The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    The presidency has denied claims in the local and international media that President Muhammadu Buhari has accused or indicted the United States Government of helping the terrorist group.

    Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement that such reports are not only unfortunate, but misinterpretation and distortion of the President’s remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his official visit to Washington DC.

    According to the statement; “Indeed, President Buhari made it abundantly clear in those remarks, copies of which were circulated to the media, that he was convinced that the United States could never support groups such as Boko Haram.

    “I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

    “The regrets expressed by President Buhari at USIP about the impact of the application of the law on Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram and terrorism cannot be construed as an indictment of President Barack Obama and the United States Government who have publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari Administration the fullest possible support and assistance,” the statement reads.

    It added, “Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari’s comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to contain Boko Haram’s  atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from  a very powerful and longstanding ally.

    “President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the United States Government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions.

    “The President had very successful and useful talks with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, other high-ranking US government officials and members of United States Congress during his visit to Washington DC.

    “It is his expectation that those talks will lead to better mutual understanding and a further deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, especially in Nigeria’s current priority areas of  defence and security cooperation.”

  • Buhari restricts use of presidential aircraft by wife, aides

    Buhari restricts use of presidential aircraft by wife, aides

    President Muhammadu Buhari has restricted the use of aircraft in the presidential fleet by his wife, Hajiya Aisha, and relations.

    It was learnt that some members of the First Family will now use commercial flight, unless it becomes compelling for them to fly in presidential aircraft.

    Apart from saving cost, the President is said to be determined to prevent abuse of the presidential fleet.

    To set example for others, the President made sure that his wife and three children performed Umrah (Lesser Hajj) to Makkah through Emirates Airline.

    They also came back with the same airline.

    Besides the tough measure on aircraft, the President is yet to make up his mind on whether or not his wife should be addressed as the First Lady. Hajiya Aisha Buhari is known and addressed as the “wife of the President”.

    The President was worried by the security reports on high cost of maintaining the presidential aircraft and abuse by some highly-placed Nigerians, The Nation learnt.

    During the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, about N9.08billion was spent yearly to maintain the 10 aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).

    The aircraft are two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulf stream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One) and Gulf Stream IVSP.

    Others are one Gulf Stream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and a Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

    A source said: “President Buhari has adopted a strict policy on the use of presidential aircraft in order to save cost. His wife and relations have been restricted from the use of the aircraft in the presidential fleet.

    “A situation where the aircraft were used anyhow by some friends, associates of the President during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan can no longer be applicable in this dispensation.

    “For example, the wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari and three children travelled for lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia on Emirates Airline.

    “Buhari is determined to ensure the judicious use of the presidential aircraft to save cost. He is also setting a new template for governance. Do not be surprised if you see the President using commercial flights.”

    Another source said: “Do you know that it costs about N747 million to fuel the aircraft in the presidential fleet per annum. President Buhari said his administration cannot afford such a luxury.”

    “The US President, Barrack Obama uses only two Boeing jets and one helicopter. So, Buhari is determined to cut cost. In any case, he lives an austere life. If he can ask his wife to fly a commercial jet, then other public officers must emulate his standard.”

    It was not immediately clear if the President will sell some of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet as being speculated.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, on June 19,  said he was not aware of such a plan.

    The President is yet to make up his mind on whether or not his wife should be addressed as the First Lady.

    A source said: “I think the President does not want the Office of the First Lady hijacked by vested interests as the case between 2010 and 2015 when Jonathan was in charge.

    “So far, Hajiya Aisha Buhari is known and addressed as the ‘Wife of the President’.”

    When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “I didn’t ask the President why he let her go on Emirates. But given the tone of his leadership, I will, however, say with all confidence that he is, by doing that, sending an important message to the country.”

  • ‘Buhari should partner town unions’

    ‘Buhari should partner town unions’

    An Aba industrialist and President-General, Association of Indigenous Town Unions, Imo State, in this interview with Sunny Nwankwo speaks on  how town unions can spur national development. Excerpts:

    Why are you passionate about Town Unions?

