The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Group to Buhari: don’t allow use of EFCC for persecution

    Group to Buhari: don’t allow use of EFCC for persecution

    Civil rights group, Transparency Coalition of Nigeria (TCN), has called on the President-elect, Muhammed Buhari, to insulate the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) from being manipulated by politicians to witch hunt perceived enemies when he assumes office.

    In a statement by its Secretary General, Mr. Peter Gimba in Abuja on Tuesday, the TCN said it was concerned about the use of the EFCC for political purposes by the Executive arm in the past.

    Gimba said the act had undermined the credibility of the anti-crime commission and attempts to enshrine transparency in all government business.

    “The reasons for the establishment of the EFCC remain genuine and the case for the commission remains strong. However, the perceived use of the EFCC by the executive to muzzle or intimidate its real or perceived opponents into submission is a worrisome development that has diminished public confidence in the EFCC and raised questions about the government’s commitment to due process, accountability and transparency.

    “TCN, therefore, calls on the President-elect to strengthen the EFCC and insulate it from political control, especially by those who seek to use the commission as a weapon of intimidation and blackmail targeted at political opponents”.

    The group argued that the use of pending EFCC cases in hate campaigns against perceived political opponents contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the commission apart from the injury inflicted on the reputation of the affected individuals.

    On the leadership of the forthcoming National Assembly, TCN canvassed the election of principal officers with a known commitment to rule of law, due process, and transparency so that the legislative and the executive arms can work in tandem to stamp out corruption and impunity while instilling transparency in the country.

  • Buhari: I won’t support anybody undermining citizens’ rights

    Buhari: I won’t support anybody undermining citizens’ rights

    THE President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday read a riot act to those who will serve under his government and other Nigerians.

    He said anybody who undermines the right of Nigerians will not get his support.

    Buhari, who was addressing a delegation from Delta State, led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Olorogun Ortega Emerhor, said the greatest disservice anybody aspiring to the position of authority could do to the nation was to equip the youth and turn them against their fellow human beings.

    He spoke after Emerhor explained how the governorship election in Delta State was rigged and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) given more votes than the total number of accredited voters.

    Buhari lauded the delegation for coming to congratulate him for emerging as the winner of the presidential election.

    He said: “I am very much in touch with your governor and he has kept me abreast with the running battle and I express my condolence to you for the people murdered and I assure you that my objective of remaining consistently in partisan politics is to make sure that Nigerians are given their inherent right as citizens of Nigeria to choose whoever they want to lead them.

    “It is not a favour for them as Nigerians, but a constitutional right as citizens of this country. I will not support anybody who will undermine that right of Nigerians by whatever means.

    “To use the military and other law enforcement agencies and worse still, to give drugs and weapons to unemployed youths and send them to kill their own people is the worst thing anybody aspiring to leadership can do to his country.

    “I assure you that in my first term, what I will concentrate on is that Nigerians will be proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. They will be respected by whoever they favour to be chosen as a representative or as a leader. If they like, let them vote for you; if they don’t like, let him try against and again and again.

    “It hasn’t been easy. The field work is not easy and because it is not easy, you get a lawyer to put it in proper term. Going through the court is not easy both materially and physically. I maintained that consistency because my view about my country is that Nigeria should be truly free. I have it so often and I don’t mind reminding myself here.”

    He added: “I understand why many of you were denied the opportunity to choose those you want to represent and lead you. If you are taking the line I took in the last 12 years – which is in line with our constitution – whether you get it or not, the most important thing is that you believe in the system and you should continue to try until the system is perfect.”

    Emerhor said while available evidence revealed that only 709,700 registered voters were accredited for the governorship elections, the votes declared for the PDP candidate stood at 724,680.

    His words: “Through the CTC of the card reader report that we have obtained from INEC, we have unearthed the massive fraud that PDP perpetuated in Delta State. We have filed our petitions to cancel these bogus elections in the tribunal in Delta State.

    “Our election petition shows that while announced voter accreditation was over 1,017,796, the actual card reader accreditation report shows only 709,700.

    “A cursory look shows that the votes allocated to the PDP governorship candidate (724,680) exceeded the accredited voters as recorded by the card reader report. With these anomalies, we are indeed very optimistic that the governorship and assembly elections in Delta State will be nullified and a rerun ordered.”

