The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Probe AFN over IAAF’s $150,000, SWAN urges Buhari

    The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has condemned the failure of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to return the excess of $135,000 dollars which the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) erroneously remitted to it.

    Recall that in 2017, the IAAF, while trying to disburse the $15,000 dollars allocated to each of its affiliated federations around the world, erroneously overpaid Nigeria.

    Soon after the mistake was discovered, IAAF wrote to its Nigeria’s affiliate body, AFN, to return the excess, to no avail, even reminders and discussions with the sports authorities in the country has not yielded any result.

    It is regrettable that the Federation and indeed the Ministry of Sports have for over two years failed to find out how the money developed wings from the accounts of the AFN to the extent that the IAAF has threatened sanctions on Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria is set to be barred from the forthcoming All Africa Games in Morocco this year.

    We are even more worried because when the issue broke out, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports said it was going to investigate the matter, but till date nothing has been heard.

  • Buhari arrives Makkah for Umrah

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from the city of Madinah where he began his Umrah engagements in the Kingdom.

    After the evening prayer at the Holy Prophet’s Mosque on Thursday, the President was ushered to the grave of Prophet Mohammed where he said prayers for the nation, his family and himself.

    He was seen off at the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Madina International Airport by the Governor of the Madinah Province, Prince Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

    The President was welcomed in Makkah by the Regional Governor, Prince Khalid Bin Faisal Al-Saud.

    Read Also: ‘Why NASS couldn’t veto Buhari on Electoral Act’

    Also at hand to receive him were the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Justice Isa Dodo (rtd), the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and officials of the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah.

    After the reception, he proceeded to commence the Umrah rites on Friday evening.

     

  • Buhari: Can any President be more tolerant?

    Just as I am convinced beyond any doubt that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a special breed that cannot    be pulled down by human machinations, I am also of the firm belief that President Muhammad Buhari is one human being that cannot be easily decoded.

    The President and his biggest political ally, Tinubu, have in common a special grace that is not commonly given. They are, to me, the apples of God’s eyes.

    God is the final decider in the affairs of man, and I know from how I have personally experienced God, that the Almighty is truly a God of good, who can only permit human wickedness to a point in the life of His anointed, as He did with the Biblical Job.

    In that scriptural narrative, God only allowed Job’s sufferings in the hands of Satan to let the world know that His faithful follower was not walking with Him just because he was prosperous or that he would rescind his faith in Him if he suffered any reverse. He allowed Job’s sufferings for a while, to let Satan and those with his demonic tendencies know that they do not have total control over the affairs of man.

    I look at what Tinubu is going through as a political leader of distinction and I’m convinced that were he of lesser divine grace, he would have fallen to the evil devices of his detractors who are either genuinely peeved by his style or consumed by jealousy or ingratitude or utter wickedness. Now, even those who are politically opposed to Tinubu are all agreed that he is fabulously rich, and they include those who had benefited from his largeness of heart and charity. Perhaps such people who seem to have resolved in their minds to bring the man down, do not know that generosity, of which Tinubu is now renowned, is a shield against evil.

    It is in the accommodating nature of Mr President that these Tinubu detractors and even the President’s ill-wishers seem to be deluding themselves that they can lure or goad the President into aligning with them in their evil plots, which they are naively associating with politics.

    Buhari, in my study of him, is not one to be in sync with such people, especially given his own travails at the hands of people like ex-governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and others of his ilk in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is for that reason the President should distance himself from the antics and infantile pranks of people like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who was in Lagos the other day to be talking of how to end godfatherism in the state.

    The El-Rufai who pranced on the back of President Obasanjo when he held sway as Minister of the FCT or travelled at Tinubu’s feet when he needed his political favour? Sycophancy, indeed, has no shame! On whose back did he ride to get to his present station? His godfathers or babyfathers? Or has he extraordinary credentials beyond bootlicking for his transformation in a space of few years?

    He might have wormed his way into the Presidents heart for certain reasons, but he should not push his luck too far or tempt God to want to use someone or allow himself to be used to incur God’s wrath. In any case, El-Rufai has enough blessings to be thankful for than to squander them on the altar of expediency by dabbling into matters that are clearly beyond his ken. He is advised to confine his youthful exuberance to the state under whose watch he has helped to exacerbate religious ill-feelings.

  • Buhari restates commitment to boosting investments through railway, power

    President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to boost business and investment opportunities by reviving train and railway services, building roads and improve on the Power sector.

    The President spoke yesterday at the 59th annual general meeting (AGM)/Conference of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in Kaduna, with the theme: Regional Integration in Africa: Potentials for Growth and Expansion of Nigerian Businesses.

