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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari, APC chart course for entertainment industry

    Buhari, APC chart course for entertainment industry

    Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, has assured practitioners of the creative industry of a new dawn, saying they will reap from their sweat once he becomes president.

    Fielding questions from an interactive session with women in Lagos, Buhari was asked by popular Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, how his government, if and when elected, would approach the issue of providing the appropriate structure for the entertainment industry to thrive, considering the activities of pirates.

    Buhari, however, deferred to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, the honour of addressing the question as, according to him, Lagos is the home base of the nation’s entertainment industry, purported hub of piracy, while Fashola himself is a SAN.

    Responding, Fashola said: “My honest view about the profession of the intellectual and creative rights of artistes is that government needs to enforce laws that affect us, the copyrights act and the copyrights commission. I think that if we all recall, this industry came really out of nothing. There was no government then. It was creativity. But they were losing what they were producing to pirates, people who were taking benefits of their God-given talents and reproducing them without rewards. So, the gap that government needs to fill really is law enforcement. Fight the pirates and protect the creative industry.”

    Adding his voice to the discussion, the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said it is important to have people with creativity in the economy but warned that “not every talent would be rewarded.”

    He, however, advised that the artistes should form co-operatives which would be stronger in ensuring collective agitations. In addition, Tinubu said a law to promote capital formation will help the creative industry grow.

    Tinubu also advocated for the entertainment industry, “a creative financing mechanism that will defer your profit, improve on it and give you tax holidays to the extent that you will be able to re-invest and re-invest those until you become profitable and contribute to the society’s development.”

    A similar question was asked President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday by comedian Ali Baba when he hosted an interactive session with a section of practitioners in the entertainment industry, also in Lagos.

  • Ambode to Nigerians: Vote massively for Buhari

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on Nigerians to vote massively for the party’s presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, in the March 28 poll.

    Warning of dire times ahead if President Goodluck Jonathan is voted back into office, Ambode who spoke at a rally in Agege by the Arewa community called on the electorate to reenact the June 12, 1993 presidential election during which Nigerians eschewed ethnicity and religion to vote for late Chief MKO Abiola.

    The APC governorship candidate also called on Nigerians to rise beyond primordial sentiments as patriots to salvage the nation from an impending doom that a continued Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government portends.

    He said that the success so far recorded by the token mass-oriented responses by the PDP-led federal government shows that with APC in control of the central government, the nation’s future would be very bright.

    The APC candidate added that the opposition of the APC to the Jonathan-led administration forced it to reduce the tariff on electricity, price of petrol and also compelled the government to start listening to Nigerians, who the government has treated with contempt in the past 16 years.

    He said, “What all of these has shown is that the PDP government actually knows what to do, but have deliberately refused to do it, because they had wrongly underestimated the will of the Nigerian people.

  • Another foreign firm tips Buhari to win presidential poll

    Another foreign firm tips Buhari to win presidential poll

    New York based political risk firm, Teneo Intelligence, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is gaining momentum over  President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of next week’s election.

    Teneo Intelligence,  in a  report yesterday,thought  Buhari  had  ”an edge,” but that “a last-minute upset by the incumbent president remained  a possibility.”

    It said: ”President Goodluck Jonathan is banking on recent reports of the ‘successful’  counterinsurgency offensive against Boko Haram to help turn the tide on his battered reputation … “However, the momentum of Jonathan’s rival Muhammadu Buhari of the main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) continues to grow.

    “Despite the absence of reliable polling data in Nigeria, the most important signal that he could unseat the president is the change in the voting trend this time round.

    “Buhari’s support in the north (his home region) appears to be unwavering – he has consistently defeated his rivals there in the past three election cycles. This support is only likely to increase thanks to a growing anti-Jonathan sentiment in the region …

    “Buhari’s strong momentum represents a serious threat to many powerful business and political interests that have benefitted from the incumbent People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s 16-year political dominance. Consequently, entrenched interests will not easily concede a Buhari victory.”

    Teneo’s  prediction followed on the heels of the projection made last week by  the world’s  leading global political risk  research and consulting firm,Eurasia Group that Buhari  has a  60% chance of winning, depending on how a considerable tranche of uncommitted voters leans.

    Eurasia’s Africa practice head and Analyst Philippe de Pontet wrote  that the electoral map is tilting to Buhari in swing regions in the Southwest and  the Middle Belt.

    He said that with Buhari in the saddles, investors could expect business-oriented policies.

    He adds:”The election will still be difficult to call, but our expectation of a narrow Jonathan win was predicated on several factors that are losing some saliency late in the campaign.

    Chief among them is the incumbency and financial advantages of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While this still helps Jonathan, its impact is blunted by the intensity of support for Buhari, lackluster grassroots campaigning by the PDP, and new anti-rigging measures by the electoral commission.

  • Southwest youths back Buhari

    Scores of Yoruba youths  yesterday  in Akure, the Ondo State capital  condemned the endorsement of President Jonathan Goodluck by a faction  of nthe Afenifere.