    The Town Union is the only development driven identity of the Igbo man that has stood the test of time.  It predates the colonial era. The Town Union structure is an exclusive product of the Igbo man’s genetic configuration of unrepentant republicanism. It is the only genuine democratic structure in Igbo land with undisputable credible leadership.  It is the only structure that has total coverage in the whole of Igbo land.  In fact democracy started from Igbo land in Nigeria via the Town Union leadership.

    In my community, Akpulu, for instance, the first documented meeting proceedings of the Town Union was in 1936, when they produced the first person who could read and write.  The modern version of the Igbo man’s ancient republican system of governance is what we are celebrating the world over today as democracy. Americans who are the father of modern democracy have just embraced the Town Hall meeting as a democratic mobilisation process under the Bush regime but Town Hall buildings and Town Hall gatherings  originated with the Igbo man a long time ago.  Every living Igbo man today cannot say when the Town Union meeting of his town/community started; he grew up to see it. The age grade (Ebiri), nnoko Umunna/Otu Umunna, Nze na Ozo, Umuada, etc, were all forms of Town Unionism that existed in the past which metamorphosed and developed into the present modernised town unionism.

    The two most important things about the Town Union are that it drives development to the grassroots mainly through self-help effort.  Eighty per cent of rural development in any part of Igbo land is through the Town Union leadership – the schools, hospitals, roads, churches, market squares, scholarship programs, etc. Secondly, the leadership is the willing choice of the people by all democratic and credible standards.  The president generals are men of integrity with credible mandate of majority of the people.

    What is the difference or relationship between the Town Union and Ohanaeze Ndigbo?

    Ohaneze is an elitist Igbo pressure group. I am a member too and I think all state leadership of Town Unions in Igbo-speaking states are statutory members but the Town Union, in addition to being an Igbo pressure group, has a statutory function. There is only one Town Union involved in the day-to-day administration of the communities to maintain peace and order via various vigilance groups, etc. They are the closest to the grassroots and as such, the structure is the most effective agent of mobilisation in Igbo land. Every genuine Igbo man including members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a member of his Town Union. Any Igbo man who is not a member or is expelled from the Town Union has a questionable character. In fact, the phenomena of Town Unionism are deeply rooted in the psyche and culture of the Igbo man both at home and in Diaspora. Beside the mother Unions that are based at home, all the major cities in Nigeria- Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Onitsha, Aba etc, all have branches of their various Town Union. In US, UK, Germany etc there are Igbo Town Unions too.

    Are Town Unions political?

    The Town Unions are political but not partisan. The Town Union is father to, and welcomes, all political parties. That is to say that the Town Union as a structure does not belong to any political party even if it has Igbo tribal coloration. Individual members and groups could belong to various political parties of their interest. However, the Union can come out and take a definite position when the collective interest of the Igbos or that community is at stake. It can also be described as a non-governmental organisation.

    What is the relationship between the government and Town Unions?

    The association of Imo State indigenous Town Unions as registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is independent just like its counterparts in other states like Anambra.  It is not an arm of the government.  However, the structure should on mutual discretion support and partner with government in relevant areas to drive development to the grassroots.  For instance, Anambra State especially under the administration of Peter Obi and Willie Obiano have partnered with the Town Union structure to develop the rural communities in the state. These Town Union structures both at the state level and zonal level in the South East are all duly incorporated with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja with approved board of trustees and as such are legitimately entitled to function and operate as registered.

    To what extent do you think the voice of the town union can be heard?

    First we have established that the Town Union is a generic and indelible identity of the Igbo man.  It is one language every Igbo man understands.  Its administration covers all nooks and crannies of Igbo land and cuts across all political, religious, demographic barriers.

