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Tag: BUHARI

  • APC: Buhari on course

    APC: Buhari on course

    ‘President has tackled insecurity, corruption’

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday reviewed the first one month of the Buhari Administration, saying the President is on course.

    The party noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was tackling insecurity and corruption, adding that efforts were being made to restore Nigeria’s respect in the international community.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, urged Nigerians to support the administration in its bid to chart a new path for the country.

    He faulted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s assessment of the administration, pointing out that it was subjective.

    Mohammed said: “It’s been about one month now since President Buhari assumed office and I can tell you that there has been motion, and there has been movement, contrary to what is being peddled in some quarters.”

    The Publicity Secretary noted that Nigerians had high expectations about the APC government, owing to the promise made by the party to halt insecurity, stamp out corruption, revive the troubled economy, provide jobs and restore hope.

    He said: “Justifiably, the expectations are high and urgent, and the Buhari administration has started addressing them, despite the enormous challenges that it faces, including an empty treasury and an economy that has virtually collapsed.

    “The Buhari administration got the handover notes from the former government just four days before the inauguration, hampering its efforts to have a clear understanding of the situation on the ground before taking the necessary measures to address it. If any disease is not appropriately diagnosed, it cannot be effectively treated. Any government that is truly desirous of bringing about real change will not act hastily and without the necessary understanding of what is on ground.

    Coupled with the delay in getting the much-needed information, that takes time.

    “Secondly, Nigeria has never before witnessed this kind of transition. What the country has been accustomed to is transition from one government to another under the same ruling party, not from the ruling party to the opposition as we have now. The implication is that this is a new learning curve, with its attendant hiccups.

    “Thirdly, never before has the ship of Nigerian state been steered aground as we have it now. Never before have Nigerians been this expectant from any leader or any government. These are all the more reasons to get things right, once and for all. So, we won’t need to continue with the vicious cycle of hopes raised and dashed.”

    Mohammed said Buhari had started to tackle terrorism by galvanising neighbouring countries, including Chad, Cameron and Benin Republic, to combat the Boko Haram sect.

    He added: “The result is the decision to deploy the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), with headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, on July 30th to pep up the fight against Boko Haram! This is the same force that the past administration could not get off the ground in six years.

    “President Buhari has also rallied the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to work with Nigeria in battling the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “Outside our sub-region, the President travelled to Germany to meet with G7 leaders to present to them a wish list that included getting their support for the battle against Boko Haram. The leaders of the countries affected by the Boko Haram insurgency have compiled their requirements which are being forwarded to the G7 for appropriate action.

    “While waiting for that, the US has announced a five-million-dollar assistance for the fight against the terrorists who have been ravaging our country and our sub-region. Added to the relocation by the Nigerian military of the command centre to Maiduguri, these are no mean achievements.”

    Noting that the war against corruption is on course, Mohammed said: “Some Western nations have assured the Buhari Administration of assistance in its efforts to recover the billions of Naira that was spirited away from the public till by public officers, who abused their office during the immediate past administration.

    “The President has ordered revenue-generating agencies, including the NNPC, FIRS,  Customs and NPA, to close all ‘Illegal Revenue Accounts’ and to also remit all funds generated to the Federation Account. This is a momentous step, considering that those illegal accounts are being used to siphon public funds.”

    The Publicity Secretary said owing to the President’s efforts, it has been revealed that, of the N8.1 trillion generated by the NNPC in three years, N3.8 trillion was not remitted to the Federation Account.

    He said that Nigerians were also aware that the cash in the Excess Crude Account had been depleted by two billion dollars without explanation, adding that  a panel of four governors has been set up to investigate the lack of remittance and what happened to the money that was not remitted to the Federation Account.

    Mohammed explained that Nigeria had bounced back in the comity of nations, following President Buhari’s inauguration.

    He said world leaders who in the past shunned Nigeria had been inviting, in droves, the President to visit their countries. “The latest is US President Barack Obama, who will play host to our President at the White House on July 20,” he added.

    Mohammed pointed out that the election of former Minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)had attested to Nigeria’s stature in the international community.

    He said: “ The mere fact that President Buhari, a man of impeccable pedigree, an incorruptible personality, has taken over the mantle of leadership has spurred Nigerians to dream again, put public servants on their toes, forced many looters to start disgorging some of their loot even without prompting, and fired the zeal of many public enterprises to deliver better services.”

    “We in the APC assure our compatriots, who have expressed their concerns in recent times, that there is no cause for alarm. The Buhari Administration is willing, determined and able to effect the change that Nigerians voted for, despite the initial challenges. No one, not even the reactionary forces that are rampaging now, can sabotage our party’s change mantra.”

