The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • 2019: You will lose election in your ward, Ganduje replies Kwankwaso

    Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has  declared that his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will not win election in his own village in 2019, talk less of defeating President Muhammadu  Buhari.

    Ganduje who was reacting to Kwankwaso’s claim that he can defeat President Buhari should the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) give him ticket in 2019, said Kwankwaso’s political structure has been squarely dismantled in Kano so much that he has lost grip of the realities of Kano politics.

    In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba and made available to journalists on Sunday, Ganduje described Kwankwaso as, “a political fugitive who does not have the platform, the intellectual capability and mental ability to manage the affairs of Nigeria.”

    “Senator Kwankwaso’s latest utterances have confirmed the fact that he is now a confused politician who is grabbing every opportunity to re-launch himself back to relevance.

    “For over three years, he has been sleeping at the Senate without sponsoring even a bill that will positively impact on the lives of Nigerians. This is a clear indication that he has nothing to offer. He is just being boastful.

    “For over three years, Kwankwaso has been at the Senate, he has not visited Kano Central, his senatorial district. He has not executed any tangible constituency project for his people.

    “Since then,  he has not been around and we have been here in Kano playing the game of politics the way it should be done. The good people of Kano are appreciating our modest achievements and they have expressed confidence in us.”

    The statement further stated that, “Senator Kwankwaso’s dream to get the PDP presidential ticket remains a tall one that can never see the light of the day because those he is going to meet there are familiar with his antics. They have not forgotten in a hurry, the role he played in destroying the same PDP.

    “I am surprised that Kwankawso is now talking about people like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau,  a man he persecuted and betrayed in many occasions. I am surprised he is talking about the PDP,  a party he destroyed and betrayed many of the chieftains who are still there today to pay him back with his own coin.”

    Ganduje insisted that Kwankwaso is no longer relevant in Kano politics, pointing out that,  “all his political structure has been completely dismantled.”

    “Those who know him will understand that he is overrating himself and cannot be seen as a major contender in the 2019 presidential election. He is a usurper who wants power by all means. Here in Kano, the support for President Buhari and the APC is non-negotiable” Ganduje stated.

  • Buhari leaves Katsina for Mauritania to attend AU Assembly

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday left Katsina for Nouakchott, Mauritania, to attend the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

    The summit will hold from June 30 to July 2.

    The presidential aircraft conveying the president and other members of his entourage to Mauritania took off at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, about 10. 20 a.m.

    President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said on Friday in a statement that Buhari would make introductory remarks and presentation on the summit’s theme — “Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.’’

    According to him, Buhari will make the presentation in his capacity as the leader of the AU.

    Adesina also said that Buhari and other African leaders would take part in an interactive session with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

    He said that the session would deliberate on financing AU-led Peace Support Operations authorised by the United Nations Security Council.

    “Dominant issues affecting the continent such as peace and security, HIV and AIDS, regional cooperation, climate change will engage the attention of the African leaders during the Summit,’’ he said.

    Adesina further stated that Buhari would hold high-level bilateral sessions on issues of shared common interests of the country, Africa and the world.

    Buhari would be accompanied on the trip with Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo and other top government officials.

    While in Katsina on Friday, President Buhari had met and condoled with the government and people of Katsina State on a windstorm disaster that killed six persons and destroyed more than 530 houses in the state.

    NAN reports that 2,000 people were displaced as a result of the disaster.

    Buhari also addressed traditional, community and religious leaders as well as representatives of victims of the disaster at the Palace of Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman.

    He said that he had directed the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant government agencies to assess the situation with a view to offering necessary assistance to the victims.

    The president also had a closed door session with President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo at Katsina Presidential Lodge.

    The president, at the meeting, described as a welcome development the proposed security summit among members of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and countries in Economic Community of Central African States on July 30.

    According to Buhari, terrorism now transcends international boundaries and no country can combat the scourge alone.

    “We need to team up to fight common enemies; terrorists in whatever form are enemies of humanity and no effort must be spared to protect our people.

    “I will always support anything that is meant to enhance security in our region,’’ he said.

    Gnassingbe, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, said that he was happy to be in Katsina and thanked Buhari for his assistance in calming the political situation in Togo.

    He said that he briefed Buhari on Mali elections billed for next month, saying that ECOWAS would ensure that everything went smoothly.

    The Togolese leader said that the sub-regional body would soon address the persistent cases of farmers and herdsmen clashes, noting that the problem was not peculiar to Nigeria alone.

    “It is not a religious or ethnic problem and must not be misconceived as such; we will discuss the matter and try to find a solution,’’ Gnassingbe said

    He also condoled with Buhari on the fire disaster caused by a fallen petrol tanker in Lagos on June 28.(NAN)

  • Governors to Buhari: sack security chiefs if they can’t stop killings

    The 36 state governors say they will ask President Muhammadu Buhari to sack security chiefs if they cannot stop the current wave of killings in the country.