    The group under the aegis of Yoruba Youth Congress(YCC)expressed support for All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

    Speaking, the  coordinator, Prince Dapo Adepoju, said: “We are aligning with the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Rauf Aregbesola to deliver southwest votes to the APC candidates.

    “We condemn the violence perpetrated in Lagos by the Gani Adams led OPC. It is so unfortunate that the leaders of the group, because of selfish interest have resorted to waging war against their kinsmen they have always claimed to be protecting.”

    Also speaking, a factional state publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Gani Mohammed, lamented that President Jonathan’s administration completely relegated the Yoruba race to the background.

    The PDP chieftain described Yoruba leaders clamouring for Jonathan’s re-election as “political pensioners who are frequent faces in Aso Rock forn the purpose of fighting for their own pockets at the detriment of Yoruba race.”

  • Kogi youths endorse Buhari for presidency

    Kogi youths endorse Buhari for presidency

    Kogi youths in their thousands Friday endorsed the All Progressives Party (APC) presidential candidate General Muhammodu Buhari (rtd.) as their choice ahead of the March 28 reschedule presidential election.

    The youths under the auspices of Kogi Youth Arise Group (KYAG), at a mega rally in Lokoja hinged their endorsement of the Buhari/Osinbajo candidacy on their belief that only the APC candidate can change the misfortune the country suffered in the hands of past leaders.

    The chairman of the group, Yahaya Bello said the youths have been “raped” by past leaders since the inception of democracy in 1999 and there is need to correct the anomaly by voting out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, “Without sounding alarmist, it is obvious that Nigeria is in crisis as it is facing grievous challenges in numerous sectors of which security, the state of the economy, joblessness and infrastructural decay are so threatening and need to be tackled all at once before we can achieve any meaningful progress because our situation in this country have never been so bad as it is today and our endurance has been stretched to the limit.

    “It is abundantly clear that PDP-led Federal Government is in deep waters and has failed in all their attempts and antics to avert the waterloo that stare them in the face. This is more so as Nigerians are tired of inept and weak government at the centre and have decided to make a good change and history where the opposition is at the threshold of victory and sending a sitting failed government packing.

    “It will mark an end to an ugly era and a beginning of new one where the mess, division, hardship and hopelessness created by years of inept and rudderless leadership will be cleaned up, and restore Nigeria back to the path of unity, progress and emancipation of the masses and oppressed majority.”

    Bello who urged the youth not to be involved in any act of violence, also urged politicians to desist from hate speeches, and campaign of calumny.

    “Let’s conduct ourselves peacefully, and disappoint those who think that we will fight. Let us go out and elect General Muhammodu Buhari,” he said.

  • APC Presidential Town Hall Women meeting

    APC Presidential Town Hall Women meeting

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (3rd right), his Rivers State counterpart and Director-General, General Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left), All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (4th left), Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (4th right), APC Women Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson (2nd right), member House of representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa (right), wife of former Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (left) and an 8-Year Old Eniola Benson (middle) who donated her pocket money to General Buhari’s Campaign Fund during the APC Presidential Town Hall Meeting with Women in Lagos, on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (3rd right), his Rivers State counterpart and Director-General, General Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (2nd left), All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (4th left), Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (4th right), APC Women Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson (2nd right), member House of representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa (right), wife of former Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (left) and an 8-Year Old Eniola Benson (middle) who donated her pocket money to General Buhari’s Campaign Fund during the APC Presidential Town Hall Meeting with Women in Lagos, on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
  • Hajia Buhari meets Edo women

    Hajia Buhari meets Edo women

    Hajia Aishat Buhari, wife of General Muhammadu Buhari, APC Presidential candidate (right), Mrs Victoria Oyegun wife of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (left) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (middle) at an interactive session between Hajia Buhari and Edo women at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Thursday.
    Hajia Aishat Buhari, wife of General Muhammadu Buhari, APC Presidential candidate (right), Mrs Victoria Oyegun wife of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (left) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (middle) at an interactive session between Hajia Buhari and Edo women at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Thursday.
  • DPP adopts Buhari as Presidential candidate

    DPP adopts Buhari as Presidential candidate

    The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) Thursday officially adopted former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) as its presidential candidate.

    This was the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held in Abuja.

    DPP in its resolution also rectify the Deputy National Chairman, Chief Garshon Benson to be the Acting National Chairman of the party due to the resignation of the National Chairman, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd).

    The resolution which was read by the Acting National Chairman, Chief Garshan Benson said NEC took the decision to adopt Buhari after reviewing the state of the nation and considering that DPP does not have a presidential candidate for the election.

    Benson disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan led-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has ran out of ideas on how to manage the current security challenges facing the country hence the need for change of leadership.

    He said: “The National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting held on the 12th of March 2015, at the party’s National Headquarters Abuja, (NEC), also resolved to adopt General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the party’s DPP presidential candidate for the 2015 general election.