  • Buhari appoints Zakari as INEC boss

    Buhari appoints Zakari as INEC boss

    •Jega bows out

    President Muhammadu Buhari last night appointed Mrs. AminaBala Zakari as acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    She replaced Prof. Attahiru Jega, who bowed out of office yesterday after serving his five-year term.

    Although Jega handed over to one of the national commissioners, Mohammed Wali, a statement by Head of Service of the Federation Danladi Kifasi announced Mrs. Zakari’s appointment.

    Mrs. Zakari is from Jigawa State, representing the Northwest as national commissioner.

    She is due to retire from INEC this month.

    Appointed in 2010, Jega  conducted two  elections – 2011 and 2015 polls.

    He handed over to Wali, who will also be bowing out on August 11.

    Jega was not the only one who left the commission yesterday. Six national commissioners, whose tenure have expired, also bowed out with him.

    The commissioners affected are: Col. M.K. Hammanga (rtd), Adamawa State (Northeast); Dr. Ishmael Jikiri Igbani, Rivers State (Southsouth); Prof. Lai Olurode, Osun State, (Southwest); Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor, Abia State (Southeast); Mrs. Thelma Amata Iremiren, Delta State (Southsouth); and Dr. Nuru A. Yakubu,  Yobe State (Northeast).

    But, four other national commissioners are to leave the commission this month and in August.

    They are: Dr. Abdulkadir S. Oniyangi,  Kwara State (Northcentral) on July 21; Mrs.  Zakari, on  July 21 and Dr. Chris O. Iyimoga, Nasarawa State (Northcentral) on August 11.

    At the end of a close door handing over ceremony, Jega said the future of the country and commission was bright.

    He was full of appreciation to God and the country for the opportunity accorded him to serve.

    He said: “We feel great; we thank God Almighty for the opportunity to serve the country.

    “The future is bright for the commission and the country.”

    The commission’s secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, confirmed to reporters that Jega at the indoor ceremony handed-over to Wali, pending the appointment of a new chairman by Buhari.

    She added: “We believe we will soon hear what will happen next from the president,’’ she said.

    Ogakwu said Jega encouraged the commission to keep the flag flying.

    “Jega said in whatever we have achieved, we should keep it up and do more, adding that there are still a lot to be done,’’ she said.

  • Few days old opposition not allowed – APC Scandinavia

    Few days old opposition not allowed – APC Scandinavia


    • We need each other to make Nigeria great again.

     

    The National Coordinator of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Scandinavia chapter, Ayoola Lawal, has said it is a welcoming development that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is coming on board as an opposition to the ruling party.

    According to him, as much as such it is a welcoming development of our growing democracy and for APC, ‘the PDP spokesperson should be more constructive and put on his thinking cap before making a berating statement against the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’.

    “Trying to impress as an opposition on board is one thing, facing the reality of rebuilding, development and leadership is another.

    “The PDP in the name of an opposition party trying to pressurise PMB into acting in their paradigm ways of good governance is a political trick that will not work against this current administration.

    “The PDP government, while in authority, completely immersed the fabric of the nation in ruin and the economy in comatose but kept deceiving Nigerians and the world that all was well, which could be likened to the mega financial meltdown of the world in the recent years passed.”

    “President Muhammad Buhari pace of leading is necessitated by the current situations on ground. He is a strategist that sacrificed several years to prepare for the leadership as president-elect.

    “No individual or few days old as an opposition party can push PMB into deliberate traps and holes premeditated.

    “Sixteen years of heavy looting of the treasury of the nation, setting up the country for total failure and making it a sink ship, then turning around to be pressurising PMB after barely 31 days in office is a shame on any individual or opposition party,” he noted.

    Lawal further stated that President Buhari and the APC leadership will always welcome any real and constructive advice, as well as meaningful pressures that will be useful in meeting the justifiable expectations of Nigerians, which the party uses every opportunity to reiterate.

    He therefore maintained that: “Diarrhoea mouthed, vendetta pressure and ill-intent criticisms are not amongst the ranks. Well meaning Nigerian or party will at this stage in the annals of Nigeria be praying for PMB to get it right and take a very calculated steps rather than rampaging.

    “Nigerian is already in a dark mess caused by callous, greedy and shameless people who still has the gut to make vacuum noise in the name of opposition.”

    Thus, he prayed that Almighty God continues to strengthen the president and the APC leadership in wisdom to make the country great again. “Welcome, all to a new Nigeria of our dream,” he added.

     

  • APC chieftain to Buhari: appoint credible people as ministers

    APC chieftain to Buhari: appoint credible people as ministers

    National Legal  Adviser of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Muiz Banire has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Nigerians of impeccable character to work with him to enable the party to deliver on its electoral promises.

