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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari will accept polls outcome, says Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will accept the outcome a free and fair presidential election.

    He said this after casting his vote at polling unit 033 in Victoria Garden City (VGC), his country home in Lagos. “This administration will do everything it said. We are going to accept the outcome of a free, fair and credible poll.

    That is democracy. Let the voting process be peaceful. Cast your vote and encourage others to do the same. Let it remain as peaceful as it can. If the election is free and fair and everybody says it is free and fair, then we must accept the result,” he said.

    The Vice President, who said his vote is not different from the vote of every other Nigerian, said he and President Buhari are very confident of winning reelection.

    “We have gone round the nation and we have spoken to the nation about the need for us to continue on the path that we have set; the path of growth and development for the nation. We deserve a second term in order for us to complete all that we have started. We have also said that this country, in the next four years, by the grace of God and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, will be a completely changed nation,” he said.

    Osinbajo, who also commended the turnout of voters and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the peaceful poll, said the turnout was impressive, expressing confidence in the elections.

  • Buhari’ll be President till 2023, says Ogboru

    The Delta State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, Saturday expressed confidence about the victory of the All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the area.

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his ballot at Abraka Ward 1, unit 8, said “President Muhammadu Buhari has done so well and deserved another term in office to complete his good work.

    Speaking on the conduct of the election, he said, “The environment is quite peaceful, and I just voted, though there were rumours of some technical issues about the machines. I have no iota of doubt about the victory of APC candidates.

    “l know we shall win, and I hope that the elections will be peaceful in other places, I heard that people are still trying to snatch ballot boxes in some places, but I don’t see the need for that when the election is peaceful.”

    Ogboru advice all eligible voters to vote for all APC candidates to maintain peace, saying that the future is bright for all APC candidates and that they are not expecting anything short of victory for President Buhari, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and house of Representative candidates.”

  • Dance, Buhari, dance

    The trending news to which Mr President, Muhammad Buhari, reacted a few days ago in far-away Poland, reminds me of the tale they regaled us with in my childhood years.

    Years ago, long before I set my feet on that sleepy village soil, we heard of Ajiran, the town of the dead. I was too young and innocent to know where Ajiran was; whether it was a town set in the sky or tucked under the ocean. But the tale fired my imagination to know if it was indeed true that one could meet a dead relation alive in that town.

    You can then visualise how ecstatic and expectant I was when I saw in the campaign itinerary of Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1978 – 40 years ago – that we would be stopping on a whistle-stop campaign rally at Ajiran, as LKJ bid for the governorship of Lagos State on the platform of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    “Ajiran, the town of the dead”, I was too eager to know where it was until our landrover – which was the only means of transportation in that Maroko-Lekki axis at the time because of its sandy terrain – screeched to a halt and we stepped on the soil of the place known as Ajiran.

    My eyes started darting from one end of their sockets to the other, to see if I would see my very beloved maternal grandfather long dead and buried in faraway Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State, in that mystic town. Throughout our stay in the town, I looked in vain as no hitherto dead person that I knew appeared to me in the town, now one of the choice living areas on Lekki Expressway in Lagos.

    No one I enquired from could offer any satisfactory explanation why that town was referred to in that manner, so I quickly dismissed it as one of the fantasy tales of our childhood years. That experience of 40 years ago crept back to my consciousness when a fresh story was concocted from goddot that Nigeria’s President Muhammad Buhari had died a year ago and that the gangling man you and I see on TV and other news media these days as our president, is no longer the retired soldier from Daura in Katsina state but a certain Jubril from Sudan.

    Why Sudan and not nearby Niger or Chad? Or, what does anyone gain from such fabrication? That must be imagination crafted from outer space. It makes me wonder why some Nigerians are filled with such murderous imagination, that many wonder why such ingenuity has not yet been converted to positive uses as you have in the more civilised world.

    But why do we from this part of the world prefer darkness to light in several of our dealings with ourselves – lieing without batting an eyelid, malign with murderous motive and assassinate character or even body without caring a hoot? Whoever survives the evil scheming of man, deserves to be happy and be filled with thanksgiving.