    Recounting APC members’ experience during the elections, he said: “We would like to bring to your attention how the PDP disenfranchised the people of Delta and the Southsouth at both the presidential and governorship elections.

    “As our submission to the tribunal in respect of the governorship and state assembly elections will demonstrate, majority of Deltans were ready for the change you represent and were geared to vote massively for you and APC.

    “Unfortunately, a grand design executed by the PDP in the Southsouth and Southeast, and particularly in Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, made sure that no proper election took place.

    “Result sheets were confiscated and results fabricated, written and allocated to parties, giving PDP massive votes while giving paltry votes to APC to portray it as not existing in the two zones.

    “To provide a cover for this vote manipulation, PDP also resorted to violence and intimidation and ballot box-snatching as a smokescreen.

    “They effectively compromised both INEC and the security forces and this secured the declaration of PDP as winner in these states against the will and preferences of the Delta people and the two zones.”

    He added: “As you are aware, Delta State along with Akwa Ibom and Rivers are the rich oil resources and the PDP is determined to hold on to these states at all cost in order to utilise the huge revenue base of these states to re-launch itself to national reckoning.

    “It is, therefore, strategic for the APC and your administration to pay particular attention and to assist us out in placing modalities to break the stronghold of the PDP in Delta and the other states. Irrespective of the intent of PDP to dubiously hold on to Delta State, our resolve to reclaim our mandate from the PDP is unshakeable as we are assured that under your presidency, the re-run elections will be undertaken in an environment that will allow for a free, fair and transparent election.

    “We also know that you are fully conversant with the challenges of the Niger Delta region, which includes militancy, pipeline vandalisation, oil theft, environmental degradation and others. We assure you that the region will welcome all efforts by your administration to address these challenges and we hereby offer our support and cooperation to resolve the challenges in the general interest of Nigerians.”

  • Buhari and pensioners’ plight

    SIR: In Nigeria, it is a sin to serve meritoriously, conscientiously and dedicatedly for several years. It is a sin to retire unscathed and without any blemish. It is a sin for pensioners to be paid fully and promptly their gratuities and pensions. It is a sin for pensioners to live well and be healthy. It is a sin for pensioners to live long. Lastly, it is a sin to review pensions in line with present day reality. Why are all these sins?

    Employers (board of corporate organizations inclusive) are never prosecuted and dealt with accordingly for not adhering strictly to the various pension laws and acts. They breach all pension laws and acts. They and their cohorts involve in various pension scams. This is sheer impunity which needs to be addressed by our president – elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd).

    One of the culprits is Union Bank Of Nig Plc. For over two years, Union Bank has refused to pay our (pensioners from 2006 to 2012 of which I am one) legacy fund/accrued pension rights to our various Pension Fund Administrators. It is impossible for us to access our pensions. After many entreaties to both PENCOM and Union Bank and despite the directives by PENCOM to Union Bank to pay us, the bank remains adamant and unperturbed. It is on record, that Union Bank post billions of naira annually as profit.

    This is appealing to GMB to come to our rescue and do the needful immediately he is sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come Friday, May 29. We are optimistic that GMB will take us out of torture, penury and bondage.

    We believe that change has come!

     

    • Lanre Onawola,

    Apata, Ibadan.

  • Group urges Buhari to check corruption in education

    A group, Exam Ethics Marshal International (EEMI), has urged the incoming government to beam its anti-corruption searchlight on the education sector.

    Founding chairman of the group, Mr Ike Onyechere, decried the high level of malpractices in the education sector in a proposal to President-Elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari on how best to tackle education malpractices.

    He recommended an eight-point agenda for ‘the Buhari Presidency’ to “signal zero-tolerance for exam malpractice, academic dishonesty and corruption in education.”

    “It is important to send an immediate and unmistakable signal of zero-tolerance for corruption in the education sector. Exam Ethics recommends an eight-point programme of action for sending such a signal,” he said.

    In the agenda, Onyechere canvassed for the re-launching of exam malpractice blacklist initiative to name and shame invigilators, supervisors and schools that aid and abet malpractices.

    He flashed back to the inception of the blacklist initiative under the administration of Dr Oby Ezekwesili as Minister of Education in 2007, where names of schools operating as magic centres, individuals and organisations involved in malpractice were published in the media, but failed to publish the execution of any form of sanctions on the parties involved; and charged the incoming administration to shun secrecy of the names of defaulters as is the norm.

