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Tag: BUHARI

  • Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    Don’t be dragged into election petition cases, group tells Buhari

    A Non-governmental group, Akwa Ibom Ofon-ama Initiative, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be careful and not allow himself to be dragged into the governorship election petition cases currently going on in the country.

    The group, speaking through its National President, Ambassador Ukai Udeme Emmanuel, commended the president for standing on the side of justice, regarding the Rivers State Local Government election.

    Ambassodor Udeme said,” Without being sentimental, President Buhari is trying hard to govern the country as he promised during his electioneering campaigns and we all must support him to deliver on those promises to better every one’s life in the country.”

    On the Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Delta states Governorship Election Petition Tribunals, Udeme noted that these Niger Delta states are known PDP states and moving their governorship tribunals from these states where the elections took place to Abuja against the provisions of the enabling law is making the region uneasy.

    Udeme said, “Nobody is angry with anybody who may have genuine reasons questioning the result of the elections. But the tribunal should operate where the law prescribes for it to function and should not be controlled by any group.”

    He siad that if not handled satisfactorily, militancy could be resurrected in the region. ” The country today has enough trouble from the North East region of the country. The Boko Haram crisis that the president is trying to address, he should not allow himself to be dragged into unnecessary controversy. If these things are not done properly, trouble might break out from the region.”

    He commended President Buhari for recognizing the expertise in Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in appointing him as one of the four wise and trusted governors to unravel the rot in the NNPC, assuring that the governor will not disappoint.

  • IBB, Abubakar drum up support for Buhari

    IBB, Abubakar drum up support for Buhari

    Two former heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), yesterday urged the citizenry to support the Federal Government in its efforts to win the war against insurgents.

    The two former leaders made the call after joining others to perform the two Rakaah Eid-el-Fitri prayers in Minna.

    Babangida urged Nigerians to be patient with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and support it in the efforts to not only end insurgency, but also boost the country’s economy.

    “I call on Nigerians to support the present administration in the country in its efforts to end insurgency and regenerate the economy,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Abubakar said there was need for the citizenry to be more vigilant in order to help government overcome insurgency, especially in the North Eastern part of the country.

    Also speaking, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger prayed “Allah to accept our devotion during the Ramadan.”

    He also prayed to “Allah to guide the leadership of the state and the country at large to enable us overcome our challenges.”

    The governor enjoined the people of the state to continue to co-exist peacefully irrespective of religion and ethnicity.

    He congratulated the Muslims for the successful completion of the Ramadan rites.

  • Buhari, Obama and the battle of ideas

    When  Nigeria’s  President Muhammadu  Buhari visits  US  President Barak  Obama next  week it will be a meeting of two titans or leaders  at  the crest of their popularity and  leadership  charisma. They  meet with their heads held high as proud  representatives of their nations  very  much in cordial relations in terms of diplomacy , economic cooperation, political  and   military  collaboration.  Indeed in  mind as  in  spirit  the two  leaders  are in harmony as are their two nations. It  is in the area  of ideas  however that they  must wrestle to fashion out a solution that will  not throw their bilateral relationship  into  disharmony or be an harbinger of discord or friction.

    The  two leaders meet at a time when terrorism or precisely Islamist militancy  is threatening world peace and harmony and in particular is attacking  global  democracy and the free market  economy which are the ideologies the US and its allies in Western Europe or the EU have been marketing around the world as the best  form of government in our time.

    The  two  leaders come with  impeccable  democratic credentials to their  meeting although their age and the experience in the practice of democracy  is inversely proportional. Obama is a young man compared to our president but the US is a far older democracy  than Nigeria. Buhari’s  tall  and stately figure is equally matched  by the  imposing  basket baller height  of the US  president. Both have arresting and dignified presence. Yet our president brings into this meeting the full  weight of  Nigeria’s  travails and challenges with democracy which  he expects the US president  to appreciate and understand and help without any loss  of face on the part of the Nigerian  people  and nation. That really  is the Gordian knot of this visit  as Nigeria goes  to  Washington to get help  not only to fight Boko  Haram  but to kick start  our  economy and our  presidential system  after an unexpected legislative hiatus so  soon after a smooth election that the US was amongst the first  nations to congratulate us on its  success.