    But the governors first want to interface with the security chiefs to let them “understand where we are and how this thing (killings) is depleting the relationship among the citizens”.

    Their chairman, Abdulaziz Yari, said yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital that the security chiefs must keep going  or “else, we have no option than to ask the President to relieve them,” of their responsibility.

    Yari, governor of Zamfara State spoke when he led a delegation of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to Jos to commiserate with Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau on the recent murder of 86 people in parts of the state by herdsmen.

    The killings occurred  in Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Jos South Local Government Areas of the state on Sunday, June 24.

    The governors stressed the need for an immediate end to the killings lest the killers turn on the rulers in the  course of time.

    Yari said:“We want to come together as a family to fight this menace because the killers are everywhere. How can we watch these evil people killing our people ?

    “We encourage Mr. President that whoever is found wanton in these killings should be brought to book.

    “In my state, I said  I will step down as chief security officer because the situation was so tight for me over the killings and incessant attacks on my people.

    “We must do something as leaders now;if not, the killers will soon come after us the leaders of the people.

    “We encourage you as governor not to lose focus.Plateau state has been enjoying relative peace over the years under your administration, but all of a sudden these killings took place.

    The Zamfara governor said the NGF  would not relent in ensuring that the security agencies are up and doing.

    “We are going to, very soon as we have agreed collectively, have a one-day interface with the security chiefs, to ensure that they understand where we are and how this thing is depleting the relationship between the citizens and as a nation the threat that we are under, as we are under a time bomb as leaders,” he said.

    “They (security chiefs) should do their jobs perfectly or else, we have no option than to ask the President to relieve them, that’s the only point.”

    The NGF Chairman said Zamfara alone experienced  115 attacks between March 1st and June 1st, 2018, which he said claimed the lives of 435 persons.

    He donated  an undisclosed amount of money to the state to help alleviate the plight of the injured persons and those displaced.

    Also speaking, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State expressed the support of all governors for Lalong at this point in time.

    “We are with you in this fight, don’t lose focus,” he said.

    “What we are lacking in this fight is the unity of  purpose.”

    Lalong thanked his colleagues for their visit and declared that “no one has any reason to take somebody else’s life.”

    He vowed that the perpetrators of the killings will be fished out and be made to face the consequences of their action.

    “We will make efforts to fish out the perpetrators of this evil act. We are not going to sleep over this.We pledge  not to betray the thrust bestowed on us by the people of Plateau state.

    “I urge you as go to continue praying for us leaders and the state in general.”

    Also on the NGF delegation were Governors Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi  Okowa  (Delta).

  • Buhari greets Captain Joseph at 81

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Chairman, Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Advisory Council, Captain Joseph Din (rtd), as he turns 81 on June 30.

    The President joined the family, friends and associates of the elder statesman in congratulating the retired army officer as he marks another significant milestone in his life.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President commended the patriotism, commitment to justice, equity and integrity which Captain Din has brought to bear since his retirement from the army in 1971 on business pursuits and active politics.

    The President is particularly pleased with the efforts of the founding member of the APC and his colleagues in the Elders Advisory Council to bring about lasting peace in Plateau State.

  • Halt these mindless killings, group urges Buhari

    President Muhammdau Buhari has been called upon to halt the killings across the country and in doing this ,should sack all the service chiefs for their inability to put a stop to the unnecessary bloodletting in the country.

    This advice was given yesterday in Lagos by the Executive Director ,Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV),Comrade Gbenga Soloki, in a press release he signed and made available to journalists.

    He described the recent mayhem in Plateau State as a sad development and condemnable in all ramifications and all peace-loving Nigerians should stand up and demand that the government must put a stop to the killings and perpetrators fished out and dealt with.

    The CAIDOV boss further said that concerted efforts on the part of government at both state and federal levels should be intensified in order to stop the carnage in our land.

    He described the present crop of service chiefs as incompetent and unfit for the posts as they have failed abysmally in defending and protecting the people.

    Soloki said: “The ongoing reckless killings across the nation are worrisome to some of us. They are tragic and condemnable in all ramifications as the government has not been able to come up with a reasonable account of events leading to the mindless bloodletting in the country. On this note, we want advise Mr President to, as a matter of urgency, sack all the service chiefs as they have proved incapable of protecting the people. They should be shown the way out. We can’t achieve success in the fight against insurgency with the crop of service chiefs in place.

    “The state and federal governments should intensify efforts in combating the menace of insurgency and mindless killings across the country, especially in the North East and North Central. The government must live up to expectations and halt these killings.

    “We commiserate with those who lost their loved ones and call for vigilance from all Nigerians”.

  • Lagos Tanker Fire: Togolese President condoles with Nigeria

    President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo on Friday in Katsina,  condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari on the fire disaster caused by a fallen petrol tanker in Lagos on Thursday.

