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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari greets Atta at 90

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated Amb. Abdullahi Ibrahim Atta on his 90th birthday.

    Amb. Atta turns 90 on Friday.

    The President, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, joined family, friends and well-wishers in thanking the Almighty God for his continued benevolence, strength and never-failing care to the celebrant in the past decades of a remarkable life of service and dedication to humanity.

    He also saluted Amb. Atta’s service to the nation during his career in the foreign and public service, where he distinguished himself, with courage, in the work of reconciliation, conflict prevention, justice and peace around the world.

     

  • Buhari approved Daura’s sack – Presidency

    The Presidency said on Wednesday the Executive arm of government was unanimous in the sack of the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, fielded questions from journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the Presidency is one and the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has all the powers of acting President.

    Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari has duly transmitted power to the Acting President before traveling to London on vacation.

    He also dismissed insinuation that there was power tussle in the Presidency.

  • Buhari greets Ray Ekpu at 70

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to veteran journalist and co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, Ray Ekpu, who turns 70 today and clocks 45 years working as a journalist and an administrator.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the media world, family and friends of the renowned columnist and activist in celebrating the many years of exceptional contribution to national development through his writings, speaking engagements and leadership roles.

    The President believed Ekpu’s consistency and forthrightness in speaking and writing the truth to authorities deserves special commendation, especially the many times he placed his life at risk in fighting for democracy and the institutionalisation of good governance in Nigeria.

    As Ekpu turns a septuagenarian, Buhari affirmed that his wealth of knowledge, wisdom and editorial skills should serve as a benchmark for upcoming journalists as the future of the industry rests on the indelible tenets of fairness, accuracy and balance.

    He prayed that the Almighty God will grant the prolific writer longer life, good health and more wisdom to serve the nation and humanity.

  • 2019: Akiolu endorses Buhari, Ambode, Obasa

    OBA of Lagos Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu has called on Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, to ensure the return of President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his deputy, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, in the 2019 general elections.

    The Lagos monarch spoke at the weekend in his palace when Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures visited him in the course of their quarterly meeting in Lagos.

    Oba Akiolu, who described the quartet as having performed well in their course of duty, said: “They have done well. And going by their performances during the few years that they have been saddled with the leadership positions, they have shown to all and sundry that they can do more if given the opportunity again.”

    The Lagos monarch advised politicians to work for the interest and welfare of Nigerians.

    “Politicians can only do this by settling their differences amicably. Politics is characterised by alignment and re-alignment of personnel, but in doing this, politicians should not take actions or make utterances that can heat up the polity.

    “We should ensure that we live in peace and harmony and that’s when the country can grow and develop. Through this, Nigerians will enjoy real dividends of democracy,” Oba Akiolu said.

    Kebbi State House of Assembly Speaker and outgoing Chairman of the Conference of Speakers Ismaila Kamba described Oba Akiolu as a man of honour and integrity.

    “As a policeman, I know you as an upright man and as a traditional ruler, you are still on the path of truth and the Rule of Law. I admire your courage and I thank you for taking time to host us,” he said.

    The host Speaker, Obasa, described Oba Akiolu as a supporter of truth and an agitator for justice.

    “He has been a pillar of support for us. He has always stood by us and we have been drinking positively from his fountain of knowledge and wisdom,” Obasa said.

  • Defection: Wamakko shuts down Sokoto for Buhari, APC

    •Says Saraki, Tambuwwal, others will regret leaving APC

    FORMER Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko appears to be the clear winner in the first round of the war of supremacy between him and his estranged political son, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who abandoned the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

    Wamakko, accompanied by his own APC loyalists from the state  in the National and State Assemblies, stormed Sokoto  to the warm embrace of hundreds of thousands of supporters  that stretched  over eight kilometres  from the airport to his Sokoto residence.

    Sokoto was literally shut down as the surging crowd   came out in a show of solidarity with Wammako, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC, dwarfing those pulled by Tambuwal during his defection.

    Immediately the plane carrying the senator landed at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, motorcyclists ran onto the tarmac to offer a guard of honour.

    And from the airport to the town, traffic moved at a snail speed.

    Wamakko, addressing the huge crowd, told them to remain steadfast in their loyalty to the APC.

    He said those who recently defected from the party are “wasting their time as politics is local and we have our base at the grassroots where we all came from, to take APC to greater heights.”

    The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) chairman said he was not in the game of abusive or hate speech politics, but stressed that “the contest is not between me  and Tambuwal but APC and the almost dead opposition PDP.”

