The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari directs minister to convene education summit

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has directed Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to convene a summit to address the issue of funding plaguing education.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education Sonny Echono disclosed this while opening the Officials’ Session of the 63rd National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja.

    The President, according to a statement issued yesterday by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Willie Bassey, in Abuja, described education as a tool for national growth.

    He stated that funding of education was important for sustainable growth.

    Echono said the President urged the ministry to convene a national summit to explore different funding models for education.

    The statement said the three tiers of government: federal, state and local governments will be mobilised to efficiently support the funding of education.

    The President noted that no government could single-handedly fund education and therefore called on stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government to reduce the population of out-of-school children.

    Echono added that the directive by the President would form the fulcrum of discussion at the National Council on Education holding in Abuja this week.

    Director, Educational Planning, Research and Development Mrs. Chioma Nwadei observed that education was the key for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The 63rd National Council on Education (NCE) is holding in Abuja from yesterday to Thursday.

  • Buhari, Ghana president, Abubakar, others for NBA conference

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has unveiled the list of speakers at its Annual General Conference, which holds in Abuja from August 20 to 30.

    Ghanian President Nana Akufo Addo will be the keynote speaker; President Muhammadu Buhari  will be special guest of honour.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and Chief Justice Justice Walter Onoghen are expected to play key roles at the conference.

    The theme is: Transition, Transformation and Sustainable Institutions.

    Sub-themes include: Political Transition and Governance;  Diversity and Inclusion; Technological Disruptions; Sustainable Economic Development, Rule of Law and Security.

    It will hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

    Also listed to speak at the week-long event are former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar (rtd);  former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, National Industrial Court (NIC) president Justice Bababtunde A.  Adejumo and  Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

    Others are activist-lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Mr. Chuka Agbo (SAN), Senator Ita Enang,  Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu,  Mr. Jim Ovia, former Vice Predient, Nigerian Labour Congress Comrade Isa Aremu, among others.

    A highpoint of the event will be the Conversation with the President.

    NBA Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) chairman Mr. George Etomi said delegates can get more information at www.nbaconference.com.

    “There is a plan to have a conversation with the President where he will be interviewed by a renowned international anchor person named Kadaria Ahmed on Monday 27, August 2018. During the interview the President will be discussing various topics and how they affect the country,” Etomi said.

    A movie, The Witness Box, will be premiered at the conference, which will be spiced up with the UnBARed Reloaded Concert  and an annual dinner.

    Etomi said there will be a conference folder designed with Ankara/adire fabric that will contain branded note pads and pens.

    “We have been approached by an online/offline legal research company, which is willing to offer its materials to all delegates during the conference.

    “There will also be a conference mobile app that will allow delegates review each session during the conference and also seem like a feedback form for the NBA on the success or otherwise of the conference.

    “There is provision to have lunch and light refreshments for all delegates during the conference for three days (Monday – Wednesday).

    “There is provision for exhibition booths that will allow law publishers (online and hard copy), information technology companies, legal services outlets, etc to showcase their products for delegates to subscribe or purchase.

    “A friendship centre at the 2018 conference is being modelled as a high standard relaxation spot for delegates during the conference.

    “It is just going to be beside the ICC and will offer to delegates an array of choice of fun from games, to music and various local dishes for sale at affordable prices.

    “There is also a plan to do a raffle draw for delegates to stand a chance to win a car, laptop, refrigerator, law books, etc. upon purchase of a raffle ticket.”

     

  • Buhari directs minister to convene education summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to urgently convene a summit on education to address problems of funding in the sector.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, disclosed this while declaring open the Official Session of the 63rd National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja.

    The President, according to a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Willie Bassey, on Monday in Abuja, described education as a tool for national development and said its funding was important for sustainable development.

    Echono said the President urged the ministry to convene a national summit to explore different funding models for education.

    The statement said the three tiers of government – federal, state and local government – would be mobilized to efficiently support the funding of education in the country.

    The President said no government could single-handedly fund education and therefore called on stakeholders to join hands with the Federal Government to reduce the population of out-of-school children in the country.