    President Buhari, who was represented by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, said his administration was re-strategising more effective ways to tackle security challenges in the country.

    The President assured the nation that the Federal Government would do everything possible to ease doing business in Nigeria and further make the country the investment destination for investors from all over the world.

    He added: “When this administration came on board in 2015, there were challenges of railway maintenance, power and other issues. Between 24 and 26 states could not pay their workers’ salary. That was the picture as at May 29, 2015.

    “But through God’s intervention, we continued work on over 300 roads that we met, while we awarded other 100 plus roads. Some are completed; some are ongoing. This is to ease transportation and movement of goods and services. Railway work is ongoing to move cargoes from one place to another; power is also improving.

    “We are improving the ease of doing business to attract investment, in which Kaduna State ranks number one, and Jigawa ranks number two. As a government, we don’t want a repeat of what happened in Angola and Venezuela. So, we are doing everything possible to diversify our economy.”

    The outgoing NACCIMA President Iyalode Alaba Lawson said the AGM/conference provided the leadership, members and other stakeholders of NACCIMA the opportunity to discuss in-depth issues about the chambers.

    She said: “The AGM/conference is an opportunity for us to share experiences as we work together to move the nation’s economy forward.

    “NACCIMA understands the importance of synergy between our associations and stakeholders in the local and international business environment; hence the conference is an avenue to foster better collaborations and viable networking opportunities for our entities.”

     

  • Buhari off to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to travel out of the country today for Umrah (lesser hajj) in Saudi Arabia.

    A statement by the President’s media aide, Shehu Garba, said the visit is at the instance of Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the two holy mosques in the Kingdom.

    The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the two holy mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.

    “The President, accompanied by close personal aides, will embark on the journey on May 16.

    “He is expected back in the country on May 21.

    “Umrah is an optional but recommended pilgrimage to Makkah that can be made at any time of the year.”

  • Buhari off to Saudi Arabia for Umrah

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to jet out of the country on Thursday, 16th May 2019 for Umrah.

    According to a statement by the media aide to the President, Shehu Garba, the visit is at the instance of Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.

    The Umrah trip which was announced through a statement noted that the president is expected back in the country on the 21st of May 2019.

    Read Also: Stop vandalising govt projects, Buhari warns communities

    The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.

    “To this effect, the President, accompanied by close personal aides, will embark on the journey on Thursday, 16th May.

    “He is expected back in the country on Tuesday, 21st May.

    Umrah is an optional but recommended pilgrimage to Makkah that can be made at any time of the year.”

  • Stop vandalising govt projects, Buhari warns communities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warned communities in Bayelsa State against vandalising Federal Government’s projects located in their domains.

    Buhari said that communities, which continued to destroy government projects instead of owning and protecting them would no longer be considered for projects henceforth.

    The President spoke when he inaugurated a shoreline protection and land reclamation project in Aleibiri, Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

    The project was reportedly built by the Ecological Funds Office of the Federal Government to address coastal erosion in the area.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said responsible and well-behaved communities would continue to attract federal government projects.

    A statement signed by Lokpobiri’s Media Assistant, George Oji, said the President expressed concerns that in the past completed and inaugurated projects were vandalised by their beneficiaries.

    He said: “I have advised the beneficiaries of the projects we have commissioned today to own these projects, take these projects as their own and if we hear that these projects are being vandalised, government will be very hesitant to provide more infrastructures for them again.”

    He described coastal erosion as a major challenge affecting all the communities in the state but said government would gradually address the problems because of cost implications.

    The President said he was determined and committed to the development of the entire country including remote areas.

    He disclosed that the Aleibiri shoreline project was one out of the 16 ecological intervention projects approved in the second quarter of 2017 to solve problems of environmental degradation.

    He expressed optimism that the project would bring huge relief to the Aleibiri community, adding that it would set the stage for more remedial measures expected to stabilise the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

    In his remarks, Director, Coastal Management, Ecological Funds Office, Yusuf Aliyu Adi, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) commended the cordial relationship that existed between the indigenous contractor, and the people. 

    Reacting to the request by the Aleibiri community to extend the shoreline protection project beyond the 100 meter length and to increase the height of the project, Adi promised to take the request to the appropriate office at the SGF, Abuja.

    He expressed optimism that the erosion funds office would be inclined to acceding to the community’s demands, adding that the community should first ensure proper management of the existing project.

  • PDP: Inaugurating Buhari on June 12 cannot confer legitimacy on ‘rigged election’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took a swipe on President Muhammadu Buhari the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) for moving major events of the President’s  inauguration from May 29 to June 12.