    He added:” I am confident that APC is second to none in Sokoto State because all strata of people are with our great party. I am sure that even people in and outside Sokoto know it all.

    “ Our journey, as ever, is synonymous with service delivery, good governance, peace, stability, security and the advancement of economic prosperity through the provision of infrastructure as well the fight against corruption.”

    He said the current political trend would not in any way affect the giant strides of the ruling party.

    “You can see it yourselves from the unprecedented crowd cutting across all sexes, ages and statuses.

    “APC is a party for all and working for all. We are determined to protect your mandate at all levels without any negative recourse.”

    Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida described the party as “a beautiful bride” loved by all.

    “Sokoto is for APC, Wamakko and President Buhari.”

    Also speaking, Senator Ibrahim Gobir from Sokoto East Senatorial District said they were confident of the political resilience and determination of APC members   to   resist attempts to cause them to defect.

    “Today, we have two senators, seven Reps and 12 state lawmakers with us ready to work for the victory of the party come 2019.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Reps, Musa S. Adar, berated Gov. Tambuwal and scored him low for trivialising politics.

    He accused Tambuwwal of betraying  “ the trust of Sokoto people.”

    Bala Kokane who spoke on behalf of the immediate past commissioners, described Wamakko as an impeccable political hub and man of the people whose vision cannot be doubted, especially in moving the party towards prosperity.

    At the rally were  Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tanzania Alhaji Sahabi Isah Gada, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Abubakar Shehu Wurno, former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman among other notable politicians in the state.

    Abu Bunza, who monitored Wammako’s arrival wrote on Twitter: “I knew Wamakko’s homecoming will be mad today. Those that were busy celebrating Tambuwal’s defection know nothing about Sokoto’s politics.”

    One of the harvests of the rally was the switch to the APC by a former minister of sports, Yusuf Suleiman, who was a PDP governorship aspirant in 2015.

    The former governor had said, earlier in the week ,that those writing off the APC following Tambuwal’s  defection and 18 members of the State House of Assembly to the PDP should wait till this weekend when he would return to Sokoto and see who is in control of the state.

    Over the last few days, a lot of Sokoto residents had been expressing support for President Muhammadu Buhari openly, chanting pro-Buhari slogans.

    Women and youth in particular displayed their joy amidst “Rarara’s” musical songs “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu” (meaning those who want to go, can go).

    Similarly, posters of President Buhari, Senator Wamakko were   displayed in many parts of the state capital.

  • Buhari not materialistic, says Oba Akiolu

    Oba of Lagos, Riliwanu Akiolu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not a materialistic public officer.

    He stated this while addressing a-3-day Conference of Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Lagos yesterday as part of activities for the 2018 Conference of Speakers which commenced on Friday in Lagos.

    The speakers were led by the chairman of the conference and speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hons. Ismaila Kamba and Mudashiru Obasa respectively.

    “If you watch the life of President Buhari, he is not materially-minded like the other people. Cooperate with the national government. I believe in the corporate existence of Nigeria,” Akiolu urged the speakers on the challenges facing Buhari’s administration.

    Stating that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s political party was dead on arrival, Akiolu said Obasanjo is a very intelligent and hard-working man but he is also very wicked.

    The Oba, who noted that politicians were the same, urged Nigerians to watch as 2019 elections approaches.

    Urging the speakers to see the giant strides of the Lagos Assembly and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, Akiolu said that the number one problem of Lagos was the concession of Apapa Port.

    He urged the politicians to have the welfare of the citizens at heart and ensure security of lives and properties.

    The Oba, who advocated funding for security agencies, called for cooperation in the area of intelligence for security agencies to end the ongoing security challenges facing the country.

    He commended Ambode for massive investments in security, saying that he had not hidden the fact that Ambode would serve a second term as governor.

    Obasa described Akiolu as a mentor, counsellor, father and benefactor, who had dedicated his life to public service.

    Obasa, who noted that the state was hosting the conference of Speakers for the second time, said that the conference aimed at discussing national issues as they affect various states.

     

  • Why elites are against Buhari, by Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday alleged political elites are ganging up against President Muhammadu Buhari because of his anti-corruption crusade.

    He said the President has done nothing wrong other than the corrupt elites are not comfortable with his style of leadership, which has made it impossible for them to continue to loot the nation’s resources.