    He also recommended re-visiting the Need Assessment Report on federal universities to identify and sanction those involved in criminalising the tertiary education process.

    The third point of the agenda suggested that all regulatory agencies of tertiary institutions, including National Universities Commission (NUC) and others, be directed to take action on recent government white papers on state tertiary institutions, as “immediate action is needed to curb the regime of impunity of state functionaries in many state tertiary institutions.”

    Its fourth agenda for Buhari would be to set up task teams to carry out re-accreditation of courses in all public and private universities in the country, disregarding previous accreditation reports.

    It further proposed the re-validation of the educational qualifications of all workers in the Federal Ministry of Education, agencies and institutions of education, “as nobody can give what he does not have.”

    The group also asked that certified professional associations be compelled to institute stronger self-regulatory mechanisms, with the notion that “the real danger to society is that licensed assassins cannot be stopped because they are covered by certifications and licenses awarded by educational institutions.”

    In addition, the group urged the government to compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and other public examination boards to make public, the names of candidates barred from taking their exams.

    “The names, exam numbers and pictures of candidates involved in exam malpractice in Nigeria should be published in newspapers as is the case in other West African Countries,” the statement read.

    The final point of the agenda recommended that leadership and institutional support be provided for the group, Exam Ethics, for their efforts in sustaining the campaign against corruption in education since its inception in 1996.

    Emphasising the importance of the eight-point agenda, Onyechere said: “The consequences of corruption in education are particularly fundamental, pre-eminent and most devastating for society.  This is because it is the role of education to produce leaders, professionals, workers and citizens with the character to shun corruption and the competences to transform national potentials into developmental realities.

    “Education is not playing this role when institutions are virtual breeding grounds for corruption, where leaders of tomorrow are weaned on diets of fraud and where the processes of admissions, training, examination, certification, registration and regulation are criminalized.”

  • Perpetrators of poll violence won’t go unpunished – Buhari

    Perpetrators of poll violence won’t go unpunished – Buhari

    President- elect, Gen. Mubammadu Buhari, on Wednesday said his government will not allow those who perpetrated electoral violence during the last general election to go unpunished.

    Speaking while receiving a delegation from River State led by former Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Gabriel Toby, Buhari said his government owes Nigerians the responsibility of ensuring that those who trample on their rights are prosecuted.

    He said: “We will confront them with facts and figures. We will not forgive and forget those who perpetrated killings and arson in Rivers State during the elections. At least this is the much we owe to Nigerians.”

    He, however, assured Nigerians that they will surely get the respect they deserve from government, adding that “there will not an army within the army or a police within the police.”

    Toby, who was a deputy governor during Dr. Peter Odili’s administration in the state, told journalists they were in Abuja to congratulate the President -elect and brief him on what transpired in the state during the elections.

    He said what transpired during presidential and the governorship elections did not reflect the wishes of people of Rivers State.

  • Boko Haram: Affected children won’t become nuisance – Buhari

    Boko Haram: Affected children won’t become nuisance – Buhari

    President -elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said on Wednesday that one of the biggest burdens of the incoming government is to ensure children affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast do not constitute security risk to the nation.

    Buhari said he was aware of the contributions of women to national development and will not marginalize them in the scheme of things under his government.

    Addressing a delegation of women leaders of the All Progressives Congress from the 36 states and the FCT, the President-elect lamented that Nigerians rescued from the Sambissa Forest are either women or children, pointing out that the men have either been killed or escaped.

    He said: “I have listened to the marathon speech by the National Women Leader. I believe the success of the APC will be associated with her. I am happy that you recalled that in the first opportunity I had to lead this country under a different system, there was a policy by the federal government that at every level of government, there must be at least one woman in government.

    “I have certainly taken into account the importance of women in the society. Besides, I have to thank you very much for your votes. The finger prints on the card readers did not show whether majority of the votes were from ladies or from gentlemen. But I know that there are many supporters among the women group all over the country.

    “Looking at the human aspect, if you watch the people coming from Sambissa forest under the Boko Haram and others that escaped, you will discover that they are women and children and the women are left to take care of the children. The men have either been killed or have escaped.