    Eyadema, who is currently the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, said he was in Katsina to brief President Buhari on the latest situations in the sub-regional organization.

    He, however, used the opportunity to commiserate with Nigeria over the Thursday’s Lagos tanker fire.

    “I came here in my capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority to brief him on the different situations in our region – the situation in Guinea Bissau; the situation in Mali which is going to have presidential election at the end of July including my own situation in Togo,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Photos: Tanker fire guts over 20 vehicles in Lagos

    “I used the opportunity to express my condolences to the President over what happened last night in Lagos state,’’ he said.

    At least nine persons were reported killed in the petrol tanker fire around Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday after it caught fire and spread the inferno to the vehicles behind.

    President Buhari had on Thursday expressed shock and sorrow over the fire incident in Lagos where many people are feared killed with several vehicles burnt.

    “I’m very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire,’’ he said in reaction to the early reports reaching him concerning the incident.

    President Buhari expressed his deepest condolences to the government and people of Lagos over the tragic incident.

    NAN

  • Buhari greets Captain Joseph at 81

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warmly felicitated with the Chairman, Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Advisory Council, Captain Joseph Din (Rtd), as he turns 81 on June 30.

    The President joined the family, friends and associates of the elder statesman in congratulating the retired army officer as he marks another significant milestone in his life.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President commended the patriotism, commitment to justice, equity and integrity which Captain Din has brought to bear since his retirement from the army in 1971 on business pursuits and active politics.

    Read Also: Buhari to hold talks with Togolese President in Kastina

    The President is particularly pleased with the efforts of the founding member of the APC and his colleagues in the Elders Advisory Council to bring about lasting peace in Plateau State.

    He prayed God to grant the revered octogenarian continued good health and longer life of worthy service to his fatherland and humanity.

  • Buhari to hold talks with Togolese President in Kastina

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday arrived Katsina for a two-day official visit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the presidential aircraft carrying him and some aides landed at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport Katsina at about 9.56 a.m.

    The president was received by Gov. Aminu Masari, Ministers, State and Federal Government officials.

    He also inspected a guard of honour mounted by a joint team of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force at the airport.

    NAN reports that Buhari is billed to hold talks with the visiting Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema while in the state.

    He will also pay sympathy visit at the palace of Emir of Katsina Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman where he would address traditional, community and religious

    leaders as well as stakeholders in the state on national issues.

    Buhari would use the opportunity to condole the government and people of the state over the recent flood disaster occasioned by windstorm and downpour.

    About six persons died during the disaster which also resulted in damage to over 530 houses in the state

  • Universal health care is right of all Nigerians, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday insisted that it is the right of all Nigerians to have access to universal health care.

    He spoke at the launch of the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) 2018 in the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    With 3.2 million Nigerians leaving with the virus, the President said the disease has significantly impacted the overall growth of the country.

    He said despite the huge resources being expended on the fight against the disease since 2001, there were still gaps in the access, coverage and treatment of the disease.

    “The availability of accurate HIV/AIDS data of the country is crucial for planning health interventions to arrest the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

    “It has also led to inefficient utilisation and potential wastage of HIV commodities due to inaccurate consumption,” he said

    Buhari noted that the lack of data has also affected the ability of the country to compete for HIV grants and curative measures to eradicate the disease.

    The NAIIS, he said, is in line with his administration’s determination to ensure long term sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s health and other growth challenges.

    “The survey is coming at the right time ….that will ensure every Nigerian has access to universal health services as a right,” the President said.

    Stressing that the government is committed to the successful conduct of the survey, Buhari called on state governments and all Nigerians to support the survey.

    Director General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu, noted that 600 Nigerians are infected with the disease daily while 400 Nigerians die from the infection daily.

    He added that by sorting out the HIV/AIDS problem, it would boost the economy of the nation in the long run.

    The survey, he said, will help to identify more Nigerians leaving with the virus to put them on treatment.

    The UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Erasmus Morah, urged Buhari to increase the funds allocated to HIV treatment this year from N1.5 billion to the required N7.5 billion.

    Chair of NACA Pauline Tallen  said: “Without knowing our country’s HIV data, trusting the data, we cannot adequately plan the country’s HIV response.

    “Without adequate planning, we certainly cannot fight HIV effectively.”

    Minister of State for Health Osagie Ehinare noted that there are 168,000 HIV related deaths annually.

    But he said that more worrisome is the 220,000 new infections annually, who are not aware of the infection but have the potential of spreading the disease.

    The NAIIS, which is an initiatives of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and NACA, is a survey about HIV in Nigeria.

     

     

  • Buhari: Lagos fire shocking

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed shock and sorrow over the Lagos fire  that claimed at least nine lives and in which several vehicles were burnt.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said in reaction to the early reports reaching him concerning the incident that “he is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire”.

    The President expressed his deepest condolences to the government and people of Lagos on the tragedy.

    “Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times ,” said the President.

    He urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident, saying that the priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.