    We have also established that it has a credible leadership of president generals and their various executives who are selected by their various communities based on their integrity profile and genuine leadership qualities.  No bribery, no lobbying, no thuggish acts, and no snatching of ballot boxes.  There is this genuine and patriotic willingness on the part of the leadership to serve their people and they are generally not paid. I therefore want to state without fear of equivocation that this Town Union leadership as far as Igbo land is concerned has more integrity and credibility than the political party leadership we have today. I dare any Igbo man to challenge this fact.

    The only thing is that this leadership is not loud and does not have sufficient resources to be noticed; you know the Nigeria factor.  Therefore, if Buhari wants to tidy up the governance of Nigeria based on integrity and credibility to fight corruption this structure of Town Unions leadership must not be neglected at least in the Igbo-speaking part of Nigeria.

    There is this adage that says “Ihe yiri ite ka eji ekpuchi ite” that is you cover the pot with an identical diametric lid”.  If you are looking for the eye of an animal, it is only in the head that you can find it.  Buhari has to look beyond his nose bridge to see credible characters, remember “na only when you bend down, you go see Aba well well”.

    It is only through this Town Union structure that relevant government programmes and policies could be marketed and communicated to the people and interpreted in the language they will understand.

    What is your assessment of Buhari’s victory at the polls?

    Buhari’s presumed integrity profile remains his greatest asset in this current political dispensation.  I am personally excited by such level of integrity profile as acclaimed. Looking at Buhari’s antecedents, track record and history both as a military personnel   and as a civilian, one would notice some form of defiant straight forwardness which is what Nigeria requires now and which is the only gospel I preach in my political career.  If you remember his time as a military head of state, the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) and other character moulding policies then, you would understand what I am talking about.  If Nigeria had continued with that policy, we wouldn’t have found ourselves in this messy corruption today. However, I hope he is still the same Buhari of the WAI fame. Buhari won the election because of this singular factor of perceived integrity.

    There are fears of a possible marginalisation of the Southeast as Buhari got the least support from the zone in the last election?

    Who told you the Igbos didn’t vote for him?  You see, there are two types of voting and political support; one is active, the other is passive.  If one deliberately refuses to vote for his brother who is your opponent, it’s a form of passive or latent support for you.  If you compare the voting pattern in 2011 with that of 2015, especially in the Southeast you will realise what I am talking about. Even at that the Igbos voted for Buhari both actively and passively. However, we have passed the stage of election politics; we are now in the politics of governance.  Buhari has won the election, he needs to also succeed and win in governance.  The two stages and scenarios are quite different.  A set of people relevant for a successful election might not necessarily be the set relevant for successful governance.  Buhari like himself must bluntly appreciate this obvious fact.

    What are the areas you want the President to prioritise?

    The other day I read in the newspaper that there are four major challenges they want to start with; unemployment, corruption, insecurity and economy.   As far as I am concerned, Nigeria has only one major, mega problem; CORRUPTION.  It is a killer virus that controls all other challenges in Nigeria.  If Buhari can successfully develop a vaccine for this virus, he would have been the best thing to happen to Nigeria.

    Why do you think Buhari can tackle corruption?

    You see, the first and most effective armour to wear in the fight against corruption is integrity – being corruption-free, that is leadership by example.  He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.  Buhari is widely known for having this armour, at least when compared other human leadership options. Buhari should be very careful because most people around him are all corrupt and disqualified from participating in this war.  Corruption cannot fight corruption; when corruption fights itself, the result will be compromise.

    But there are Nigerians who are not corrupt or whose level of integrity is within acceptable range.  Buhari must look for such people.  He can take his time to do this instead of hurrying into calamity.  He must look beyond his party and tribal environment.  Buhari should constitute credible search committees at all levels so that this reformation will happen simultaneously throughout the federation.  Credible and potent anti-corruption taskforces must be put in place.

    Buhari has just appointed Service chiefs and no Igbo man or woman made the list.  Some Igbo leaders are crying marginalisation, what is your take on that?