     

     

  • I’m not bothered about defections in APC – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday night said that he was not bothered about the defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Buhari, who was responding to a question during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy, Lome, said most Nigerians appreciated the performance of his administration.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us. I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.”

    Expressing delight in seeing the Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend the performance of his administration.

    He assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption.

    The President noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today, citing the $16 billion reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see the power.

    Restating his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure, providing loans to farmers thereby cutting rice importation by more than 90 per cent, President Buhari said all recovered illegally acquired assets would now be sold and the money paid into the treasury in the administration’s renewed anti-graft campaign.

    “I assure you that we are making progress in security as some displaced farmers are returning to their farms. We will continue to work very hard for our dear country,” he stressed.

    Read Also: How Buhari’ll win in 2019, by Campaign

    In his welcome address, the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Joseph Olusola Iji, said the close to 2 million Nigerians in Togo were law-abiding and peaceful, even as he drew attention to the inability of the Nigerian Mission in Lome to issue Nigerian passports, making applicants to go to Ghana or Benin Republic.

    While representatives of top bank executives commended the economic policies of the Federal Government especially the Ease of Doing Business, agricultural revolution and anti-corruption campaign, various leaders of the Nigerian Community also lauded the discipline, transparency and accountability that the current administration has introduced into governance.

    They also called for government assistance towards the completion of community’s on-going school building project in order to overcome the lack of good English schools in that country.

    On its part, the APC Togo Chapter, told President Buhari not to be worried about the defections from the party, assuring him of its support in the 2019 presidential election.

    The governors of Cross River and Niger States; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior; the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment; the National Security Adviser; the Chief of Defence Staff; the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, were among the top government officials who accompanied the President to his first official engagement on arrival in Lome ahead of the Joint ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit, and the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, among others.

  • How Buhari’ll win in 2019, by Campaign

    Fears that last week’s defection by some senators and House of Representatives members will affect President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election were dispelled yesterday.

    Eleven senators defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Two joined the former President Obasanjo –driven African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Thirty Seven members of the House of Representatives also defected. But the ruling party keeps its majority in both lawmaking chambers.

    Also last week, Benue State Governor Samue Ortom defected to the PDP.

    The campaign body said the APC will in the coming days receive defectors from other parties into its fold, adding that the expected defection of two gvernors will also not affect Buhari’s chances in next year’s election, given his performance.

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Kwara State Governor Abdufatah Ahmed are expected to leave the ruling party for the PDP.

    Giving reasons why Buhari will not be ruffled by the defections, Director of Strategic Communication of the Buhari campaign, Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo said in elections before the 2015 polls , which he won, the President did creditably in most of the states where the PDP had governors and legislators.

    In a statement, Keyamo said: “The President won with large margins in the past in some states without the support of majority of the politicians from those states who moved recently to join the opposition party. Also, we are all witnessing the significant gains Mr. President is making in several places where he lost in the past, notably in the Southsouth and Southeast.

    “From the demographics we have now, the historic figures and the present realities that we know, these defections will have little or no impact on the chances of Mr. President’s re-election.”

    Keyamo said Buhari has consistently won in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Niger, with over 30 million, especially in 2011 and 2015, adding that this was achieved despite the fact that most of those states were being controlled by political parties other than his.

    He said “In 2011, when the President was in CPC, despite being states with sitting opposition Governors, National Assembly members, state Assembly members and local government chairmen, the President posted close to eleven million votes against all odds, defeating all his rivals in these 12 states mentioned above.

    “In 2015, despite the majority of these states being in opposition after the merger that formed the APC, the President posted close to 11 million votes again in these states with PDP not scoring up to 20 percent of the votes in most of these States.

    “It is instructive that in these election cycles there were presidential candidates of Northern extraction (e.g Shekarau and Ribadu in 2011). Besides, Kaduna had a sitting Vice President in both elections.

    “As we can see, any defection within these states would have little or no

    consequence on President Muhammadu Buhari’s chances as he had always won those states, irrespective of the party in power in those states.

    “For example in the much-touted  Kano, in the 2011 Presidential election, President Buhari scored one million, six hundred and twenty four thousand, five hundred and forty three (1,624,543) votes as CPC candidate, while in 2015, he had 1,903,999 one million, nine hundred and three thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine (1,903,999) votes as APC candidate.

