it.”
    Speaking on the defection of the Senate Minority Leader, Goodwill Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, he said it was the beauty of democracy that affords individuals the choice of identifying with political party they are interested in.
    He, however advised politicians to provide the necessary dividends of democracy to the people and sensitise their constituents to get the Permanent Voters Card in order to freely vote for the candidate of their choice.
    Those who received him at the airport included Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Service chiefs, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and  Chief of Staff of the President, Abba Kyari.

  • Buhari ‘ll not share money — Lai Mohammed

    Information and culture Minister Lai Mohammed says the Buhari administration is not interested in sharing  money, but to provide basic needs of Nigerians.

    Government,according to him,is  aware of complaints by some  Nigerians about lack of free money, and declared that  the administration prefers to invest in infrastructure that would have ripple effects on the economy than sharing money to people and political stooges like the previous administration did.

    “Yes, people are complaining of no money and high cost of living, but I want to tell you that it would have been worse today, but for the massive infrastructural development this government is investing on,” the minister said at Tatabu village near Mokwa in Niger State, while inspecting the reconstructed and rehabilitated Ilorin-Jebba- Mokwa Road project.

    The 93.6 km road project includes   the total reconstruction of Ilorin /Jebba Road and rehabilitation of failed portions from Jebba to Mokwa.

    The Ilorin-Jebba road is part of the Lagos- Algiers Road called trans Sahara road which cuts across the West and North Africa.

    In Nigeria, the road connects the South-West geo-geographical zone to the Northern part of the country.

    Mohammed said: “When people make these complaints, they easily forget that for 16 years, one political party was in power, sharing money when this road became completely failed.

    “APC, in three years, has fixed this road to this level. I think it speaks for itself.

    “Before now, it would take about five days for trucks to move from Ilorin to Jebba. Today, it takes only two hours.

    “Today, on this road, you can see free movement of goods and services which is the beginning of revival of the economy.”

    The minister added: “We are not a government that will share money like what others did which put the country in a mess.

    “This government believes in investing in infrastructure because if you get this right, it will translate to wealth creation.

    “Let us take for instance: if this road contract costs N10 billion and we share it to political stooges in this area at N1 million each, we will only give 1,000 people and there will be no road.

    “On the long run, those that we shared the money to will join in abusing the government for non-performance.

    “On our part, we will rather slowly and painstakingly revive our economy through infrastructural development and we have a lot of stories to tell on this”.

    Asked whether government would toll the road to raise money for its completion to Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna and for its dualisation, Mohammed said, not all roads could be tolled.

    His words:”This matter came up at the last Federal Executive Council meeting and we agreed that, not all roads could be tolled.

    “The idea of tolling roads is to recoup the expenses on the construction and make them sustainable.

    “A study is being compiled, and at the end of it, it will be decided on what roads to toll and which not.”

    The Federal Controller of Works, Kwara State, Mr Atitebi Wasiu, who conducted the minister and his entourage round the project, said the contract for the dualisation of the road had been awarded and work would commence in the next three weeks.

    “The dualisation is awarded to the same contractor from Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa at the total contract sum of N130 billion.

    “The Kwara State section of the dualisation is awarded at N80 billion, while the Niger State section is about N50 billion,” he said.

  • Buhari will not share money to stooges – Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said on Friday the President Muhammadu  Buhari’s  administration is not interested in sharing  money but to provide basic needs of Nigerians.

    Government, according to him, is aware of complaints by some Nigerians about lack of free money, and declared that the administration prefers to invest in infrastructure that would have ripple effects on the economy than sharing money to people and political stooges like the previous administration did.

    “Yes, people are complaining of no money and high cost of living, but I want to tell you that it would have been worse today but for the massive infrastructural development this government is investing on,” the minister said at Tatabu village near Mokwa in Niger State while inspecting the reconstructed and rehabilitated Ilorin-Jebba- Mokwa road project.

    The 93.6 km road project includes the total reconstruction of Ilorin /Jebba road and rehabilitation of failed portions from Jebba to Mokwa.

    The Ilorin-Jebba road is part of the Lagos- Algiers road called trans Sahara roads which cuts across the West and North Africa.

    In Nigeria, the road connects the South-West geo-geographical zone to the Northern part of the country.

    Mohammed said: “When people make these complaints, they easily forget that for 16 years, one political party was in power, sharing money, when this road became completely failed.

    “APC, in three years, has fixed this road to this level. I think it speaks for itself.

    “Before now, it would take about five days for trucks to move from Ilorin to Jebba. Today, it takes only two hours.

    “Today, on this road, you can see free movement of goods and services which is the beginning of revival of the economy.”

    “We are not a government that will share money like what others did which put the country in a mess.

    “This government believes in investing in infrastructure because if you get this right, it will translate to wealth creation.

    “Let us take for instance: if this road contract costs N10 billion and we share it to political stooges in this area at N1 million each, we will only give 1,000 people and there will be no road.

    “On the long run, those that we shared the money to will join in abusing the government of non-performance.

    “On our part, we will rather slowly and painstakingly revive our economy through infrastructural development and we have a lot of stories to tell on this.”

     

     

  • Buhari, Oshiomhole, Abe greet Odili at 70

    President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his good wishes to former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

    The President, in a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, recognised the contributions Dr. Odili had made to the development of his community, state, Niger Delta, Nigeria and humanity as a physician and third governor of Rivers State.

    The statement reads: “As a statesman and Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester, President Buhari appreciated Sir Odili’s role in fostering a peaceful and harmonious environment in Niger Delta through a peaceful engagement and meaningful dialogue, in line with this administration’s commitment to peace, stability and development in the region.

    “As family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers gather to celebrate Dr. Odili’s milestone and achievements; President Buhari prayed God almighty to sustain him with good health and fulfilment in the coming years.”

    The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has eulogised Dr. Odili as a unifying figure and an apostle of politics without bitterness.

    Oshiomhole, in a statement he signed to felicitate with the ex-Rivers State governor, said: “It is gratifying to note that long after office, you are still widely adored. It can only be a measure of the durability of the bridge of unity you built across the nation’s divides – whether ethnic or religious. Even critics will acknowledge your quintessence as the apostle of politics without bitterness.

    “Even more remarkable is the seamless way you have transited from active life in partisan politics to the nobler station of statesmanship and mentoring, thus teaching us that opportunities exist for life after office.”

    The lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast, Senator Magnus Abe, has described Dr. Odili as a living legend, whose exemplary lifestyle has impacted on  people.

    Abe, yesterday in an online statement by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, congratulated Odili, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on his 70th birthday.

    The senator, a governorship aspirant in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, said Odili should be emulated for his impressive performance as a governor and love for humanity.