President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday night meet with the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The closed-door meeting is billed to hold by 9:00pm at the President’s official residence.
Before then, President Buhari will also hold a private meeting with former South African President, Thabo Mbeki at 7:30pm at the Presidential Villa.
Pa Ayo Fasanmi, who marked his 90th birthday on September 27 has thrown his weight behind the anti- corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to him, corruption, which has stalled development in the country, is being tackled squarely by Buhari’s government.
In a letter of gratitude following the President’s birthday message to him, Fasanmi also noted that great success is being recorded in the war against insurgency under the current administration.
He said he was thankful to be alive to see the beginning of a second re-birth for Nigeria under Buhari.
The letter dated October 3 and made available to State House correspondents reads: “The cankerworm of corruption that has arrested the development of our beloved country and rendered its institutions dysfunctional is being vigorously tackled.
“In addition, other infrastructural deficiencies especially in the energy sector are gradually being eliminated.
“I note with pride also that the insurgency in the northeast in being confronted with determination.
“More than at any other time since the beginning of the insurgency in 2009, the rebellion is being checked and will, hopefully be ended soon.”
He wished the President luck in re-making Nigeria into a country where honesty, integrity, equity, justice and fairness will be the guiding principle and way of life.
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, on Wednesday pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure level playing field in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in the state.
Wada is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the November election.
His major challenger in the election is former governor Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governor said his performance in office in the last three and half years would also speak for him.
Stressing that preparations for the elections are in top gear, Wada said he is working to ensure adequate security and transparent poll, which he believed Buhari would also support.
He said: “In terms of preparation, we are working hard. I am also working with security agencies to ensure that there is a secure and safe environment for our people in the course of the campaign and during the election.
“I will tell the people of the state to keep faith because we have a transparent President.
“Provided a level playing field is created and security is tightened, any miscreant dealt with in the course of the election and people given the opportunity to express their will, I believe that on the basis of performance I have laid down over the last three and a half years, our people will provide an overwhelming support for my candidacy. All we need is a level playing field.”
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for setting up governance structures for the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
The General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Igo Weli, said at a forum in Lagos that the UNEP report implementation is paramount to Shell, adding, “we are greatly encouraged by the positive and constructive response from representatives of the community, Niger Delta non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society. This is an important step forward and SPDC is determined to play its part in maintaining the momentum.”
He noted that as the UNEP report stated, treating the problem of environmental contamination within Ogoniland merely as a technical clean-up exercise, will ultimately lead to failure. Ensuring long-term sustainability is a much bigger challenge, one that will require coordinated and collaborative action from all stakeholders. This must include putting an end to the widespread pipeline sabotage, crude oil theft and illegal refining that are the main causes of environmental damage in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta today. Shell Companies in Nigeria will continue to be at the forefront engaging interested stakeholders and seeking sustainable innovative ways to resolve the problem, he added.
Weli stated the SPDC championed grassroots environmental campaign in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA and NGOs to deepen awareness on the ills of illegal bunkering and oil theft. 12 town-hall sessions were held across the four local government areas yearly, and about 11,000 participants recorded from 2014 to date.
He also drew attention to the need for the people of Ogoni to know that the $1 billion Ogoni Restoration Fund is not for distribution among indigenes of Ogoniland. He said most worrisome aspect of UNEP report implementation, is the belief among some of the community members that every Ogoni person will get $1 million from the planned $1 billion fund after which the remainder will be channeled to spill cleanup and environment remediation.
Authorities of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) have expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to transform the country within the shortest possible time.
The Church particularly praised the ongoing war against corruption in all sectors of the economy.
Through its President Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, the CAC also pledged to support Buhari’s administration with prayers for his dreams about the country to be realised.
Speaking with reporters shortly after addressing the Pastor’s Conference at Babalola Memorial Miracle Centre, Ikeji-Arakeji Akinosun warned Nigerians against calling President Buhari “Baba Go Slow”, stressing that the President must be thorough in his efforts to sanitise the country.
He noted that but for Buhari’s emergence as the President and his stance against corruption; the nation’s economy would have collapsed as a result of high level corruption in most sectors of the economy.
Akinosun, who expressed confidence in the ability of President Buhari to deliver dividends of democracy, urged him to appoint credible Nigerians as ministers.
He also stressed the need for Buhari to ensure fairness in his administration’s fight against corruption, just as he advised him to avoid sycophants.
The CAC President, who commended the present administration on its resolve to fight insecurity in the country, called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of the abducted girls from Government Secondary School Chibok in Borno State.
Akinosun also called for the declaration of a state of emergency on violent crimes, especially armed robbery, kidnapping and assassination, stressing that “during the declaration, all arms in wrong hands should be mopped up.”