    Let  me state clearly from the onset here that Nigeria and the US  face a long  and challenging  battle of ideas in their relations and this meeting is just  the tip of the icebag. Both  nations have a shared background in terms of their big size and  diversity and cultural  plurality. Nigeria’s  motto is Unity in  Diversity while that of the US is In God  we trust.  Nigerians  in  particular worship  God in mosques  and churches so  much that religion is such a booming  business nowadays  such  that pastors are  the  most   eligible bachelors amongst our youths, outpacing youthful bankers, oilmen and  IT magicians who  used to be favorites of our fairer sex before. That  however has not prevented the emergence of  Boko  Haram the terrorist  group  that has been  killing Nigerians with impunity  for some years now and whose blood  letting must be the priority  on the agenda of the meeting of the two presidents next week.

    In  the last  one month  Boko  Haram  has killed about  5OO innocent  Nigerians and this no doubt  has prompted  the replacement of Nigeria’s  security and military  chiefs  by the Nigerian  president. A move that has made Nigerians to heave a very heavy sigh  of relief  of  hope that Boko  Haram will at last be contained and destroyed  by the Buhari  Administration.

    More  importantly  and  unbelievable as it might sound Nigeria faces difficult  problems on the issue  of  democracy  as a concept and its understanding and practice  which  the Americans have  to be apprised of  before  it is too late. I presume it was some knowledge and anxiety in this direction that prompted the unpopular US prediction that Nigeria will  collapse in  2015. Now  Nigeria has seen  2015  and  has had a successful  election that has brought in a president of hope contrary  to this US doomsday prediction. That president  is needed  by the US to lead the ECOWAS region  in the fight against  ISIS  which  is the sole and  worst enemy  of the US in  the war on terrorism which  the US   has  finally, if belatedly,  admitted is a battle  of ideas stretching far beyond the global theatres  of war in the Middle  East  and the rest of the world.  Boko  Haram  is the proxy  of ISIS in the  Sahel covering Niger Republic, Cameroon and  Chad   and  Nigeria’s North  East  and has continued  killing Nigerians even  during Ramadan , the holy month  of  Islam.  Yet it claims it is,  together with ISIS, trying to establish  borderless caliphates in which  it hopes to practice its bloody  brand of religion that says No  to western  education.

    In  addition the two  presidents have to make each  other know the way democracy is understood and practiced in their two nations.  Former US President  Abraham  Lincoln defined democracy as government of the people by the people  and for the  people.  On  the other  hand  Tony  Blair the  former  British  Prime  Minister in his Memoirs called  simply ‘A Journey ‘ – in explaining  the creation  of New Labor  which kept him in  power  for  a decade as the  British  PM, identified  a situation whereby government was not for the people but above  them and  used  the correction of  that  anomaly  to change the Labor  Party and  defeat the Conservative  Party  led  by John  Major  at that time. Nigeria I  am afraid  is in that dismal  situation right now  whereby the  government has been  above the people and   not for them in anyway even though it got elected into office by them  in the 2011  elections.

    That  really was the  origin  of the  momentum of change and expectation  that saw President Buhari elected into office on the platform of his party the APC and  his assumption of office on May  29 2015. However  the  legislative elections of June 9  2015 which brought into legislative power a new leadership of the  legislature unknown or approved by the party in majority in the legislature has brought back  the hand of the clock in the progress made by Nigerians in electing the APC into power and Buhari as president. The  June 9 legislative leadership elections  in  Nigeria  has created what Tony Blair and  New  Labor  uprooted in winning the mind  of the British electorate which is government above the people  as  opposed  to the much needed government for the people and for the people which is what  democracy is all about.