    I think it is still not yet time for a loud suspicion.  There are many other appointments yet to be made. The Presidential spokesman said the appointments of the Service Chiefs were purely based on merit.  Let’s watch.  Luckily the Igbos are known for merit and achieves a lot by merit. There are many appointment areas where the Igbos will excel on merit. Let’s see whether merit will turn to de-merit.

    Critics have described Buhari as slow. Is it about age? What do you think?

    I don’t know why people harp on irrelevances. Buhari made an innocent, realistic observation about his natural limitations and some busybodies are making unwarranted issues about it. Tell me who doesn’t have limitations?  Do we prefer a young energetic but corrupt president to an old president with sufficient integrity profile?  Nelson Mandela was older when he gave South Africa the best leadership in history.

    Buhari, Osibanjo and some state governors have either said they won’t take salaries for now or slashed their salaries by half.

    This has no impact on the economy or payment of salaries to workers. Even if you put together all the official salaries of the President, governors and National Assembly members, it won’t create any significant impact on the economy. If they want to sacrifice, let them sacrifice all the allowances including security votes and retain their basic salaries.  A labourer is worthy of his wages.  That is the essence of basic salaries.  We are talking of mountains of money and resources that corrupt officials stole and removed from the treasury and you are talking of salaries.   Let them take their salaries, but institute an enduring solution to corruption, that is the only the country can prosper. Even if they forfeit their salaries but do not confront corruption frontally, corrupt officials will hijack the forfeited salaries and it would defeat the essence of such forfeiture.

    What is your advice to the President?

    He needs to be himself and firm.  He should be focused and concentrate on the war against corruption.  He should look for very credible Nigerians no matter their political party or tribe to join forces with him in achieving good governance in Nigeria. Buhari should avoid policy summersaults.  That he somersaulted on his earlier decision to allow the state government sort out their workers’ salaries issue does not show administrative firmness.  Is he allowing himself to be pushed around?  The states should be compelled to fill-up the trenches they dug.  It is not proper for the Federal Government to run to their rescue immediately after they have looted the state treasuries.  I hope this is the Buhari we used to know? Well let us give him the benefit of doubt because of the civil servants’ sufferings.

     

  • Buhari mourns Aminu Saleh

    Buhari mourns Aminu Saleh

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family, government and people of Bauchi State on the death of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Saleh.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, mourns the loss of the astute administrator and highly respected bureaucrat, who served the country patriotically in various capacities as a Permanent Secretary, Minister, member of various Boards before his voluntary retirement from the public service.

    He specifically recalled the contribution of Saleh to the establishment of the Petroleum Trust Fund, and also noted his unwavering commitment and forthrightness on matters of nation building.

    “President Buhari believes that Saleh’s selfless service to his immediate community contributed immensely to the development of the State and his elderly advice would be sorely missed by the nation and those who came in contact with him,” It stated

    The President also prayed that Almighty Allah will grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, and grant the soul of the departed leader eternal rest.

  • U.S unintentionally aided Boko Haram with arms ban – Buhari

    U.S unintentionally aided Boko Haram with arms ban – Buhari

    The United States has “aided and abetted” albeit unintentionally, the Boko Haram sect by refusing to provide weapons to Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    A U.S law prevents the government from selling arms to countries which fail to tackle human rights abuses, the BBC reports.

    Buhari met President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday to seek further assistance.

    He heavily criticised the U.S, especially the Leahy Law, which links military sales to human rights.

    The Nigerian military did “not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which we could have had if the so-called human rights violations had not been an obstacle,” the BBC quoted the President as saying to the U.S Institute of Peace on Wednesday.

    “Unwittingly, and I dare say unintentionally, the application of the Leahy Law Amendment by the United States government has aided and abetted the Boko Haram terrorists.”

    The Boko Haram sect has killed some 10,000 people since 2009 and has also kidnapped hundreds of girls and women.

    Last month, human rights group Amnesty International said that some 8,000 men and boys had died in Nigerian military custody after being detained as suspected militants.

    The military rejected this allegation, and the government promised an investigation but there have been no further details.