The cleric, however, urged the Buhari-led administration to revive the nation’s manufacturing industry through stable power supply, saying “power generation in sufficient volume is indispensable if we want to revive the nation’s economy.”
Akinosun enjoined all Nigerians to support President Buhari’s administration.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday applauded the British and Switzerland governments’ support for Federal Government‘s ongoing recovery and repatriation of funds stolen from Nigeria.
The President spoke at separate audiences with the new British and Swiss Ambassadors, who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to present their letters of credence.
Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said British, Swiss and other foreign anti-crime agencies had already given his administration much help with relevant information and intelligence on public funds that were stolen and illegally transferred to personal bank accounts by officials of past administrations.
He, however, called for the speeding up of the processes of investigation, prosecution and repatriation of Nigerian funds stolen by corrupt public officials and their accomplices.
“Switzerland and Britain have been very helpful indeed in the recovery of our assets. But we must build on what we have started.
“It is also important to send a signal to the elite that it is no longer business as usual. I personally appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron on this issue.
“He has honoured his commitments to us. He promised to support our government to build a strong and dynamic economy and he has been faithful to his words,” the President told the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright.
Mr. Arkwright assured him of Britain’s preparedness to give Nigeria the fullest possible support and assistance in the recovery of its looted resources.
“We are most ready to help. We have a good team at the National Crime Agency (NCA) working with your Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Tell us where and how we can help and we will provide the assistance,’’ the High Commissioner stated.
President Buhari also welcomed assurances from the new Swiss Ambassador, Mr. Eric Mayoraz, that his country will expedite action on the repatriation of several millions of dollars stolen by Nigerian public officials and still held in Swiss Banks.
“I am very pleased and we will get our Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with you to ensure that all the stolen funds are returned safely to government coffers as quickly as possible,” he said.
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Armed security men have taken over all the entrances leading to the National Assembly complex.
Finding shows that the threat of protest by some groups against certain ministerial nominees may have informed the security build up to ward off unwanted elements.
Workers and visitors are being frisked before being allowed to enter the complex.
The Senate President is expected to unveil the ministerial nominees when sitting resumes.
The Ministerial list had been sent to the Senate last Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the 2016 National Budget being prepared by his administration will include fresh policies and measures for the rapid diversification of the economy from its current over-dependence on the Oil and Gas sector.
The President spoke yesterday in Abuja when he hosted the President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), Mr. Pierre Gattaz and a delegation of French investors at the Presidential Villa.
He said the policies being evolved by his administration to boost domestic manufacturing and attract greater investment to Nigeria’s agricultural and mining sectors would be fully realised in the 2016 budget.
President Buhari urged Gattaz and the French trade mission, which included over 50 companies with interest in manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure development and other areas, to return to Nigeria next year to reap the advantage of the new policies.
The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also assured the French investors that under his leadership, Nigeria would not fall short of international standards in the protection of foreign investments and the repatriation of returns on such investments.
He said security and the inflow of foreign investment were intrinsically linked.
President Buhari told the French investors, whose visit to Nigeria was a follow-up to his recent trip to Paris, that the Federal Government was taking necessary measures to overcome the nation’s security challenges.
He said: “Our government came into office at a time when many people had abandoned the country’s manufacturing, agricultural and mining sectors.
“We are doing our utmost best to encourage diversification into these sectors which can employ a lot of people and we will welcome your support in this regard.
“Ultimately, reducing unemployment will also help to improve security because unemployment and insecurity are inseparable.”
The President pledged that Nigeria would also welcome more French investments in its Power sector because availability of steady power supply would lead to the reopening of closed factories and the creation of more jobs.
He also assured the delegation that his administration was tackling corruption with renewed vigour to ensure greater probity in the management of national resources.
The MEDEF President, who spoke on behalf of the French investors, sought assurances from President Buhari on the safety of their planned investments in Nigeria and the easing of bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Hon. Donatus Nwamkpa is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) inAbia State. In this interview with reporters in Aba, he speaks on President Muhammadu Buhari’s 100 days in office and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s performance so far. SUNNY NWANKWO was there.
What is your assessment of President Buhari’s administration so far?
One thing President Buhari has succeeded in doing is to restore the confidence of the people in governance. His administration has demonstrated that it has the capacity to respond to their needs.
Secondly, the world is now a global village. So, there is the need to integrate Nigeria into the mainstream of international politics, by bringing it closer to advanced and responsible nations of the world. If you watched the reception accorded to Mr. President in the United States, France and so many other countries, you will see that Nigeria is now well received among those countries.
The President has shown commitment to the rule of law. If you notice what is going on at various tribunal, there has not been any interference on what they are doing. Take Imo State for example; a lot of cases involving the APC have been going on. Look at Abia, the tribunal is doing work independently. There has not been any directive from anywhere, regarding any of the cases. This shows that this government is disciplined.
