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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari addresses UN General Assembly Sept. 25

    President Muhammadu Buhari will address the 73rd Session of the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

    Buhari would deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on the first day of the general debate of the General Assembly high-level events.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian leader has been placed as the number 20 on the list of the speakers out of the 193 world leaders that would address the Assembly.

    NAN also reports that he would deliver the address to the Assembly during the afternoon session on the first day between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. Nigerian time).

    The President of Brazil would be the first world leader to present his address to the 73rd session followed by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, the traditional second speaker, being the host country.

    Recall that during the 2017 Session of the General Debate of the Assembly, Buhari was the eighth speaker out of the 193 world leaders who addressed the Assembly.

    His address made it one of any Nigerian leader’s earliest address at the annual general debate of the intergovernmental organisation.

    The 2018 General Assembly would be Buhari’s fourth outing at the annual general debate of the Assembly since becoming president in 2015.

    The Nigerian leader’s address during his first outing in 2015, in part, outlined his three cardinal agenda – security, economy and anti-corruption.

    His two subsequent addresses in his outings in 2016 and 2017 also highlighted some of his achievements so far in these areas.

    The 73rd session of the Assembly would open on Sept. 18, 2018, till Oct. 5, while the General Debate would commence on Sept. 25 to Oct. 1.

    The session would be presided over by Ms María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador.

    The theme of the general debate would be, “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.

    In accordance with rule 1 of the rules of procedure, the General Assembly shall meet every year in regular session commencing on the Tuesday of the third week in September, counting from the first week that contains at least one working day. (NAN)

  • Buhari tells Saraki, other defectors: you’re bad eggs

    PDP seals deal with 39 parties

    Wammako hits Tambuwal

    Kwara PDP chief joins APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday referred to defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “bad eggs”.

    He said as the 2019 elections approach, “God will continue to fish out the bad eggs among us”.

    He reiterated his resolve to ensure that nobody is allowed to loot the treasury.

    Said Buhari: “What I will never exhibit is to allow selfish politicians loot public treasury and allow the masses be cheated.

    “All what we are doing is in the interest of the people and our dear country.

    “I pray to God to expose sycophants that are still within our party, who are bent on trying to loot our resources.”

    APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said the defectors were afraid of the government’s anti-corruption war, adding that many of the looters of the treasury during the 16 years of the PDP administrations would end up in jail.

    They spoke in Bauchi yesterday while campaigning for the APC candidate in the August 11 Bauchi South senatorial by-election.

    The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Ali Wakili. The APC candidate is Hon. Gumau Lawal Yahaya.

    The President urged party faithful not to be perturbed by the defections.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and three governors – Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ahmed Abdulfattah (Kwara) led the defectors.

    Buhari said: “The work we are doing is because of God, our country and you. I want to inform you that with the knowledge we have garnered over the years, we won’t allow you to be cheated.

    “Like we promised, what will determine a good future for the country are security, strong economy and to stop corruption.

    “We campaigned on these things, you voted for us and we will never forget.”

    “The President got a thunderous applause from party supporters at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi, venue of the rally.

    Buhari endorsed the candidate saying: “We have confidence in him and we trust him.”

    He praised the crowd for defying the downpour to turn out in large numbers for the rally.

    Lambasting the defectors, Oshiomhole said:

    “This is a clear indication that some of them (defectors) have been sharing the country’s resources for 16 years, but failed to do that in the last three years.

    “ Most of them are afraid of the anti-corruption crusade being waged by this administration, and are sure that most of them will find themselves behind bars.

    “There is no going back on sending those found wanting to jail, no matter how highly placed they are.

    “We are happy over such defection because we are fed up with the nefarious activities being perpetrated by them.”

    Bauchi State Governor Muhammed Abubakar blamed members of the National Assembly for the country’s under-development, adding that he was happy that “most of them are leaving our party”.

    He called on Bauchi South Senatorial District to vote for the APC candidate.

    The APC’s state chairman, Alhaji Uba Nana, said defections had not affected the party in the state.

    He said instead of members defecting to other parties, the APC in the state had witnessed a mass influx of people from other parties.

