The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari to AFREXIM: Support Nigeria’s agricultural programmes

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday asked the African Export – Import Bank (AFREXIM) to align its lending schemes with the agricultural priorities of the present administration.

    Speaking while receiving the President of the Bank,  Dr. Okey Oramah, at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari acknowledged that Nigeria was the biggest beneficiary of AFREXIM’s loans and facilities.

    He, however, observed that despite the impressive array of lending to institutions and industries in Nigeria, agriculture didn’t feature well in the bank’s programmes and should be taken on board.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: “Many do not appreciate how much we are doing in agriculture.  The Minister of Agriculture and the Central Bank are doing so much.

    “We have almost achieved complete food security coupled with the massive employment of able-bodied Nigerians, both the educated and the not – so-educated.  You must take interest in our agriculture.”

    He also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, to take up the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory on the provision without delay, land for the bank’s regional headquarters and a proposed Centre for Medical Excellence in Abuja.

     

     

  • Buhari orders gazetting of directive on Abiola, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday ordered the immediate gazetting of his directive declaring June 12 as Democracy Day in honor of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola.

    The President had on Wednesday conferred national honours on Abiola and other heroes of democracy.

    According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,  President Buhari directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to take immediate steps to publish the presidential directive in the Federal Gazette as follows:

    “Chief MKO Abiola – Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (Posthumous).

    “Amb. Babagana Kingibe – Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

    “Chief Gani Fawehinmi -Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (Posthumous).”

     

  • Malami faults NASS on impeachment plot against Buhari

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has faulted the National Assembly over impeachable issues raised against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also said any senator or member of the House of Representatives indicted for wrong doing must be investigated by the appropriate agency.

    The AGF said he has not come to terms on why the National Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    Malami bared his mind on Wednesday night while featuring on a Channels TV programme, “The Core,” which was anchored by ace broadcaster, Ms. Kadaria Ahmed.

    He had appeared on the programme with the spokesman of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi, the representative of the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Habila Joshak and a human rights activist, Mr. Clement Nwankwo.

    The AGF said instead of the National Assembly challenging Buhari on insecurity and unemployment, it should realize that it failed to pass the 2018 budget on time.

    He said: “Issues were raised by the National Assembly during their session that they think constituted perhaps misconducts but then, within the context of the issues raised, we need to reassess them. Let us take for example the issue of insecurity, or perhaps issue that borders on unemployment among others.

    “For the past seven months, insecurity for example, the Executive placed the budget before the National Assembly for passage. For instance, you have around N1trillion that was intended to address insecurity but it has not been passed.

    “On unemployment, over N900 billion was embedded in the budget and meant for social investment programme of the Federal Government. Within seven months period, senators for instance were taking over N3billion as wages within the seven months while the social security investment meant for the masses was not attended to.”

     

  • Nigeria to boost economic ties with Tanzania – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday expressed his readiness for Nigeria to boost economic ties with Tanzania for the benefit of both countries.

    Receiving the Letter of Credence from the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Muhidin Moweto, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari said both countries had several potentials to them key economic actors on the continent.

    The President, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also congratulated the Tanzanian Government on the recent discovery of gas reserves in the coast region.

    Buhari noted that the development offers huge opportunities for the country.

    ”Nigeria and Tanzania have a lot of potentials. We will do our best to improve relations, which dates back to the pre-colonial era,” the President said.

    In separate remarks, President Buhari, who also received the Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Lee In-Tae, commended the Korean Government for its education developmental programmes in the country through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

    Earlier the Tanzanian High Commissioner underscored the presence and positive roles of Nigerian firms in his country, particularly in the manufacturing and banking sectors.

    ”My primary objective is to strengthen and enhance existing relations of both nations and to take our economic ties to a new height. We need more Dangote’s (companies) in Tanzania to help in developing the country,” the High Commissioner said.