    “The vote difference of about 280,000 votes may be attributed to elements of ANPP, negligible ACN and Senator Kwakwanso, then Governor of the state that came into APC. Today, the President’s popularity in these states has increased due to the fight against Boko Haram which has been largely successful. So, he should expect more votes from these strongholds.”

    He said even though he lost the elections in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa and Benue in 2011, he won the election in 2015, adding that the five south-western states have registered voters strength of more than 14 million out of the about 20 million voters in these nine states.

    “Today, those five states are being controlled by the APC. Ekiti will join before the 2019 election after Governor-elect Kayode Fayemi is sworn in for a second term in office. All the political gladiators in those south-western states that helped to tilt the election in favour of the President in 2015 are still solidly with him and more have joined.

    “The entire defunct ACN structures that moved into APC are solidly behind the President. In terms of defections in the western states, the Party has gained more than it has lost as the likes of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator (Mrs) Fatima Raji-Rasaki, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Kaka, former Governor Adebayo Akala, to mention but a few, are now with APC.

    “To underscore the rising profile of the party in these states, the people of Ondo State and Ekiti State decided to entrust their states in the hands of the APC by voting out the previous PDP governments.

    “Furthermore, these states are well represented in government with a sitting Vice President, important ministerial portfolios and prominent membership of the economic team. So, we can only expect more votes, not less, from the west.

    “Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi and Benue states, with over six million registered voters, all had governors from other parties in 2011 with Senator Bukola Saraki being the PDP governor of Kwara State.

    “In the four states, as the presidential candidate of CPC, the President posted six hundred and seventy thousand eighty (670,080) votes while CAN, the other legacy party of APC, posted three hundred and fourteen thousand seven hundred and forty one (314,741) votes, making a total of nine hundred and eighty four thousand seven hundred and forty one (984,741) votes when combined.

    “In 2015, with only one APC governor among the four states, the President posted one million three hundred and fifteen thousand six hundred and fifty nine (1,315,659) in the four states, gaining over three hundred and thirty thousand (330,000) votes.

    “Today, with APC in charge of three out of the four states, especially with Senator Gbemi Saraki and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, leading the efforts in Kwara State and the APC structure in Benue State still firmly in the hands of Senator George Akume (the same structure on which Governor Ortom rode to victory) the defection of the Senators from these States will have little or no effect on the difference gained

    “The President lost 15 states (comprising 11 States of the South East and South South and Plateau, Taraba, Nassarawa and Ekiti States) in the 2015 elections, despite his overall victory.”

     

     

  • Buhari orders crack forces, fighter aircraft to battle Zamfara bandits

    The Federal Government has assembled 1000-strong military force, comprising the Army, Air Force, Police and the Civil Defence to attack bandits terrorising Zamfara State.

    Following the presidential directive, the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has begun deploying fighter aircrafts in Katsina Airport for immediate and effective response to the menace.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the President had authorised NAF to engage advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits.

    The statement reads:  “The government had to go to this extent because of the limitations of conventional surveillance, as the use of satellite technology could make the task of NAF less problematic.

    “Following directives from the President, at the weekend, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, was in Gusau where he met with the Deputy Governor.”

    The Chief of Air Staff reiterated the President’s pledge that he would never abandon victims of attacks to their fate, reaffirming that security remains one of the cardinal pillars of his campaign promises, and no leader would be happy to see his own citizens killed by criminal groups across.

    “The Presidency, therefore, appeals to Nigerians to unite and speak with one voice on security issues, and urges politicians to stop exploiting national security challenges.

    “Those praying for the President to fail in this effort can be likened to one stabbing oneself in the heart and celebrating it.

    “Therefore, security should not be reduced to petty politics as doing so could only embolden the terrorists and other murderous gangs.

    “He, therefore, appealed to the media to avoid unhelpful and deleterious sensationalism in the coverage of events that border on national security.

    ‘The media should under no circumstance make the bandits or terrorists feel like super stars because doing so could hurt all of us.

    “Terrorists seek to achieve maximum publicity and they do so by launching large scale attacks on soft targets and the media must resist every attempt to play into their hands unwittingly.”