    The chairman said 25 other political parties in the state had formed an alliance with the APC to enable the party emerge victorious in the by-election.

    Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdulahi Ganduje (Kano) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) were at the rally.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who hails from the senatorial district, did not attend the rally. He is among members of the APC believed to be on their way to the PDP.

    Also yesterday, the PDP National Executive Commmittee (NEC) met in Abuja.

    The meeting formally received Senate President Bukola Saraki, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal – who just defected – to the opposition party.

    Saraki told the meeting: “I am happy to see some of my colleagues here who have given me faith in this country, who have made me believe there are still men of character, that there are still men who are still ready to make sacrifices for this country.”

    Describing Saraki as key in the renewed struggle to “free” Nigeria, Secondus praised the defectors, saying history would be fair to them.

    He said: “The bold steps you took to return to the party where you truly belong, is a sacrifice not for yourself but for Nigeria and history will be fair to you.

    “Today is the beginning of the great journey to freedom, the great journey to free our people and rescue this country from the damage done to it by the APC in the last three years”.

    Senator Aliyu Wamakko faulted Tambuwal’s defection, saying he made a “the worst decision in his life.”

    He said Sokoto State would remain an All Progressives Congress (APC) state in spite of the governor’s exit.

    In Abuja, the PDP sealed its alliance with a coalition of 39 political parties to fight the ruling APC.

    Secondus said it was time for the coalition to rescue Nigeria from the “misgovernance”, which h said is typified by senseless killing of innocent Nigerians and harassment of opposition elements.

    A National Executive Committee ( NEC) member of the PDP from Kwara state, Hon. Ahmed Yinka Aluko, has defectedto the All Progressive Congress( APC).

    Aluko, who was the deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 elections resigned his elective position and membership of PDP during the party’ s NEC meeting yesterday.

    The former Special Adviser on Security matters in Kwara State accused the opposition of impunity and undemocratic practices.

    Aluko said he was irked by the decision of PDP National leadership to hand over the structure to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    He said: ” It is therefore shocking that the party at the national level has resolved to hand over the party structures and all electable positions to defectors without any regards for those who stood by the party and built it Into a strong winning machine in Kwara. It is even more shocking that as the only national officer from Kwara state I was not consulted”.

    This National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae.

    He said: “We must be wary of those who will come to scatter us by trying to sow seeds of discord, spread fake news and adopt divisible measures to achieve their sinister motive”, Falae added

     

  • Saraki, not Buhari, hates Kwara, says group

    •’Peace has returned to Kwara APC’

    Claims by Senate President Bukola Saraki that President Muhammadu Buhari hated Kwara State has been faulted by a political group, Ilorin Emirate for Buhari (IEB).

    Saraki, on Tuesday, attributed his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to alleged hatred Buhari has for the state, saying the loathing informed alleged passing over for juicy federal government’s appointments of the state’s indigenes.

    “We discussed this issue last week when I came home. You told me that you were tired of the APC, but I asked you to be patient. I told you that I will seek God’s guidance and feed you back on my return to Ilorin.

    “The Federal Government appointed over 200 persons into juicy offices without allotting any slot to me or Dogara. Everything went to Katsina, Katsina, Lagos. If not for the love I have for Nigeria, we would have scattered everything. They don’t want us in their party. They don’t like us in Kwara.

    “What I am after is for my people to enjoy dividends of democracy. I want us to be in the party that will love my people. Wherever we are, we will win elections. The governor told me he’s tired of the APC,” Saraki told his supporters.

    But IEB, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Rotimi Sulyman, faulted Saraki’s claim that the Buhari led-federal government disliked Kwara and did not consider her people worthy of juicy appointments.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to snide bile spewed by the Senate President at President Muhammadu Buhari. Saraki’s remark posed more questions than it answered. Does it mean a decision about Kwara and her people cannot be made without deferring to the Senate President, who, as a matter of fact before 2003 when he left defunct Societe Generale, a bank his family sacrificed for personal comfort for politics, had never stayed in the state for a week at a stretch?