    Banire, who also expressed optimism that the current crisis rocking the party leadership, especially in the National Assembly would soon be over, said that the party has learnt its lesson from the unfolding developments.

    Speaking at an Iftar (Breaking of Fast) session with journalists at Protea Hotel GRA, Ikeja, Lagos , Banire said only people with lawful means of survival would bring about the desired change that Nigerians are yearning for.

    He described the National Assembly crisis as unfortunate and regrettable.

    He said: “I believe we are still a single family and such challenges do often come but I believe that we can overcome it. There is always a way out of every lock jam. May we never had enough preparation because if we have we have had enough preparation, such possibly would not have happened. So, next time we will start early.  I am sure we have learnt our lesson. I do not foresee such happening again for the rest of the tenure.”

    The APC National Legal Adviser attributed the political and leadership crisis in the country to lack of fear of God, saying if all politicians could reason that life is ephemeral, they would not have been so desperate to attain any positions.

    “They should have the fear of God which is the most important thing. Honestly, once you can cultivate that, you won’t have problem again because the inordinate ambition for wealth, the insatiable desire for position for posts and power and the whole things will go because you are not even sure that you will wake up the next morning. So, what are you are desperate about? And that brings me to the fundamental issue which is still lacking. We must start addressing the religious education of our children from school so as to stop breeding of all nuisance and miscreants all over the place. “

    APC, he said, cannot afford to fail Nigerians, saying the messages on the social media showed that Nigerians are watchful and ready to put the government on its toes.

    Banire, however, described as irresponsible, the statement accredited to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh that the APC is inexperience to govern Nigeria, saying” APC has quality of the people who are tested and experienced in all ramifications.”

    According to him, “the change that Nigerians desire is realistic as far as I am concern, somehow Nigerians are virtually working up to the realities that they have to hold their destiny into their hands. So, right now, they will not be relenting. I am not an active participant in the social media but I know a lot is being sent daily to put the government on its toes. To that extent, I believe the change is realistic. Nobody wants to fail, nobody wants to end up in the way the last administration ended up. I am sure that our people too will continue to be on our toes.”

  • Group drums up support for Buhari

    The Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) has appealed to chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to urgently end the ongoing leadership crisis in the National Assembly in order to give the electorate the confidence to believe in the ability of the party to move Nigeria forward.

    The group made the call at a meeting held at its Efunyela Hall secretariat, Ikenne Ogun State. The meeting also called for support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, especially in its efforts to fix the country.

    The group also resolved to host the Vice-President, Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo to a grand reception at Ikenne, his home town.

    The forum, which is an umbrella body of all groups and societies that make up the Yoruba race, is a non-political socio-cultural group.

    Furthermore, the Executive Council also nominated some members into the planning committee to execute the 100 year birthday celebrations of Chief H.I.D Awolowo, which is expected to hold at Ikenne, Remo, Ogun State, on November 25, this year when she will be 100 years old.

  • Cleric advises Buhari

    An Islamic cleric, Prof. Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to emulate the virtues of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    The cleric made the call during an interactive session with reporters at this year’s Odua news personality programme in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    According to him, the late Yar’Adua was the first governor and President to declare his assets publicly, noting that the action won him so much credibility.

    The cleric, a senior lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro advised President Buhari to declare his assets publicly in order to sustain his admirers’ belief in him.

    He added that President Buhari should also respect the rule of law as Yar’Adua did when he did not influence the judiciary from removing five governors that were from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as commitment in the area of economic management by reducing fuel pump price from N70 to N65 during which the economy did not collapse.

    Olagoke also urged President Buhari not to politicise professionalism as a way to promote speedy development and as well listen to pieces of advice from the media, make anti-graft body independent and respect rule of law.

    He also enjoined Nigerians to support the present administration with prayers it to succeed in tackling various challenges before it.

  • Buhari urged to repeal Land Use Act

    Buhari urged to repeal Land Use Act

    The Managing Director, Green Pastures Interbiz Projects Ltd, Estates, Ezenne Solomon Sunday, has urged  President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the National Assembly to repeal the Land Use Act which he described as obnoxious and inhibiting the growth of the property industry in the country.

    He said before the Land Use Act was enacted, the nation was practising the free-holds land system, adding that immediately the Land Use Act was  enacted, the whole thing changed and the country  switched to lease-hold. “With free-hold, lands belong to the families or community but under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his first coming, he enacted the Land Use Act and willed that all properties belong to the government.