    I now see the import and sense in a song rendered by Sikiru Aýinde Barrister, the Fuji music creator, in one of his long playing records, that whoever people “kill” with their mouths but survives the unrelenting assaults deserves to dance for joy. In his exact words, the Fuji king sang:

    ”O ye ko jo, o ye  ko yo,

               Eni araiye pa pa pa, ti o

               ti o ti e ku;

               O ye ko yo o”

    If President Buhari decides today to assemble musician’s like Onyeka Onwenu, Wasiu Aýinde Marshal and Thrace or Dan Maraya’s successor in the North and decides to dance before each of these artistes even before the 2019 presidential election is due, it’s worth it and more, for a man whose only sin is that he has taken it upon himself to set a commendable moral tone for the nation.

    Dance, Muhammad Buhari, Dance and rejoice in your God!

    • This piece first appeared in this column last December.

  • 10 key facts, statistics of 2019 polls

    A record of 84,004,084 people Nigerians have registered to vote — an increase of 18 percent from the 2015 election, and as they prepare to cast their votes in the presidential elections, we present the key facts worth noting :

    1. The number of candidates is the highest ever in Nigeria’s history of presidential election.

    2. The 2019 elections would be the country’s sixth since May 1999 – when the military government handed power over to the democratic government.

    3. 73 candidates will be on the ballot in the race to become Nigeria’s president in the February 16 presidential election.

    4. There are six female candidates contesting in the election, the highest ever in Nigeria’s history.

    5. President Muhammadu Buhari is the oldest candidate at the age of 76 while Chike Ukaegbu of the Advanced Allied Party (AAP) is the youngest at 35.

    6. Buhari’s main rival and former vice president under Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar, has made a bid for the presidency five times for four different parties. His last shot at office was in 2015 when he was defeated by then-opposition leader Buhari.

    7. President Muhammadu Buhari and his main rival, Atiku Abubakar, are both senior members of the political establishment and come from largely Muslim northern Nigeria.

    8. This year, 10 candidates under the age of 40 have out their names forward following the approved bill, #NotTooYoungToRule campaign.

    9. This election is considered as the next most democratic election exercise carried out in Nigeria after the country’s first democratic transfer of power in 2007.

    10. The election would hold exactly two decades after the end of the military rule.

    Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is a trendsetter for the continent and her elections are widely watched by the continent and international community. The elections would hold on Saturday, February 23, 2019 nationwide.

  • Allegations of Islamisation, wicked, ungodly, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the allegation of his plan to Islamise the country as wicked, deceptive, and ungodly.

    He made the remark in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

    According to him, the fresh allegation is coming up as a result of the 2019 general elections.

    The statement reads “It has come to the notice of President Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the forthcoming elections, that some unscrupulous Nigerians are again falsely and wickedly claiming that the administration has an agenda to impose Islam on Nigeria.

    “The objective is clearly to stoke up religious division for political gains. Some of these same persons made these devious and fabricated claims ahead of the 2015 election. They failed woefully.

    “The President strongly affirms the oath he took before the Nigerian people to faithfully defend the Constitution of Nigeria. That Constitution guarantees freedom of worship for every Nigerian.

    “It is this guarantee that enables all Nigerians to practise their faiths or religion without hindrance.” it stated

    President Buhari, according to the statement, further affirmed his commitment to freedom of religion and worship for all Nigerians, and that under no circumstance will any religion or faith be imposed on any Nigerian.

    “It is dangerous, deceptive and ungodly to play politics with religion.“

  • Ballot snatching:PDP chieftain to Buhari: explain when soldiers can shoot

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been requested to break down the circumstances that may warrant action by security agents against those assumed to be constituting threat to a smooth conduct of elections.

    Making the request at a media briefing in Warri on Friday, a member of the Campaign Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Warri North council area of Delta state, Chief Newuwumi Omolubi, said he requested for the clarification so as to preserve the lives of his people during the elections.

    Describing the president’s pronouncement as dangerous and disturbing to his people, especially those in his ward where about four military houseboats are already stationed, he said an explanation would help to prevent occasions that could lead to fatality, considering the fact that the people have always helped staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conveying their materials to polling units.

    He said, “in between the four communities in my ward, there is a military houseboat. Now if the people who most times help the INEC people to convey their materials, at which stage will Buhari want the soldier to shoot.

    “The communities are the ones that help the INEC staff to move these materials because of the distance and the difficult terrain, so at which stage does it become dangerous for my people.

    “I am seeking this clarification to guide my people to know when to stop their services to the Adhoc staff of INEC to avoid killing of innocent civilians whose main concern is to help INEC smooth operation”, he said.

    He used the opportunity to call on the people of the communities and Deltans in general to come out enmasse and vote the PDP and its candidates.