    “We admit that he is a tin god in some quarters but he should not continue to insult our collective intelligence as we are all not a group of shallow wusses. For him to have thought that appointment slots for the state must be allotted to him for onward distribution to his goons speaks volume of his disrespect. Our consolation is in the expression “Arrogance comes before fall”.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is enamoured of Kwara and the demonstration of his love for the state is there for everyone to see. If anything, and without a shadow of doubt, it is Saraki, who hates Kwara and her. He appropriates our common patrimony to himself, and with Governor Abdufattah Ahmed led-government, he put in place invited outsiders to partake in the pillage.

    “In several instances where he was at liberty to influence the appointment of Kwarans, he passed them over on the altar of friendship. To mention but a few – state owned-companies, such as Harmony Holdings, Shonga Farms Limited and Kwara Small and Medium Enterprises – he went for non-indigenes Tope Daramola (Ogun); Bayo Sangibiyi (Oyo) and Segun Soewu (Ogun) – as the companies heads.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has described the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and members of the House of Assembly as a cleansing that will give peace to the party.

    “It is heart-warming that the enemies within were smoked out by the mass defection of former members”, the party said.

    A statement by the caretaker committee chair, Bashir Bolarinwa, said: “Senator Bukola Saraki has caused more headaches for this party than even those in the opposition. He has always connived to subvert the Federal Government’s policies aimed at bringing succour to the people.

    “Saraki started out in his senate presidency reign by ceding the party and its due leverage in the National Assembly to the opposition. He was the arrow head and foundation for indiscipline in the party. He invented disloyalty and promoted it to the highest level. He made mockery of everything that we stood for as a progressive party.

    “This is one man that can be linked directly with the under development of Kwara State. His eight years in government was characterised with waste of public funds and betrayal of trust.

    “The ignoble and dubious Shonga farm that has brought nothing to the Kwara market was conceived by him. The farm continues to sink public funds year in year out without any of its produce in the market.

    “The Cargo terminal and Truck plaza he borrwed several billions of naira to build are not functional. The truck plaza remains invisible, while the cargo terminal provides free accommodation for reptiles. The state is suffocated with heavy debts that have no matching projects directed at improving the lives of an average Kwaran.

    “One would have thought that when Saraki and Ahmed found themselves in the company of progressive Nigerians, they would be naturally spurred to do good but our state remains under-developed and the people are deliberately pauperised so that he can continue to lay hold on our treasury through the active connivance of the governor.”

    The statement added that this is the best time for all progressive elements to work together and salvage the state.

  • Buhari to party supporters: God will fish out bad eggs among us

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday assured All Progressives Congress (APC) party supporters in Bauchi that his administration will continue to work hard to surpass its campaign promises for a better Nigeria.

    He also told them not to be perturbed by the recent defections in the party, saying “God will continue to fish out the bad eggs among us,” as the 2019 general elections approach.

    The President spoke at the commencement of the campaign rally for the Bauchi South Senatorial District bye-elections and the formal presentation of APC Candidate for the August 11 poll, Hon. Gumau Lawal Yahaya.

    President Buhari told the rally that the APC-led government had remained faithful in implementing its campaign promise of improving the economy, securing the country, and the fight against corruption.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “The work we are doing is because of God, our country and you. I want to inform you that the knowledge we have garnered over the years, we won’t allow you to be cheated.

    ‘‘Like we promised, what will determine a good future for the country are security, strong economy and to stop corruption.

    “We campaigned on these things, you voted for us and we will never forget, “the President said to a thunderous applause by party supporters at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.”

    Endorsing the APC candidate for the senatorial bye-election, the President who was accompanied by the party Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, Governors of Bauchi, Plateau, Kano and Imo States, and other party officials declared: “we have confidence in him and we trust him.”

    He, therefore, urged the people of Bauchi South senatorial district to vote Hon.  Yahaya in the upcoming election.

    The President also thanked the people of Bauchi for defying the heavy rainfall and coming out en masse to welcome him and show solidarity to the party’s candidate in the Senatorial election.

  • Buhari, security chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with security chiefs.

    The meeting started around 10.30am at the President’s office.

    It is expected to discuss security challenges facing the nation.