    The U.S has previously promised some $5m (£3.2m) in military assistance to the regional coalition helping to fight Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

     

  • Photo: Buhari back from US

    Photo: Buhari back from US

    President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival from US Thursday morning with Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
    President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival from US Thursday morning with Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
  • Buhari: ex-ministers, others will face trial for oil theft

    Buhari: ex-ministers, others will face trial for oil theft

    Accounts with looted funds to be frozen

    Oil thieves, including former ministers and some prominent individuals, have been put on notice – the law is coming after them.

    President Muhammadu Buhari did not name them, but he spoke of how they plundered Nigeria’s economy by stealing one million barrels of crude oil daily, selling the stuff overseas and lodging the proceeds in their personal accounts.

    Buhari spoke on Tuesday at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C., United States (U.S.) at a parley with members of Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) as part of his four-day visit to the U.S.

    He told his audience – NIDO members in America and Canada – that his administration would recover “mind-boggling” sums of money stolen from the oil sector.

    “250,000 barrels per day of Nigerian crude were being stolen and people sell and put the money into individual accounts,” he told NIDO members, according to a statement issued yesterday by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu.

    The statement reported Buhari as vowing to trace the accounts of individuals, who stashed away ill-gotten oil money, freeze such accounts, recover the loot and prosecute the culprits.

    Buhari lamented that “corruption in Nigeria has virtually developed into a culture where honest people are abused”.

    On the contentious fuel subsidy on which Nigeria spends billions of dollars in months, the President disclosed that if fuel subsidy was removed; transport, housing and food prices would go out of control and the average worker would suffer untold hardship.

    He said the U.S. and other developed countries had agreed to assist in tracking the accounts where looted funds are deposited.

    “We will ask that such accounts be frozen and their owners be prosecuted,”, he said.

    Buhari told the NIDO members: “The amount involved is mind-boggling. Some former ministers were selling about one million barrels per day. I assure you that we will trace and repatriate such money and use the documents to prosecute them. A lot of damage has been done to the integrity of Nigeria, with individuals and institutions already compromised.”

    Citing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), President Buhari said unlike what obtained when he held the forte as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum in the military regime when the NNPC had only two traceable accounts before paying oil proceeds into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “now everybody is doing anyhow”.

    Agreeing that the “economy is in an extremely bad shape”, Buhari said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration would fulfill its three-pronged campaign manifesto of providing security, turning around the economy with a major focus on youth employment and fighting corruption.

    When asked if the Federal Government will negotiate with Boko Haram to pave the way for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the President said his administration would only negotiate if genuine and confirmed leaders of the militant sect came forward and convinced the government of the conditions of the girls, their location and the sect’s willingness to negotiate.

    “Our objective is that we want the girls back, alive and returned to their families and rehabilitated. We are working with neighbouring countries, if they will help,” he said.

    Buhari also said agriculture and mining would receive priority attention as faster job-creation avenues for the teeming unemployed youths, adding that some foreign investors had agreed to take advantage of the immense business opportunities in the country.

    Speaking on when he would form his cabinet, the President jokingly observed that the question on the cabinet had been chasing him around the world even to the point that he had been nicknamed “Baba Go Slow at home.”

    He, however, noted that not even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during all the years it ruled the country ever formed a cabinet within the first four months.

    “I am going to go slow and steady,” he said, calling for patience to allow the new administration “put some sense into governance and deal with corruption”.

    The President promised that his administration would at the right time tap into the enormous talents available amongst members of NIDO, especially as consultants. Their requests for voting right in 2019, a Diaspora Commission and opening of new consulates in parts of the United States and Canada are to be considered.

    The President had earlier met at the same venue with a group of young professionals in the U.S. and assured them of his administration’s resolve to fight corruption, remain steadfast and invest heavily in education which he said was the answer to taking the youth out of poverty and ignorance.

  • 1985 coup: Dasuki denies arresting Buhari

    1985 coup: Dasuki denies arresting Buhari

    Embattled former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has denied arresting President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after he was overthrown as a Military Head of State in August 1985.