  • 12 presidential candidates back Buhari

    Twelve candidates in tomorrow’s presidential election yesterday endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Also yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Yobe State, Alhaji Sani Inuwa Nguru, defected with his supporters to the APC.

    The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed the developments to reporters at the State House yesterday.

    According to him, the candidates have directed their supporters to vote for President Buhari in tomorrow’s rescheduled poll.

    Adesina listed the candidates and their parties as: Shittu Mohammed Kabiru Buhari, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA); Edozie Nnamdi Madu, Independent Democrats (ID); Danjuma Mohammed Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD); Mamman Yusuf Naptali, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Ahmed Buhari, Save Nigeria Party (SNP); Alhaji Isabi Dansaki, Mass Movement of Nigeria (MSN) and Ikechukwu Nwokeafor, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).

    Others are: Alistar Shoyode, Yes Party (YP); Charles Ughalli, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP); Kenneth Ibe Kalu, United Peoples Congress (UPC); Isiaka Paul Ebili, Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) , and Robinson Apu, National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

    Adesina said: “So, these 12 former candidates declared support for Mr. President. Mr. President was quite delighted, he applauded their unselfish nature. He added that if they wanted to deny him vote, they will still continue with the elections and people in their immediate environment, will vote for them and then deny him at least those votes.

    “So, the fact that they have come to pledge loyalty and have directed their supporters to vote Mr. President was a thing that President Buhari applauded.”

    Alhaji Nguru, who defected from the PDP, was led to the Presidential Villa by a chieftain of the APC in Yobe State, Dr. Mohammed Abuza. They were received by Buhari.

    Nguru, who was APC’s first chairman at inception, said he came to pledge his loyalty and “desire to return home” to the President.

    He added that anyone who had been a member of the defunct All Nigeria Progressive Party (ANPP) and the Congresss for Progressive Change (CPC) “is one of Buhari’s loyalists”.

  • ‘Buhari is the answer’

    In this piece, Prince Alfred Adeyanju highlights the challenges confronting the country, which President Muhammadu Buhari will tackle, if re-elected.

    MUhammadu Buhari (PMB) was the federal commissioner for petroleum Resources on July 1976 under Obasanjo regime he mention the need for urgent Nigerianisation while opening the Nigeria mining geological and metallurgical society seminar on sandstone depositional models for exploration for fossil fuels

    COL Buhari (PMB) expressed dissatisfaction that 18 years after the first barrel of oil was exported out of this country a satisfactory number of Nigerians were still not holding responsible management positions within the private sector of the oil industries. The man over 40 years back have been nursing in mind the development of individual Nigerians and Nigeria as a nation and had been in series of top government positions in Nigeria Buhari was the Chairman of P.T.F under one of the past government.

    Col. Abubakar Umar (RTD) in his interview said, I quote “I also have tremendous respect for the discipline of people like Buhari”. Col Umar was the governor of Kaduna State under Gen Babangida regime, he knew PMB very well.

    PMB took over the leadership mantle of becoming the Nigeria president and commander — in — chief of the armed force on May 29th 2015. The president Mohammadu Buhari inaugural statement in part were quoted as bellow “However, no matter how well organized the government of the federation are they cannot succeed without the support, understanding and co — operation of labour unions, organized private sector the press and civil society organizations.

    I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite to raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today — and this includes the social media — is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.

    My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts, the Nigeria economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely – Boko Haram in surgency niger delta situation, the power shortages, and nempolyment especially among young people. For the longer term, we have to improve the standard of our Education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical i nfrastucture.

    The above mentioned extracts concerning some of the many problems confronting the nation are to be examined to determine the extent of some of the achievement so far  actualised by Buhari administration.

    There are some other challenges bedeviling the country such as the Fuel scarcity incessant kidnappings, armed robber attack, herdsmen / farmers clashes, and cattle rustlings, high prices of food stuff commodities cultism among our youths and ritualists attacks among others.

    Boko Haram insurgencies heartfelt tensions have drastically reduced since the temporary relocation of the control centers of the armed forced command leadership from Abuja to Maiduguri, to disarm the Boko Haram forces. Completely. Tremendous success was recorded on the release of chibok girls.

     

    Peaceful resolution of the niger delta situation

    Special adviser to the president and coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme (PAP), Professor Charles Dokubo has promised towards achieving sustainable peace in Niger delta region in accordance with Buhari promises during his inauguration speech to maintain peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta region. Toward these the special adviser said there would be completion of the ongoing vocational center projects, training of the outstanding beneficiaries of government programme, empowerment of already trained and unpowered ex-agitators and review of outstanding contract.