     

     

  • Buhari honours Abiola

    CHIEF Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola finally got his place in the Hall of fame yesterday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari invested the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election posthumously with the nation’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

    Besides, Prsident Buhari recognised the date of the election – June 12 – as Democracy Day.

    The election, Nigeria’s freest and fairest ever, was annulled by then Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who gave no cogent reason for his action, which led to a long-drawn crisis, including the prolonged and draconian military rule under the late Gen. Sani Abacha between November 1993 and June 1998 when he suddenly died in office.

    Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, was shot dead in Lagos while pursuing the restoration of her husband’s mandate. Abiola himself died in detention.

    In a statement he personally signed yesterday, the President also honoured the late Abiola’s running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, with the second highest national honour, the Grand Comander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

    Also honoured with GCON is the late human rights activist, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi (SAN), a key crusader for Abiola’s immortalisation.

    These honours are the first set of national awards to be given out by the three-year old Buhari administration.

    Effective from next year, June 12 will henceforth be marked as Democracy Day, the President sad. Democracy Day is marked on May 29, the anniversary of the return to democracy in 1999, when Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who became military Head of State after Gen. Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, ceded power to a civilian government.

    Buhari said in the statement: ”For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th, as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12th, 1993 was far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29th or even the October 1st,” a statement by the Presidency said yesterday.

    “June 12th, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful elections since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military Government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.

    “Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12th will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, Government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of the June 12th elections and indeed for Democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN is to be awarded the GCON.

    ”The investiture will take place on Tuesday June 12th, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29th as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”

  • Buhari seeks review of deep offshore oil sharing formula

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday submitted a bill seeking the amendment of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production sharing contract.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the “Transmission of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Amendment Bill 2018,” as submitted by President Buhari.

    Buhari’s letter read: “I forward herewith a draft Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Amendment Bill 2018 for the kind consideration and passage by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Buhari said he was “hoping that the Bill will receive the usual expeditious consideration and passage by the distinguished Senate.”

    Immediately the presidential letter was read, some senators expressed unease about the proposed legislation.

    Like the Water Resources Establishment Bill which sparked controversy on the floor of the Senate last week, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Bill may be another proposed legislation that will divide the Senate along regional lines.

    Some southern senators were said to have began mobilisation to shoot down the bill.

  • PDP chieftain, lawmaker hail Buhari for declaring June 12 Democracy Day

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as a new Democracy Day and posthumously awarding Chief MKO Abiola, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

    The President  who announced this on Wednesday in a statement signed personally, said that June 12 would now replace May 29 as the Democracy Day.

    Abiola, who was the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, died on July 7, 1998.

    Babatope, a former Minister of Transport and member PDP Board of Trustees, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone that the president’s motivation was right.

    “Even though one may question the timing, the motivation is right.

    “We should commend Buhari for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day and the conferment of GCFR on the late MKO Abiola,” he said.

    Also  Mr Wasiu Eshinokun-Sanni, the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said that the truth had prevailed.

    Eshinokun-Sanni, who noted that he received the news with a mixed feeling, commended the Lagos State Government to have recognised Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a late human rights lawyer.

    “The good part is that effort of Nigerians in forgetting religious and tribal sentiments as exhibited by the June 12 elections is not in vain. June 12 is Democracy Day is also symbolic.

    “What Obasanjo (former President) failed to recognise all this while in spite being the greatest beneficiary of June 12, a Nigerian of northern extraction has brought it to the front burner,” he said.

    “Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as the Democracy Day.

    ” Therefore, government has decided to award posthumously, the highest honour of the land, GCFR to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled election.

    “His running mate as Vice President Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe is also to be invested with a GCON.

    “Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualisation of June 12 elections and indeed for democracy in general, the Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, is to be awarded posthumously a GCON.

    “The commemoration and investiture will take place on Tuesday June 12, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of the Nigerian Democracy.” (NAN)

  • June 12 now Democracy Day – Buhari

    … Confers GCFR, GCON on Abiola, Kingibe Fawehinmi

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday directed that effective from next year, Nigerian Democracy Day would be marked every June 12 in honor of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola.

    Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29, 1999 and the day has been recognized as National Day by successive governments in the country.

    A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, reads: “To honor an illustrious son of Nigeria, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, who won a presidential election but was prevented from taking office when the results were annulled.

    “The late Abiola died while struggling to actualize the mandate.

    “Consequently, the late M.K.O Abiola will be conferred with nation’s highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, (GCFR) exclusively conferred on the holders of the highest office in the country, the President.

    “In the same vein, Chief Abiola’s running mate in that election, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, is to be conferred with the second highest honor of the Grand Commander of the Niger (GCON).

    Also to receive a GCON is the foremost pro-democracy activist, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    “In a statement signed he personally signed on Wednesday evening, President Buhari said:

    “For the past 18 years, Nigerians have been celebrating May 29th, as Democracy Day. That was the date when for the second time in our history, an elected civilian administration took over from a military government. The first time this happened was on October 21st, 1979. But in the view of Nigerians, as shared by this administration, June 12, 1993, was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even the October 1.

    “June 12, 1993 was the day when Nigerians in millions expressed their democratic will in what was undisputedly the freest, fairest and most peaceful election since our Independence. The fact that the outcome of that election was not upheld by the then military government does not distract from the democratic credentials of that process.

    “Accordingly, after due consultations, the Federal Government has decided that henceforth, June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day. Therefore, Government has decided to award posthumously the highest honour of the land, GCFR, to late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 cancelled elections. His running mate as Vice President, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, is also to be invested with a GCON. Furthermore, the tireless fighter for human rights and the actualization of the June 12 elections and indeed for democracy in general, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) is to be awarded the GCON.

    “The investiture will take place on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, a date which in future years will replace May 29 as a National Public Holiday in celebration of Nigeria Democracy Day.”

    END

  • Buhari seeks review of deep offshore oil sharing formula

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday submitted a bill seeking the amendment of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production sharing contract.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the “Transmission of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Amendment Bill 2018,” as submitted by President Buhari.

    Buhari’s letter read: “I forward herewith a draft Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Amendment Bill 2018 for the kind consideration and passage by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The President said he was “hoping that the Bill would receive the usual expeditious consideration and passage by the Distinguished Senate.”

    Immediately the President’s letter was read, some senators expressed unease about the proposed legislation.

    Like the Water Resources Establishment Bill which sparked controversy on the floor of the Senate last week, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Bill may be another proposed legislation that will divide the Senate along regional lines.

    Some southern senators were said to have commenced mobilization to shoot down the bill.

  • Lawmakers threaten Buhari

    Senators, Reps give 10 conditions

    162 oppose impeachment plan at stormy session

    Parliamentry group warns against dragging National Assembly into private matters

    Pressure group Parliamentary Support Group (PSG) yesterday warned against heating up the polity for selfish reasons.

    The PSG described the stormy joint session as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair because members of All Progressives Congres (APC) did not partake in the debate to avoid issues degenerating into rowdiness.

    The group said rather than heat up the polity for selfish political reasons, any senators or member of the House of Representives who is facing corruption or criminal allegation, should clear his or her name without dragging the entire institution of the National Assembly into the matter.

    The statement signed on behlf of the group by Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC,Kano), said  the resolution of the joint session was predetermined and drawn up by an ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The group reiterated its support for President Muhammadu Buhari adding that the resolution was not voted on according to parliamentary norm.