    It  behoves  the US  president then to  direct  its  foreign  and  diplomatic  officials  as well as those of  its allies in the EU nations  to steer  clear  of  the leadership of the Nigerian legislature  until  it is democratically  sanitized  from the opprobrium it brought  on itself  from the June 9 2015  electoral  malfeasance.  This  is really  is to save the face of democracy as promoted  by the US and EU  as many Nigerians were  nauseated  by the trooping of Western  European and US ambassadors  to the legislature to congratulate both the Speaker and President of the Senate while the Nigerian nation was still in a very  deep  shock  and trauma over the manner of their emergence  and election.  Surely  democracy in  principle  as well  as  in practice either  in  Nigeria or  globally deserves better recognition and acclamation  than  the one put on display by those marketing it as the best and fairest form of government  in the world today given  their  reaction  to our last  leadership  elections in our  legislature.

    We  recall  that in August this year it will be 30  years since our new president left office as a military  leader.  He  has moved on since to contest elections thrice and losing before being elected last time around.  He  has paid  his dues in terms  of leadership  experience and he knows his nation and his people like the back of his hands.  He  is a devoted Muslim and has condemned  Boko  Haram in the strongest terms as anti  Islam.  Undoubtedly  on gay rights he will  not mince words in telling the US president  that that is a no go area in terms of any change of attitude   on  the part  of  Nigeria   which  he presides  over  and its  people. He  can say  this clearly and mightily because he was  just  newly  given  his mandate. Unlike  the US  president who is  fastly running out of time and tenure and has become a lame duck  president giving parting gifts  to the US electorate. Unfortunately  he has had to use threats  of presidential  veto to  cement his departure presents to the  US electorate such  as the threat to the US legislature to veto any  opposition  to the controversial Nuclear Deal  with Iran.

    Historically  however the two leaders saddled  with containing  terrorism globally  and  in their  domain remind me of one or two famous world  leaders.  Obama  reminds me of  Abraham  Lincoln who  fought the US Civil  War  to  free slaves  although  I wonder  how  Lincoln  would  react  in his  grave on the gay rights that Obama  has given legality  to.  Our  president reminds me in terms of  his  figure and stature  of Field  Marshal  Bernard Montgomery  of Alamein the Second  World  War British   military  hero  nicknamed  the Spartan  General  who defeated  Erwin Rommel  the  German  general in the same war. Which  really  is  my own way of wishing our new president every success in defeating , first  Boko  Haram, Corruption  and  false  democracy over fake election  rules.  Just  like Montgomery  became  the nemesis  of Rommel in the hot deserts of  Egypt in Alamein so many years  ago. Again  long  live the  Federal Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Buhari to attend AU confab on Ebola

    Buhari to attend AU confab on Ebola

    President Muhammadu Buhari will be among African leaders expected to attend the International Conference on Africa’s Fight Against Ebola, holding in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from July 20.

    According to a statement issued by Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Health, President Buhari who is scheduled to address the gathering, will be represented by Mr. Linus Awute, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Buhari is expected to be in the United States on the invitation of President Barak Obama on same day.

    The theme of the conference, which is being organized under the auspices of the African Union Commission, is: “Africa Helping Africans in Reconstruction and Recovery from Ebola.”

    The conference will bring together heads of government, ministers, experts, captains of industry and stakeholders who will share experiences on their Ebola containment and support efforts.

    A major objective of the confab is to seek support for post-Ebola recovery and reconstruction in the region, especially for those countries that have been adversely affected by the disease.

     

  • It’s too early to criticise Buhari – Ladoja

    It’s too early to criticise Buhari – Ladoja

    The former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Friday said it is too early for party or individual to criticise President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ladoja said Nigerians should give Buhari a little time before condemning his administration, adding that the President is taking stock of what he met on ground.

    The former governor made the call on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital, after observing the Eld-el-Fitr prayer with other Muslims in the state.