    “So, really, government attention in looking after women and children will have to be practical because they have been left with the responsibility of bringing up the children at the critical stage of their lives.

    “If they lack the parental care, they lack the education, then, they are going to be a liability to the nation because they will grow up without strong religious affiliation which is very important for the society. If they are educated, their ambition to have a decent life will be realised. This will again affect the security of the nation and this is our number one problem.”

  • International community will support Buhari – Blair

    International community will support Buhari – Blair

    Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair has assured the President -elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the continued support of the international community towards addressing the challenges facing Nigeria.

    Blair told journalists after a closed door meeting the Buhari at the Defence House that with the successful conclusion of the general election, Nigeria has earned great respect in the comity of nations.

    He said the future of the Nigerian nation lies in the hands of the Nigerian people, pointing out that there is a tremendous support for Nigeria across the world.

    He assured that in whatever way they can, the international community will support and help Buhari to succeed.

    He said: “In the last few weeks, Nigeria has earned respect throughout the whole world. There is enormous support for Nigeria now in the international community. The support takes into consideration the challenges that lie ahead and there is great confidence in the country.

    “This is an election which took place in a way that the country shows the majority of democracies the spirit and character of its people and in the President -elect and Vice President -elect, it is a leadership that I know is determined to do its best for the country.

    “Obviously, the future and destiny of Nigeria lies in the hand of its people. I just want to say to the President- elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment and all of us, in whatever way we can, will be ready to support you and help you.

    “It is a moment of great challenges which bothers on the life of the people as well as their security and so on. If the same spirit and character that define the elections can be taken through these coming years to address the challenges, I think we can all have great confidence in the times ahead.

    “Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to see you again here in Nigeria and wish you and your team the best in the times head.”

    While expressing appreciation to the British government for its support to Nigeria before, during and after the elections, Buhari said, “we had a meeting and discussed how Britain and the United States were helping us in making sure that we conducted ourselves according to our constitution.

    “The fact that it has been so successful is a major relief for us and to all people of conscience throughout the world.  I thank the former British Prime Minister for his concern for Nigeria and Nigerians, in what he is prepared to do by continuing to help us as a country and as a people.”

  • Ben Bruce criticises FG

    Ben Bruce criticises FG

  • CAN chief Atilade advises Buhari

    The Southwest Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to prioritise health, education and welfare, in addition to tackling corruption and security.

    The CAN leader, who is also the National President of the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), said this in a statement yesterday.

    He said: “A situation where we depend on one form of healthcare (orthodox or allopathic) is not the best.

    “There are other options, such as complementary alternative medi-care, which our government needs to apply. People who are going to practise it are properly trained.

    “The Federal College of Complementary Alternative Medicine in Lagos and Abuja should be immediately reopened for this purpose.”

    “This is because the orthodox and alternative medicines are not enough to take care of the bloated world population, pointing out that in Nigeria, over 60 percent of the population rely on traditional and alternative medicine.”

    “There should be redistribution of the nation’s wealth between the poor and the rich. A situation where only two percent of the population controls the wealth is unacceptable to Nigerians.”

     

  • ‘Buhari will have less insecurity problems’

    ‘Buhari will have less insecurity problems’

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, has assured that the incoming government will have fewer problems with insecurity.

    The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the Council of State meeting in Abuja, said the NSA briefed the Council on the successes against the insurgents, assuring that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s incoming administration with have fewer problems with insecurity.

    Governor Aliyu said, “On the security situation in the country, the National Security Adviser did a very comprehensive briefing on the security situations in the country among which was the successes recorded so far against Boko Haram and which are known to all Nigerians.”

    “But the NSA did mention that it took a while because after the civil war, Nigeria relaxed. There were no serious challenging security issues in the country ‎and so when Boko Haram emerged, it was a new phenomenon. The military and security agencies could not cope with it because nobody anticipated it.” He said

    “The NSA explained that it took time to tackle Boko Haram as they tried to get the collaborations of some surrounding African countries whom Nigeria had never had or shared security intelligence with.”

    “But now all of them are on board and it becomes easier for us to witness what we have witnessed, where we have Cameroon, Chad, Sudan and even Mali collaborating with Nigeria in order to fight this insurgency because they were also affected.”

    The governor said issues concerning clashes between herdsmen and farmers ‎were also addressed at the meeting.