    The statement reads: “The Parliamentary Support Group of the Senate and House of Representatives is aware of the joint Executive session of the National Assembly held today and wish to state as follows:

    • That almost all the members and senators that spoke at the Executive session are of the PDP while members of the APC declined joining the discussion to avoid a rowdy confrontation as the entire session could easily pass for a PDP Executive session
    • That it is commendable that the Speaker tactically refused to make any comment at the session even after the Senate President took time to explain the issues which are mostly personal
    • That it is disturbing and raised many questions of pre determined intentions that a known ally of the Senate President from Kwara State Hon Rasak Atunwa drafted what was adopted as the resolution and without voting against standard parliamentary practice.
    • That most of the issues raised concerning the fight against corruption, insecurity and the rule of law has been severally discussed in the Senate and the House and various resolutions passed.
    • That we commend the efforts of Mr President in the fight against corruption, tackling of the insecurity challenges and respect for rule of law and democratic institutions. Mr President is known for his non interference policy.
    • That every Senator or Member of House who has corruption or criminal allegation against him or her should clear his or her name without dragging the entire institution of the National Assembly into the matter
    • That the National Assembly should as well look in ward and address the issue of suffocating Senators and members with dissenting or contrary opinion through coercion or extra legal means
    • That the PDP should recall how it members in the 7th Assembly sat comfortably in the chamber and watched a sitting Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal locked out of the National Assembly and all his security personnels withdrawn while APC members had to scale the fence to gain entrance into the National Assembly
    • That we must exercise caution at this delicate period not to over heat the polity with statements that are capable of dividing the country, embarrassing us before the watching world and creating friction between the legislature, Executive and specifically Mr President.
    • We wish to reaffirm our support to Mr President as he works assiduously towards dealing with the challenges of our country.

    Immediately after the session a member of the House of Representatives Mohammaed Gudaji Kazaure (Jigawa State) told reporters that lawmakers from the north would not support any impeach,ent move against the President.

    . Although he expressed support for the resolution, he rejected any bid for impeachment, saying soe of the issues could not be carried out immediately by the President.

    He advised the President to look inward and review the activities of some of his aides.

    He said some of the President’s aides that could not command electoral relevance were undermining his efforts at moving the nation forward.

    According to him, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara appealed to the sponsors of the impeachment move to have a change of mind.

    He said while all the members were unanimous on the resolution, all hell broke lose when the invocation of necessary constitutional provisions against President Buhari, if he failed to implement the resolution, was raised.

    He said: “I have never seen this kind of hot joint session.  What is the necessary legislative action, if not impeachment?  Many of us are not interested in threatening the President”

    Kazuare noted that immediately some of them from the North got wind of the plot to impeach the President, they quickly mobilised and formed a group of 162 Northern lawmakers to frustrate the move.

    He said: “Many of us are not in support of threatening the President because he is a man of integrity. We know his heart is clean. But people are complaining about some people surrounding him.

    “Today,  I call on the President to checkmate those people. Let him remove anybody that people are complaining about.

    “Let him remove them and bring people that will move this country forward, because enough is enough.

    “We don’t want a situation whereby some people will create problems for the president, then at the end, we will come to this House and complain against the President.

    “While the President is around in the Villa and doesn’t know what is going on in the country. Because unless they come and brief him, and sometimes, they brief him wrongly, and that is the reality.

    “As we are in the House of Representatives, I’m sure we have some members in the Senate, I’m sure we will not allow anybody to threaten the President.

    “The President will remain the President and he will be re- elected, when he finishes his eight years, he will go, then anybody can come. But that threat is the only thing that worried me in the Chamber.

    “Because after all the resolutions, they said without the executive adopting the resolutions we will use any legislative power that we have against them.

    “The issue of people collecting signatures to serve notice of impeachment to the president, we know it’s there in the House. But we know nobody can afford to come and show us that they will impeach the President in the Chamber.

    “Nobody will do that, because there is no two-thirds. I’m sure there is no two- third in the House of Representatives because our group, we are strong enough to stop any impeachment

    “I agree with the legislature for saying that we have to improve the security of this country and that the killings must end. This is accepted, and the issue of the people around the president that are not performing, I accept that the president should change them or sack them.

    “Issue of intimidating people like intimidating a whole Senate President, saying he sponsored a robbery, a whole Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it embarrassed this institution. I will not support it and I’m sure the President never supported it”.