    He also said he had supported Buhari’s presidential aspiration in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

    He said he knelt down in 2011 for the former National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, to make Buhari a joint candidate of the ACN and the defunct Congress of Peoples Congress (CPC).

    Col. Dasuki made the clarifications in an interview during an encounter with a blogger and the Publisher of the Economic Confidential, Mr. Yushau Shuaib.

    The piece is titled: “Sambo Dasuki: An Encounter with the spymaster”.

    He spoke against the backdrop of insinuations that his house arrest might have to do with a retaliation of a similar maltreatment against Buhari in 1985.

    The ex-NSA also spoke against the backdrop that he attempted to truncate the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in March and inauguration on May 29.

    In the extracts of the encounter between the two, Dasuki said: “I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority, whether in service or after. Though as a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not.

    “I only met him afterward at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive.”

    On the December 1983 coup d’etat, Dasuki admitted that he and two young military officers (who are still alive) ‘travelled to Jos to brief Major General Buhari, who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division on the furtherance of the planning of the 1983 coup which made Buhari the major beneficiary of the ouster of the elected President Shehu Shagari.’

    The journalist added: “He even told me how Buhari expressed his bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public institutions. Dasuki assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuations.

    I asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari just less than two years afterward. He simply answered that General Buhari should know whom he should blame.”

    Asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari just less than two years afterward, Dasuki simply answered that “General Buhari should know whom he should blame.”

    He said he had been part of Buhari’s presidential aspiration in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

    He said Nigerians could verify from respected Northerners, such as Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Wada Maida, Sule Hamman and Kabir Yusuf among others.

    The journalist added: “The major shocker for me in his narratives was his campaign for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011. He disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint presidential candidate for ACN and CPC.

    “Dasuki stated that he knelt down, begging ‘Baba Bisi Akande’ who was then the National Chairman of ACN that ‘General Buhari is a man to be trusted’.

    “In their belief that Yoruba and South Westerners are never religious fanatics especially regarding politics, Dasuki and his group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari.

    “When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.”

    Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was later to be Buhari’s running mate in 2015 and the nation’s current Vice President.

    On the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Dasuki said he was one of those who confronted the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

    The journalist said: “Dasuki told me the story of how he and some others confronted late Gen. Sani Abacha over June 12 election which was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO). This led to their premature retirement.

    “The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy in Nigeria.”

  • Onaiyekan advises Buhari to tread softly on anti-graft probe

    Onaiyekan advises Buhari to tread softly on anti-graft probe

    The Catholic Arch-Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Tuesday night advised President Muhammadu Buhari to go slowly on his anti-corruption drive so that his actions are not seen as ‘persecution’.

    He spoke during an evening dinner organised for Catholics in Politics at the Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Pointing out that fighting corruption goes beyond making a ‘few arrests here and there’ he urged President Buhari to carry out his anti-corruption fight in a way that would not be seen as selective.

    He also said the fight against corruption can only succeed where there is transparency, justice and honesty.

    “This challenge, obviously lies squarely on those who now have the power to rule our nation. I want to beg them, and I am glad the chairman of the ruling party is here, to resist the temptation to rub in the plagues of defeat on the losers and try to avoid policies of persecution, some even talk of execution of losers.

    “We have to tackle dishonesty and I believe we need to retrieve stolen goods, especially those that are just piling up other people’s money. While we do that, it is my strong feeling that we should try to avoid as much as possible humiliating or disgracing people who may indeed have tried their best to serve the nation.

    “How to do this and keep these two elements together requires a lot of sagacity and clear mindedness. But we should pray for our leaders to be granted the grace.

    “We must be clear-minded on this matter and not allow ourselves to be naïve thinking that it is just enough to make a few arrests here and there and the matter is settled. Let us pray that God will guide our nation.”

    On insecurity, he said Nigeria needs to go beyond arms and ammunition in order to reconcile minds and hearts for genuine peace.