    The PDP said the President and his party should not think that the move can confer any form of legitimacy on the outcome of the ‘rigged’ 2019 presidential election.

    A statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, also said that inviting world leaders to the inauguration cannot confer international recognition on a “stolen mandate”

    “It is clear that the Buhari Presidency and the APC, being tormented by the guilt of violating our electoral processes, can no longer boldly approach the oath book on May 29, due to the burden of illegitimacy and now seeks refuge in the sanctity of June 12, our Democracy Day.

    “The Buhari Presidency and the APC from our recent history, have demonstrated that they are totally averse to democracy. They should therefore steer clear of our Democracy Day, having violated all our democratic ethos in manipulating the presidential election and upturning the mandate of the people; the same injustice which Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of June 12, fought and died for”, the statement said.

    Stating that Chief Abiola stood and died for democracy, the PDP said attempt to schedule any event related to the outcome of the 2019 presidential election on June 12 would be an open desecration of the sanctity of the Democracy Day and a direct assault to the sensibilities of Nigerians.

    It described the government’s move as absurd and desperation to overshadow the import of the nation’s Democracy Day and stifle the quest by Nigerians to vent their anger against alleged democratic violations by the administration in the last four years.

    The opposition party cautioned the government against what it described as alleged plot to seize Democracy Day, saying such cannot erase the litany of violations, including human rights abuses, assault on democratic institutions, particularly the Legislature and the Judiciary; clamp down on opposition figures, clipping of the media, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and illegal detention of citizens, and the rigging of the 2019 presidential election.

    “The PDP wants the Buhari Presidency and the APC to understand that what is paramount to majority of Nigerians now is the retrieval of the stolen mandate, which they freely gave to Atiku Abubakar, at the tribunal so that our nation can enjoy the values of freedom, justice, fairness and equity embedded in our constitutional democracy”, the statement added.

     

  • Inaugurating Buhari on June 12 cannot confer legitimacy on ‘rigged election’, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday took a swipe on President Muhammadu Buhari the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) for moving major events of the President’s inauguration from May 29 to June 12.

    The PDP said the President and his party should not think that the move can confer any form of legitimacy on the outcome of the ‘rigged’ 2019 presidential election.

    A statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, also said that inviting world leaders to the inauguration cannot confer international recognition on a “stolen mandate”

    “It is clear that the Buhari Presidency and the APC, being tormented by the guilt of violating our electoral processes, can no longer boldly approach the oath book on May 29, due to the burden of illegitimacy and now seeks refuge in the sanctity of June 12, our Democracy Day.

    “The Buhari Presidency and the APC from our recent history have demonstrated that they are totally averse to democracy.

    “They should, therefore, steer clear of our Democracy Day, having violated all our democratic ethos in manipulating the presidential election and upturning the mandate of the people; the same injustice which Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of June 12, fought and died for,” the statement said.

    Read also: Presidency to PDP: Stop your smear campaign against Judiciary

    Stating that Chief Abiola stood and died for democracy, the PDP said attempt to schedule any event related to the outcome of the 2019 presidential election on June 12 would be an open desecration of the sanctity of the Democracy Day and a direct assault to the sensibilities of Nigerians.

    It described the government’s move as absurd and desperation to overshadow the import of the nation’s Democracy Day and stifle the quest by Nigerians to vent their anger against alleged democratic violations by the administration in the last four years.

    The opposition party cautioned the government against what it described as alleged plot to seize Democracy Day, saying such cannot erase the litany of violations, including human rights abuses, assault on democratic institutions, particularly the Legislature and the Judiciary; clamp down on opposition figures, clipping of the media, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and illegal detention of citizens, and the rigging of the 2019 presidential election.

    “The PDP wants the Buhari Presidency and the APC to understand that what is paramount to majority of Nigerians now is the retrieval of the stolen mandate, which they freely gave to Atiku Abubakar, at the tribunal so that our nation can enjoy the values of freedom, justice, fairness and equity embedded in our constitutional democracy,” the statement added.

  • Kebbi, Zamfara governors keep mum after meeting with Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Governors Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two governors, who arrived the villa together, met with the president.

    NAN reports that the agenda of the meeting between the president and the governors was unknown as the governors declined comment on their mission to the villa.

    Read Also: Obiano lauds Buhari over Emefiele’s reappointment as CBN governor

    President Buhari had on Monday met separately behind closed doors with Governors Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Samuel Ortom, Benue, Nasir El-Rufa’I of Kaduna and Willie Obiano of Anambra at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.