     

  • 2019: Buhari suspends campaign by supporters

    •Demands respect for INEC timetable

    All campaigns for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari by his supporters across the country must be suspended for now, according to a directive to such support groups yesterday by the Presidency.

    The seat of power said the campaign guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be respected by all.

    The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted “what may be interpreted as political campaigns” by some Buhari supporters and said while the presidency appreciated such enthusiasm, patience was necessary “so that the game can be played according to the rules.”

    He said:”The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a timetable for political campaigns, and we urge committed supporters round the country (and beyond) to be mindful of such.

    “While a chronicle of the achievements of the administration is in order now, outright canvassing may amount to jumping the gun.

    “We are an administration committed to due process and scrupulous respect for rules, law and order.

    “We appreciate our massive supporters nationwide, and urge them to exercise restraint till the race commences officially as stipulated by law.”

     

     

  • Buhari will leave Igboland better-Adesina

    The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has assured that the Southeast region would witness massive infrastructural development before the B uhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government leaves office.

    He spoke while representing Buhari at the inauguration and flag off of a 5.5km road attracted by Dr. Alex Otti, the 2015 gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at Isieketa community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The presidential spokesman, who lamented the infrastructural decay in the country inherited by the Buhari’s administration, assured his principal would do all to ensure the infrastructural deficits were tackled.

    “One thing that is dear to the heart of President Buhari is infrastructure; roads, railway, power, etc.

    “Nigeria has a lot of deficits in infrastructure and President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to reverse that deficit.

    “We will see that by the time this administration ends Igboland will never be the same again. Igbo will be far better beyond where it has ever been before.”

    Otti thanked the Federal Government for giving the Isieketa community and its environs new lease of life.

    He said the farming community, which has suffered losses in the past would now have access road to move farm produce to nearby villages and commercial cities.

    Otti also disclosed to the cheering crowd that another 12.5km road, which stretches from the point where the 5.5km road ended to Aba-Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, has been awarded by the Federal Government through the NDDC.

     

  • Buhari commiserates with Gusau over wife’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd), on the death of his wife, Hajiya Binta.

    In a condolence message by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday, Buhari said the death of Hajiya Binta came to him “as a great shock.”

    The President said: “A wife occupies an important place in a man’s life, a bond so strong that we treat our wives like our own flesh and blood.

    “My heart goes out to Gen. Gusau at this emotionally trying moment.

    “Death is inevitable and we are powerless against the will of God. No tears can wipe away our grief, the best tribute to the dead is to pray for them.’’

    The President prayed Allah to comfort the retired army general and members of his family and grant them the fortitude to bear this great loss.

    “May the soul of Hajiya Binta rest in peace, May Allah reward her good deeds with al- Jannah, amen,” he said.

     

  • Maharaji to Buhari: deal with herdsmen’s killings decisively

    Founder of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to deal decisively with herdsmen’s attacks on innocent lives across the country.

    This, he said, as will affirm his sincerity to lead a united Nigeria.

    Maharaj Ji spoke at the journalists’ hangout last week at the Sat Guru Maharaj ji village Rogo, Lagos.

    He lamented the Armed Forces adjudged to have done credibly well in other parts of the world have not been able to stop and deal decisively with the continuous killings of by armed herdsmen across the country.

    He noted the current developments in Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Libya and other war- torn countries are indicators nobody benefits from conflicts.

    He tasked the federal government to build bridge of love as against hate and peace as against conflicts.

    Maharaj Ji, who commended the federal government’s efforts on anti-corruption, said that the killings in part of the country especially by armed headsmen, if not checked, will be a dent on the image of the current administration for life.

    According to him: “The roles our Army played in parts of Africa, especially against apartheid in South Africa without bloodshed is commendable but things have changed today.

    “We hear of ethnic cleansing, smuggling of fire arms and weapons into the country, herdsmen and farmer crises. It has to be checked and addressed urgently and in a transparent manner.”

    He added: “I expect the army to have moved against the herdsmen with the same firmness it employed against Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow pro-Biafra agitators.

    “I am not a supporter of breakup but the government must be seen to be fair and just to all groups, otherwise they would be chaos.”