    He said an administration must spend at least 100 days in office before anybody should think of criticising it.

    Ladoja, who was the governorship candidate of the Accord party in the last elections in the state, noted that democracy requires patience unlike military that acts with immediate effect, nothing that policies made in democracy require patience.

    He said, “it is too early to criticise President Muhammadu Buhari, so why are you criticising him when he just spent 30 days in office? We should allow him to do his work. He is up to the task. If he does not improve in the next six months, we can access him and start talking about his administration. He is taking his stocks, we should not be in hurry.

    “This is not a military regime that gives order with immediate effect. He has to look at the effects of policies on the people. He also needs to consider the National Assembly decisions on issues.”

    The ex-governor advised those criticising the President to pass their grievances across to him rather than diverting his attention.

  • Buhari appoints new NSCDC boss

    Buhari appoints new NSCDC boss

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointment of Mr. Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu as the new Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, said that Muhammadu  succeeded Dr. Ade Abolurin, who has retired from service.

    Muhammadu, who was an Assistant Commandant-General of the NSCDC before his new appointment, hails from Muye in Lapai local government area of Niger State.

    He holds a B.Sc degree in Sociology from the University of Sokoto, and a Masters in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    “President Buhari wishes Dr. Abolurin a happy retirement,” the statement added.

     

  • My life is in God’s hand – Buhari

    My life is in God’s hand – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday declared that his safety and security is ultimately in the hand of God and not mere mortals.

    He spoke at his official residence when a delegation of the Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid him Eid-el-Fitri Sallah Homage.

    Buhari, who was speaking after escaping mob action at the prayer ground at Airport Road, Abuja, said: “Today, during and immediately after the prayers I think I was bombarded by the youths who almost overwhelmed the security, and I had to hold tight to my gown to get to my car.

    “I was advised to enter the car from the ADC side and I refused, I went across trying to hold my hand to the wild youths who wanted to see me.

    “On an occasion like this, it shows that after what happened to President Ronald Reagan of the USA, it is only God almighty that protects leaders, because in a mob like this, anybody with a sharp knife can get access and do a lot of damage.

    “So, all the policemen that were deployed and soldiers since six o’ clock in the morning before I came out two hours later in the rains cannot protect you only God protects. I hope God will continue to protect us,” he added

    He thanked the delegation for coming to celebrate with him at Sallah.

    He said: “I thank you most sincerely for fulfilling the tradition of greetings for whoever occupies this place. I thank you very much for you loyalty to the country, as represented by our institutions and to the system.

    “Please convey my thanks and happy Sallah to all your families and relatives back, and I congratulate you for the privilege you have which is only you residents of the FCT that have the privilege to come and meet me and shake hands with me and take picture with me, other Nigerians are envious of you if you don’t know it,” he said.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the homage, said that the homage was a demonstration of the expectation for all religious faith to live together in unity and peace.

    Stressing that the main business of government is to protect lives and properties, he noted Nigeria has great potentials and the administration will not fail to contribute its quota.

    He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the government as it strives to put things right.

    If that is done, he assured that every Nigerian including unborn generation will come to appreciate what the government is doing.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Obinna Chukwu, who led the delegation, said he led the team in line with the tradition of paying homage.

    “We are here also to congratulate both you and Vice President. FCT is the center of unity and we promote unity that is why you have here the Muslim and Christian faithful,” he said

    Among those who attended the homage include Chief Imam on National Mosque, Abuja, delegation of Christian clerics,‎ Head of Civil of the Federation, Chief Justice of the Federation and Service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

     

  • Buhari: Nigeria needs sacrifice

    Nigeria needs sacrifices to overcome its challenges and repair the damage done to it by years of bad governance, the President said yesterday.

    The sacrifices, President Muhammadu Buhari said in his Eid-el-Fitr message, are needed to accelerate the pace of national development.