    According to the Imo governor those fighting the President are afraid of the consequences of corruption.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, noted Buhari believes that the wealth of the nation must be managed to benefit the masses.

    The governor spoke at a meeting of Southeast APC Women and Youth Leaders for Buhari South-East at the Government House Owerri.

    He said: “Nigerians must rise and support President Buhari because he has done well and stands by the truth and does not also believe in the primitive accumulation of wealth”.

    In his words “having realised that our voting powers lie on the youths and women, we want to make them vital instruments for the pursuit of this expected victory for President Buhari come 2019.  “And why the Igbos should and would support the person of Muhammadu Buhari and understand what the name Buhari actually means because there has been a lot of misrepresentations and misunderstanding of the person of Buhari.

    “The political jobbers have tended to give him all types of interpretations but the truth remains that President Buhari is a good man, a leader and a man who stands by the truth and is not a man who believes in the primitive accumulation of wealth.

    “In the election of 2015, the Igbo never gave him the support he deserved. We were the least in the six geo-political zones in the support for Buhari in 2015 and that has left a political vacuum for Ndi Igbo both locally and at the centre.

    “So, we want to correct that story and change the narratives that Igbos do not hate Buhari but actually love him. Igbos this time around will support President Buhari”.

     

  • Buhari: I am saddened by killings in the North

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he was saddened by the spate of killings in the northern parts of the country, especially by armed bandits and other criminal elements, promising that the situation would be brought under control.

    He said his administration has ordered deployment of more troops into the affected areas and further called for increasing vigilance on the part of security forces in the troubled areas.

    The President made the remarks at the Graduation Ceremony of Course 26 of the National Defence College, Abuja. He was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

    He said the present administration is encouraged by the efforts of the armed forces in ensuring peace and security across the country, noting that through their collective efforts and commitment, the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists group is now in recession.

    President Buhari also said although more needs to be done in several fronts to achieve the desired goals of the administration’s cardinal objectives, he noted that there is need to carry out fundamental review of the nation’s security architecture to enable the police play more roles in internal security.

    President Buhari also said his administration has achieved a lot in the fight against corruption, noting that decisive steps taken to entrench the change agenda have yeilded results in checking hemorraging and restoring confidence in the country.

    The President assured that with the commitment of the administration towards economic diversification, things can only get better and called for support and understanding of the people to enable the administration to succeed.

    In his remarks, the Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said a total of 136 participants made up of 106 officers of the rank of army Colonel and equivalent in the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, 4 Commissioners of Police, 10 Civilians participants from Ministries and Departments and Agencies as well as 16 participants from Allied Countries spread across  Africa, Europe and Asia graduated from the Course 26.

    “The foreign participants in NDC Course 26 is the largest ever since the inception of the College. Among other implications, this observation represents the rising international profile of the college as it also demands that the college must reposition itself as a credible tool of National Foreign Policy action, at least in terms of quality of studies and infrastructure”, Rear Admiral Osinowo stated.

    Rear Admiral Osinowo said: “The graduands received 126 lectures/presentations and conducted 8 participants’ concluding seminars. They also presented 3 term papers, Strategic Leadership paper, draft Policy paper and the College Research Paper.

    “Other highlights of the course were: conduct of 4 exercises on higher defence management, strategic tour of 11 states: tour of strategic installations; visit to strategic military establishments: regional study tour of selected African countries: and geostrategic world study tour of 20 countries.

    “ Towards deepening the intellectual value and output of our activities, the College has sustained the presentation of the newly introduced Vice President’s Paper: the Second Edition was presented to His Excellency the VP, Proic Osinbanjo on 23 July 2018. Meanwhile, Participants from the NA, NN and NAF are also for the first time required to collectively produce a well researched Service Chiefs paper to their respective heads of Service”.

    Among other dignatories at the graduation ceremony are the Minister of Defence, Mansir Dan Ali, The Chief of Defence Staff of Sierra Leone, Lt. Gen Susay, The Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, The Chief of the Naval Staff,  Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, and the Commandants of several military institutions in the country.

  • I am saddened by Killings in the North – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he was saddened by the spate of killings in the northern parts of the country, especially by armed bandits and other Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Abuja criminal elements, promising that the situation would be brought under control.

    He said his administration has ordered deployment of more troops into the affected areas and further called for increasing vigilance on the part of security forces in the troubled areas.

    The President made the remarks at the Graduation Ceremony of Course 26 of the National Defence College, Abuja. He was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

    He said the present administration is encouraged by the efforts of the armed forces in ensuring peace and security across the country, noting that through their collective efforts and commitment, the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists group is now in recession.