    “We commend President Goodluck Jonathan for the much he has done for this country, but we believe that much more is need to be done. It is also our view that PDP as a party in power for 16 years has ran out of ideas on how to manage the current challenges facing the country, hence a serious need for change of leadership.

    “We hereby urged all our members all over the country to support and vote for General Muhammadu Buhari the presidential candidate of the APC in the forthcoming election.”

    The outgoing National Chairman of DPP, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) told The Nation that about six states have already join APC adding that he has been supporting Buhari before now.

    His words: “Personally I have been part of the merger idea since inception. We have members all over this country that will be taken part in the election. I am calling on all our members to support APC.

    “Right from the formation of APC I have been part of it and I and General Muhammad Buhari were together in All Peoples Party (APP) and then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He is my mentor. We will all work together to achieve results in APC.

    “It is not too late to adopt Buhari; we have been taking to him on several issues. Right now as I speak six states have alright joined APC. The only thing now is that we want to go official as a party. 24 hours can make a big deal in politics. General Muhammad Buhari is a person I will always support because of his personality and his achievements.”

  • Olubadan endorses Ajimobi, Buhari

    Olubadan endorses Ajimobi, Buhari

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, Thursday endorsed the candidature of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the April 11 governorship poll.

    The monarch declared his endorsement for the governor at the Yoruba Summit held at the Parliament Building housing the Oyo State House of Assembly, Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

    The monarch, who spoke through the Eekerin Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Eddy Oyewole, said Ajimobi’s accomplishments were outstanding, pointing out that his feat made him install him (Ajimobi) as the Atunluse (change agent) of Ibadan land in 2013.

    He said his conviction was still as strong as it was in 2013 because Ajimobi has since then increased the level of transformation of the entire state.

    The monarch recalled that members of the Olubadan in-Council used to think that the governor was only transforming Ibadan but that they were stunned to see similar transformation of other towns when they visited.

    Chief Oyewole said: “Come March 28, make sure you vote for Gen. Buhari. And on April 11, cast your vote for Abiola Ajimobi.

    “Ajimobi is developing other towns in Oyo State. We didn’t know Ajimobi can achieve this much. We have always heard that there is no money. So, when we saw how Ajimobi was building roads, beautifying cities and embarking on other laudable projects, we asked him where he was getting money.

    “Since he was installed as the Atunluse of Ibadan land, he has even done more. Let Ajimobi continue and let them not shift the election again.”

    The endorsement received a terrific applause from the audience.

  • Atiku committed to Buhari’s victory – Fayemi

    Atiku committed to Buhari’s victory – Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has given assurance that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains committed to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the March 28 presidential election,  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fayemi said the rumored plan of Atiku to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a gimmick from the ruling party to confuse Nigerians and cause division in the APC.

    He described Atiku as an important pillar of support for the Buhari campaign whose preoccupation is to ensure victory for the APC and Buhari at the presidential poll.

    Speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi said entreaties made to Atiku by emissaries of President Goodluck Jonathan for a return to the PDP has failed.

    He said the APC is primed for victory at the fast-approaching general elections and won’t be distracted by the antics of the PDP gripped by the morbid fear of losing the Presidency for the first time in 16 years.

    Fayemi declared that Buhari campaign is on course and any attempt to cause disaffection within the fold of the APC by sponsoring phantom defection to the PDP won’t work.

    He said: “Anybody can just pick some people on the street and call them members of Turaki’s group. Though, I am aware of the surreptitious plans to divide us, but wooing Atiku back to PDP will not certainly work because he is committed to this project.

    “So, Atiku is still in APC and he has come out boldly to denounce this group. It was a fact that he offered himself to be president but the delegate acted otherwise by voting for Gen Buhari.

    “I don’t foresee that he will walk away from APC on the basis of this because there is nothing on ground to make him do that. He has remained consistent for Gen. Buhari and he is committed to APC.”

    On Prof Jega, Fayemi said the entire Nigerian populace would query President Jonathan, if he sacks Prof Jega at this critical time, saying such attempt could bring suspicion that would do the country no good.

    On the mock accreditation conducted by INEC in 12 States to test-run the workability of the card readers, Fayemi advised the Commission to block all loopholes based on the reservations expressed by some critical stakeholders for the outcome of the elections to be acceptable.

    He, however, expressed optimism that the card reader would turn out to be a blessing in view of the success recorded in Lagos, which he said was known to be densely populated.

    Fayemi added:  “Our party is not that worried about this card reader thing, but we are only concerned about non-delivery of Permanent Voter Cards to some region.

    “Like in Ogun State, I heard governor Ibikunle Amosun complaining that about 250,000 PVCs are yet to be delivere , this is a peculiar case.

    “But it was available in some areas like Ekiti, but people decided not to collect .Though that had been taken to be cases of multiple registration.

    “So, in the area of collection, INEC cannot be blamed because people may decide not to vote.”