    Buhari said: “Although we have come to the end of this year’s month of Ramadan, I believe that a greater acceptance by Nigerians of its key lessons of self-denial and sacrifice will serve our dear country well as we strive to overcome our present challenges, undo the damage done by years of bad governance and accelerate the pace of national development.

    “Reviewing our dire circumstances and the many missed opportunities of the past, some commentators and observers have said that this is Nigeria’s last chance to get its act together and finally begin to fulfill its God-given potential for greatness.

    “While not going that far, I certainly believe that now, more than ever before, our country needs greater self-denial, sacrifice and patriotism from all of its citizens, if we are to quickly recover from our numerous problems and start moving in a positive direction.”

    According to him, this period offers Nigeria a great opportunity to break away from the vicious triangle of insecurity, corruption and under-development.

    He said: “We must collectively resolve to seize this opportunity and unite to confront our problems. I remain wholly committed to giving the required leadership  towards undoing the wrongs of the past, ensuring that Nigeria truly begins to unlock its great potential and that the benefits of our immense national resources are shared and enjoyed by all, not just by successive cabals of corrupt leaders and their cronies.”

    Stressing that he was not unaware of Nigerians’ high expectations when he assumed office on May 29, Buhari said he had been working with utmost dedication to meticulously plan and tackle the many national challenges which have been identified and to be resolve.

    But to succeed, he said, he needs the continued support, understanding and patience of Nigerians.

    Buhari said: “I fully understand and share the thirst of my long-suffering compatriots for corruption-free government institutions that work efficiently to deliver visible development for the benefit of all citizens.

     ”I also share the feelings of those who think that we should be moving faster.  But I urge them and all Nigerians to trust that my commitment to  real and positive change in our nation is as firm as ever.

    “There is indeed much work to be done, but we must do it well and carefully to ensure that the great opportunity which we now have is not lost to the ‘business as usual’ group who selfishly or shortsightedly prefer a status quo that panders to their personal or group interests.”

    Noting that the adverse effects of years of rot, corruption, inept and bad governance on Nigeria are immense, he, however, said that they are not insurmountable if Nigerians resolve to place the country above all other considerations and work wholeheartedly with the present administration.

  • Buhari dissolves boards of parastatals, agencies, institutions

    Buhari dissolves boards of parastatals, agencies, institutions

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the dissolution of the Governing Boards of federal parastatals, agencies and institutions.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

    Until the reconstitution of the boards, the statement said, the chief executive officers of the affected parastatals, agencies and institutions are to refer all matters requiring the attention of their boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their supervising ministries.

    It also said that the dissolution does not affect Federal Executive Bodies listed in the 1999 Constitution.

    The dissolution, it said, covers administrative or technical committees and other similar organs established by the now dissolved boards.

    Also yesterday, the President terminated the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    No reason was given for Mr. Akpobolokemi’s sack.

    But a statement signed by Mr. Adesina said that the termination takes immediate effect.

    According to the statement, Akpobolokemi has been directed to hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency.

    The officer will remain in charge pending the appointment of Akpobolokemi’s replacement.

    The former NIMASA chief was reappointed for another four-year after the expiration of his first mandate in October 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

  • Nigeria to continue support for peaceful nuclear use, says Buhari

    Nigeria to continue support for peaceful nuclear use, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria will continue to support the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and human development.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said he welcomes this week’s agreement between Iran and the six world powers on its nuclear programme.

    He spoke at a meeting with visiting Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs, Mohammed  Shariatmadari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Applauding the agreement, he said it was a step toward ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East.

    As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, he said Nigeria looks forward to the faithful implementation of the terms of the agreement by all parties.

    Buhari, who received an invitation from the Iranian vice president to attend a Summit of Gas Exporting Countries in Tehran, said it was in the interest of developing countries to maximise  their natural resources for the improvement of the living conditions of their people.

    Mr. Shariatmadari congratulated President Buhari on his election and assured him of Iran’s support in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

    “The government of President Hassan Rouhani of Iran advocates moderation and departure from any form of extremism,’’ he said.