    President Buhari also said although more needs to be done in several fronts to achieve the desired goals of the administration’s cardinal objectives, he noted that there is need to carry out fundamental review of the nation’s security architecture to enable the police play more roles in internal security.

    President Buhari also said his administration has achieved a lot in the fight against corruption, noting that decisive steps taken to entrench the change agenda have yeilded results in checking hemorraging and restoring confidence in the country.

    The President assured that with the commitment of the administration towards economic diversification, things can only get better and called for support and understanding of the people to enable the administration to succeed.

    In his remarks, the Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo said a total of 136 participants made up of 106 officers of the rank of army Colonel and equivalent in the Nigerian Navy and Air Force, 4 Commissioners of Police, 10 Civilians participants from Ministries and Departments and Agencies as well as 16 participants from Allied Countries spread across Africa, Europe and Asia graduated from the Course 26.

    “The foreign participants in NDC Course 26 is the largest ever since the inception of the College. Among other implications, this observation represents the rising international profile of the college as it also demands that the college must reposition itself as a credible tool of National Foreign Policy action, at least in terms of quality of studies and infrastructure”, Rear Admiral Osinowo stated.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct preacher, two others in Kaduna

    Rear Admiral Osinowo said: “The graduands received 126 lectures/presentations and conducted 8 participants’ concluding seminars. They also presented 3 term papers, Strategic Leadership paper, draft Policy paper and the College Research Paper.

    “Other highlights of the course were: conduct of 4 exercises on higher defence management, strategic tour of 11 states: tour of strategic installations; visit to strategic military establishments: regional study tour of selected African countries: and geostrategic world study tour of 20 countries.

    ” Towards deepening the intellectual value and output of our activities, the College has sustained the presentation of the newly introduced Vice President’s Paper: the Second Edition was presented to His Excellency the VP, Proic Osinbanjo on 23 July 2018. Meanwhile, Participants from the NA, NN and NAF are also for the first time required to collectively produce a well researched Service Chiefs paper to their respective heads of Service”.

    Among other dignatories at the graduation ceremony are the Minister of Defence, Mansir Dan Ali, The Chief of Defence Staff of Sierra Leone, Lt. Gen Susay, The Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, and the Commandants of several military institutions in the country.

  • Why we welcome Saraki, Ahmed, others – Kwara PDP

    Stakeholders in the Peoples Democracy Party ( PDP ), Kwara State say the gale of defections hitting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has given the party the numerical strength to dislodge President Muhammadu Buhari from Aso Rock Villa in 2019.

    The Kwara State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Sanni Abubakar who led other major stakeholders of the party, including a former deputy governor and a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, stated this in Ilorin on Friday during a Press Conference at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

    According to the stakeholders, which also included the party’s Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and State Women Leader, the party gladly “welcomes the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the State Governor, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed and other returnees to the party”.

    “The defection has increased the numerical strength of the PDP across the country and positions it to dislodge the All Progressives Congress-led federal government”, the group said.

    “It is with great delight and enthusiasm that we welcome these honourable and distinguished members to our party. It is, indeed, a reunion of old and long time friends and associates who have jointly contributed in no small measures to the development of Nigeria; a day we in the Peoples Democratic Party have long anxiously waited for”, the group said.

    The stakeholders accused some of their members of “having nocturnal meetings in Abuja with a view to mortgaging our collective destiny on the alter of personal but selfish gains”, saying that “such members are not only egocentric but driven by inferiority complex and pathological hatred and envy for Saraki”.

    Read Also: 2019: Defections won’t stop Buhari’s victory – Tony Momoh

    The group believes that “if Saraki, as the Senate President and chairman of the National Assembly, can be treated with so much disdain and disrespect despite his contributions, along with others, to the success of the APC in 2015, one can imagine what is likely to befall folks without any political pedigree, like those crying wolfs where none existed”.

    The stakeholders called members of the party in the state to respect the right of every member and work in unison in the interest of the party and the country at large.

    “We appeal to all members of the PDP to be receptive to the new members and prospective members and build a stronger, united and acceptable party at all levels”.

    Also speaking, a Former Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Chief Joel Ogundeji charged politicians in the country to eschew politics of bitterness.

    Chief Ogundeji who noted that politics is a game of numbers said making Kwara state a better place under the tutelage of Peoples Democratic Party is paramount.