    “A lot needs to be done to this old law because land in Lagos is like oil in the Niger-Delta. The Federal Government needs to change the Land Use Act because that lease-hold is a problem because those who don’t know the legal frame work of property business are easily dispossessed of their land.

    “Government needs to negotiate with families and properly compensate them before taking their lands instead of using executive power because what that does is  to make these families go back to the lands they’ve already sold and try to get it back or be paid more which in-turn causes problems for us,” he said.

    Sunday whose firm owns and manages Green Pastures, said Lagos State is an excellent place to do business because the community does not discriminate against any tribe.

    He explained that properties still belong to the families and government can only take over the land in cases of overriding public interest maybe to build schools, hospitals, or other things beneficial to the community. “Some families use their lands for farming and don’t need the government to give permits before they could do that. Every property you buy is a lease from government for 99 years although it ought to be 100, that’s what the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) gives you.

    “If  I have acquired a property and I have a C of O for it and wants to sell after 30 years – what you will buy from me is the remainder of the 100 years. For example, if my father spent 30years and I use 20 it is the other 50 years you will buy from me but if you buy a land that is free from any project that government has in mind and the property is free, all you have to do is get a fresh C of O for yourself. So you are the one that will start the 100 years on the land. This is a major reason why clients need a property lawyer,” he said.

  • Buhari pledges support to terror victims

    Buhari pledges support to terror victims

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commended steps by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other agencies to rehabilitate victims of terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria.

    He spoke in Abuja after receiving a briefing on the work of the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Department of ONSA.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the Federal Government would ensure that victims of Boko Haram’s atrocities receive support, and that it would rid the country of terrorism and insurgency soon.

    One of the objectives of the CVE is to reform terrorists and prevent others from joining terrorist organisations and violent sects.

    Head of the CVE, Dr Fatima Akilu told President Buhari that its non-military approach was running concurrently with the armed onslaught against insurgents in the country.

    She said so far, the CVE had rehabilitated 305 victims of terrorism rescued from the Sambisa Forest by the military.

    Dr Akilu also told the President that a National Security Corridor Programme has been created to provide a safe route for those who wish to leave Boko Haram voluntarily, and that 47 erstwhile members of the group have embraced the programme.

    Dr. Akilu said 22 women and girls, recruited as suicide bombers by Boko haram were undergoing rehabilitation by the CVE after voluntarily embracing its de-radicalisation programme.

  • Buhari pledges support for terror victims

    Buhari pledges support for terror victims

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commended steps being taken by the Office of the National Security Adviser and other agencies of government to rehabilitate victims of terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria.

    He spoke in Abuja after receiving a briefing on the work of the Countering Violent Extremism Department in the NSA office.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the Federal Government will continue to do its best to ensure that victims of Boko Haram atrocities receive necessary support, and that it will strive to rid the country of terrorism and insurgency in the shortest possible time.

    One of the CVE objectives is to reform terrorists and prevent others from joining terrorist organisations and violent sects.

    Head of the CVE, Dr. Fatima Akilu, told President Buhari that its non-military approach was running concurrently with the armed onslaught against insurgents in the country.

  • Buhari vows to carry out reforms in oil, gas sector

    Buhari vows to carry out reforms in oil, gas sector

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday promised that his administration will undertake appropriate reforms and implement fresh policies to boost national income from oil and gas production.

    He made the promise while speaking at separate meetings with delegations from Exxon- Mobil and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, listed the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks created by multiple government agencies that currently impede the operations of companies in the oil and gas sector as one of the reforms to be undertaken by his administration.

    He said that his government will also give priority attention to the security of oil and gas installations and maritime security in its bid to boost national earnings from the sector.

    He said: “It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to secure the environment. The vandalism of oil installations and pipelines, piracy, oil theft and the fall in the international price of oil have made our economic situation very disturbing.

    “This government will do all within its powers to secure the environment and encourage more investments in the oil sector,’’ President Buhari said, adding that his administration will  ensure that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry quickly becomes more globally competitive.

    He also assured the NLNG delegation of his administration’s full support for plans to expand the total production capacity of the company.

    The President regretted that political squabbles and interference in the past had prevented the NLNG from attaining its full potentials.

    “Today, we are celebrating six trains. It could have been 12 trains if all had gone according to plan,” President Buhari said.

    The NLNG delegation included the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Joseph Dawha and the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa.

    Mr. Omotowa requested the President’s support for Train 7 of the NLNG, which, he said would create additional 18,000 construction jobs and an additional three billion dollars dividend to government when operational.

    He also asked for the President’s intervention in reducing the number of multiple government agencies around the plant that have made its business globally uncompetitive.

    The Exxon-Mobil delegation was led by its Managing Director, Mr Nolan O’Neal.