With regards to the anti-corruption war, we are proud to say that what other leaders could not do in many years, Mr. President has done it in just 100 days; petrol now sells at N87 and it is available in every filling station.
Look at how he is tackling insurgency. Today, Boko haram is seeking for dialogue and it is no longer the other way because the President has shown that he has the political will to tackle the menace.
Do you subscribe to the view that Buhari’s anti-corruption war has been selective?
What does being selective mean? The key thing here is that the anti-corruption war is not done without documentation. It is not a frivolous thing or a fairy tale. It is based on documents put forward by people. The Presidency is not against anybody; if you have any fact even against Mr. President or anyone, which can prove beyond every reasonable doubt that a corrupt practice has taken place, bring it forward. After all, the Senate President who is today standing for allegedly committing an offence is he not of APC? Has Mr. President said no to it because he is of the APC? He has simply allowed the law to take its course.
What is your assessment of the administration’s fight against insurgency?
Mr. President has not been timid about his fight against insurgency; he has shown determination. Insurgency is a threat to national unity. It has taken innocent lives; it has undermined the economy, the integrity and the corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The President has demonstrated, through the resolute manner he is tackling the insurgency, that he is thorough-bred professional in that field.
What do you think of Governor Ikpeazu’s 100 days in office?
One of the problems that we have with the constitution is that it doesn’t make provisions for all litigations to be finished before the swearing in of officers. That would have done a lot of good to the system. When a governor is still facing the tribunal, there is serious distraction; whether we like it or not, we must say the truth. At the federal level, Mr. President have been open to let the Nigerian public know that some people stole money and that there is no money to work with and he is doing some things to compel some people to refund what they have stolen. But, in Abia State, given the history of where the governor is coming from, it is not surprising that he has not been courageous enough to tell us this is what my predecessor left in the office for me. This predecessor that was still appointing people even the night to his leaving office as the governor of the state, he has left a lot of liabilities that cannot be remedied in 100 days and this is continuity. Continuity of conservatism; continuity of rigmarole and that is why the present governor of Abia, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has not defined his identity. Whether you like it or not, you can’t say this is the identity of the governor. He is still living in the past because most of his cabinet members were already there before he came in as governor; that is, most of them were imposed on him. Until Mr. Governor appoints his own commissioners and his men in all areas, the state cannot move forward.
Look at the road construction work going on, if you watch carefully you see that are some element of zeal. But does that zeal transform to intellectualism and approach? The zeal is making him take too many roles and you know when a soldier is engaged on so many fronts at a time, invariably, there is going to be crisis. The zeal he has might not be commensurate with the resources he has at his disposal. So, in that case, what we are praying for is for people to give him a little time, and then we can definitely access him. But, for now, the governor has not separated himself from the past. He has not defined his identity. He has not shown us whether he is going to be different from the past.
What do you make out of Osita Okechukwu’s comment that Governor Rochas Okorocha did not really campaign for Buhari?
Osita Okechukwu is not the spokesman of the APC in the Southeast. He is one of those that we will continue to look at as people who are not in line with the realities of the moment. The realities of the moment are that any southeasterner in APC who says that Okorocha didn’t contribute to the success of the APC is only being mischievous, irresponsible and economical with the truth. When Okorocha started this battle that we should embrace the APC, a lot of people saw him as a saboteur. They saw him as not only as a pariah, but also as a deviant and today, they are busy complaining. After failing to clinch the presidential ticket, Okorocha started his governorship campaign and was at the same time sponsoring rallies within the Southeast for Buhari. The truth is that some people are just using the APC to gain cheap popularity. Today, everyone wants to join the APC; everybody wants to identify with the party. But, at the outset, it was only Okorocha, ?????? Nyerere, Osita Izunaso, Senator Chris Ngige, Hon. Donatus Nwakpa, Prince Paul Ikonne, George Moghalu, Emma Enukwu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Ikechi Emenike, Acho Obioma, Stanley Ohajuruka and a few others that were in the APC.
Media reports have it that Kalu Idika Kau was a member of the party before primaries. How can somebody of that stature join the party without people knowing about it? I strongly believe that the chairman was misquoted. Kalu Idika kalu cannot join the party from behind. It means that we are trying to undermine him or even question his integrity as a person and if we believe such a thing happened. We will set up a committee to investigate how he became a member from the backdoor. Nkechi Nwaogu followed due process and today she is a member of the party; she entered from the ward to the local government and it was done openly. Then look at the status of Kalu Idika Kalu. So, what I am trying to say is that I still believe that Osita Okechukwu didn’t say what was attributed to him. But, if he did say that Okorocha didn’t contribute to Mr. President’s victory in the just concluded election, I would say that perhaps he was not a member of the APC then, because anybody who was a member of the party at that time cannot say such about Owelle Rochas Okorocha.