    The meeting will be the last security meeting before President Buhari proceeds on 10-day working holiday on Friday.

    Read Also: Buhari to proceed on 10-day holiday in London

    It was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Okorocha to Buhari: No more defections from APC

    The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, has assured that no governor will defect from the party anymore.

    The governor gave the assurance at the end of a closed door meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and APC governors at the presidential villa on Wednesday night.

    Okorocha, who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said they deliberated on the defections of two of their colleagues.

    “Two of our colleagues left our party. This is politics, it is unfortunate that they have to go.

    “We have 22 states, 53 senators now. Nobody is leaving the party anymore. Those who have left, we are aware that they will leave long ago.

    “President Buhari means well and he is willing to fight corruption and you all know if you are fighting corruption, it will fight back.

    “This is what’s happening,’’ he said.

    The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiohmole, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said the governors were on a solidarity visit to President Buhari.

    Those governors that attended the meeting included Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state and Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

    Others were Gov. Jubril Bindow of Adamawa, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state.

    Also at the meeting were Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo,Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state and Niger State Governor, Sani Bello.

    Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state, Gov. Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo and  Osun Deputy Governor, Grace Laoye-Tomori were also in attendance.

    However, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, who is the current Chairman of the Governors’ Forum as well as governors of Bauchi and Yobe states were absent at the meeting.(NAN)

  • Buhari for 10-day break in London

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday begin a 10-day holiday.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

    “While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President.

    “President Buhari will be in London for the holiday.”

  • Kwara groups stage rally in support of Buhari

    Scores of people on the platforms of Kwara Liberation Group, Save Kwara group and former members of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) yesterday marched across major roads in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, drumming support for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The groups also called for good governance and leadership in the state.

    The peaceful rally, tagged a mega rally of 300,000 Kwarans in three Kilometres, three hours, three minutes and three seconds, was aimed at mobilizing people to effect what they described  as the needed change from current situation in the state to a progressive change.

    Members of the group took the rally from Gerin Alimi roundabout through major roads such as Lagos, Surulere/Oja Oba, Emir’s and terminated it at the Post Office area of the metropolis.

    A former chieftain of the PDP, who dumped the party for APC, Dr Abdulganiyu Abdulbeki, said: “Today’s rally is intended to send a message to all Kwarans that the time has come to make what is called real change. We belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until yesterday. You are all aware of the imposition of the PDP national secretariat on that people. What we are saying is that we cannot stay in the same party with those they have sent to us.

    “I am here representing all those you know in the former PDP. All other leaders are in Abuja meeting with the APC leadership. We are now fully in APC. 98 per cent of the former PDP members in Kwara have moved to the APC. We are fully for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    We are informing Kwarans to relax as they still have a platform to express their interest. PDP members have moved en masse to APC. We are going to do our Kwara agenda soon. Those you are expected to make changes in our lives are now in APC. We were for Buhari all along. We know his anti corruption stance and we are for that. We will not condone corruption.”

    Chairman of the organization, Dr. Amuda Aluko, a member of the defunct National Reconciliation Committee (NARECO), said the people had for long been deprived and denied basic benefits expected from a functional representative government who enjoyed goodwill of the people to get to power.

    “We should collectively put a stop to the unholy use of both our capital and human resources to a more meaningful and masses oriented options”.

    Secretary, Save Kwara Group, John Adegboye said that the essence of the rally was to let the world know that the state political landscape had changed

  • Buhari visits proposed campaign office

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari took time off late yesterday afternoon to visit his proposed presidential campaign office for next year’s election.

    The same building at Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Area, Abuja, had served as campaign headquarters for the 2015 election.

    On the President’s entourage were his Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, and other senior government officials.

    On hand to receive the delegation was Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who took the President round the newly refurbished structure.

    President Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, expressed satisfaction with the facelift, and thanked all those who worked to give the office a befitting look.

  • Buhari, APC governors to meet Wednesday night

    President Muhammadu Buhari will meet with All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Wednesday night.

    The meeting slated for 9:00 p.m. will hold at the First Lady Conference hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    President is expected to leave the country on a 10- day vacation Friday.

    Details later…