    The time, he said, has come for all to link hands and seriously tackle the problems facing the country.

    “The problems of Nigeria can only be resolved if we all link hands across political, ethnic and religious lines.”

  • Buhari seeks access to U.S. weapons to fight terrorists

    Buhari seeks access to U.S. weapons to fight terrorists

    •President promises to sustain public goodwill

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the United States Government and its Congress to review Nigeria’s status regarding the application of the ‘Leahy Law’ to enable the country access appropriate strategic weapons to fight insurgency.

    The President spoke in a paper he delivered at the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) in Washington yesterday.

    He said the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the U.S. on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against the nation’s forces had denied Nigeria the necessary weapons to prosecute the war.

    The Leahy Law or Leahy amendment is a U.S. human rights law that prohibits the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity. It is named after its principal sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

    Buhari said: “In our efforts at combating the activities of Boko Haram, the new government has sought and obtained the support of not only our neighbours, but other international friends and partners.

    “Regrettably, the blanket application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of unproven allegations of human rights violations levelled against our forces has denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to prosecute the war against the insurgents.

    “In the face of abduction of innocent school girls from their hostels, indiscriminate bombings of civilians in markets and places of worship, our forces have remained largely impotent.

    “This is because they do not possess the appropriate weapons and technology which they could have had, had the so-called human rights violations not been an obstacle.

    “Unwittingly, and I dare say, unintentionally, the application of the Leahy law amendment by the U. S. Government has aided and abated the Boko Haram terrorist group in the prosecution of its extremist ideology and hate, the indiscriminate killings and maiming of civilians, in raping of women and girls, and in their other heinous crimes.”

    According to him, this is not the spirit of the Leahy Law, and the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

    The President, therefore, appealed to both the Executive arm and the U.S. Congress to examine how the U.S. Government could provide Nigeria with far more substantial counter-terrorism assistance with minimal strings.

    “The longer we delay, the deadlier the Boko Haram gets. At all events, we have re-written the rules of engagement protecting the rights of combatants and in particular safeguarding civilians in theatres of conflict.

    “As we ramp up our efforts to defeat Boko Haram, we know that winning this battle sustainably will require that we expand economic opportunities and create jobs for our teeming young population,” he added.

    Buhari promised that he would work hard to sustain the goodwill his government has received at home and abroad.

    He said despite the perceived slowness and the reality of lack of resources he would work very hard “so that people will see and believe that we are trying and can deliver and hopefully become less critical.”

    Acknowledging the huge challenges confronting his administration such as the crash in the price of crude oil, oil theft, pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta, hostage-taking and insecurity in the Northeast, the president restated his determination to sustain the goodwill by working hard.

    Buhari assured that his administration would improve the quality of governance; ensure that governments at all levels were responsive, inclusive, transparent and accountable, and that public institutions delivered services in a timely and efficient manner.

    “We must win and sustain the trust of the people we govern,” he added

    According to the President, the fight against corruption is a full-time job that his administration would carry with sustained resolve, saying he always maintained zero tolerance for corruption.

    “I am even more committed to fighting this number one enemy decisively because I am convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that the much needed impetus for our country’s survival is held back by corruption.

    “I will not allow this to continue. Again, as with every action of the government that I lead, we would be fair, just, and scrupulously follow due process, and the rule of law, as enshrined in our Constitution.

    “I will lead by example to ensure the prudent management of Nigeria’s resources. The government will plug the leakages that fuel corruption in Nigeria,” he said.

    He noted that the future of Nigeria, indeed the future of Africa, “lies in democratic governance, not only because it is the expression of the will of the people, but because democracy can help us build fair, just and inclusive societies.

    “Only in a democracy can Africa’s numerous ethnic, cultural and religious diversities find harmonious expression, and the freedoms and opportunities that come with it.”

    Buhari called on the U.S. Government to help Nigeria’s democratisation process to gain roots by investing in the expansion of education, health and economic opportunities for the millions of youths.