    The genuine support and expansion of the Nigeria security and civil defense corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria peace corps contributed a lot to dispute resolution, and checks on the activities of suspected armed robbers, rapist, kidnapper and cultists and Boko Harams who were handed over to appropriate authorities such as the Nigeria police and army in some cases, the setup of peace clinic under administration of PMB in trouble states including Benue, Taraba, Borno, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Abia and Rivers to find lasting resolution to conflict in these state and to win peace in the liberated area since the military won the war against BOKO HARAM was confirmed by the commandant general of (NSCDC) Mr. Abudullai Gana Mohammed.

     

    Corruption fighting and improving biliteral relations

    Buhari government ¡s committed to fighting corruption to the bearest minimum and possibly to total eradication. Nigerian ought to pay “codus “to the president for his practical moves towards combating the menace to its present minimum stage.

    PMB can be described as Anti — Corruption crusader, master of peace makers and an average promise keeper because only almighty God is the absolute promise keeper. Buhari in his inaugural speech promised to listen to the grievances of the fellow Nigerians, which he did through numerous means.

    The chairman of the southern senator forum hope Uzodimma praised president Buhari for his successful visiting to the United State of American for marketing Nigeria Economy image The President raising the hope of more US investment and secured assurance of better bilateral relations. With this development, the US president Donald Trump could not hide his admiration for the goods works of President Mohammadu Buhari when he poured accolades on him for fighting corruption and leading the fight of Africa against terrorism. The US President said, I quote “1 also know that the President has been able to cut that (corruption) down very substantially, we talked about that, he is working on it and they have made a lot of progress and I think they will continue to make a lot of progress.”

    The Guru of Anti-corruption crusade during his tenure as the military Head of state in 1983 along with his chief of Staff, Supreme headquarters Major, Gen. Tunde ldiagbon established Wai war against Indiscipline which by then and until today embedded into Nigerians the queue habit in banks, bus-stop, canteens, Petrol Station and in many other places.

    On May 6th, 2015 when PMB was already the President Elect of Nigeria, and awaiting the swearing-in-ceremony expected to take place on  May 2015 President Buhari ordered all security personnel attached to him as well as his official escort to obey traffic rules Buhari was quoted as saying “obedience to the law would be the guiding philosophy of his administration, adding that “Without leadership by example, the ordinary citizen would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders the President elect explained that the “Arrogance of Powers, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens will have no place ¡n his government.

    Buhari’s recognition for the value of June 12, 1993 election as the fairest in Nigeria dated back to several years, as far back as to June 12,2005 When Buhari, Enahoro, Kalu and others recalled June 12 values. No wonders the President, through his uprightness, shunning ethnicity, and disregard to tribalism, conferred the Winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the Late Chief MKO Abiola, the Highest honour in Nigeria “Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR); The honour which is normally Conferred on the holder of the highest office in Nigeria, the President.

    PMB Government had embarked on completion of abandoned and incomplete projects left by the previous administrations. One could still remember the completed NRC and SDP Secretariats built by President Babangida during his tenure between 1985 and 1993 how many years they were abandoned by successive government which were already covered by bush, before they were at last put into various uses by the government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.

    Low power generations in the past administrations had resulted into Nigeria poor economic situation during which the power generation was 4000MV with the Nigerian population of over 180 million.

    Towards the end of President Goodluck Jonathan tenure, at a meeting held at the Vice President Namadi Sambo, Office inside the presidential villa, Abuja, as recorded inside “the record keeper” on May 20th, 2015, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali disclosed to State House Correspondents that the epileptic power supply currently experienced throughout the country if allowed to continue would worsen, ongoing industrial action by both the junior and senior staff Unions of NNPC.

    Buhari administration has improved the power generation from 4000MV to 7500MV under the ministerial expertise of the Honourable minister of power, works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola . Adequate Power generation has improved productivities in the private sector industries and has definitely reduced the high price of foodstuff and other commodities.

     

    Tackling unempoyment

    The unemployment situation in Nigeria in the past governments was highly deplorable as such; it was made prominent in APC party manifesto to be tackled. Some of the steps taken to arrest youth unemployment include the introduction of skills acquisition programmes on various trades through training and empowerment criteria. During the Buhari Administration through revival of Agricultural, solid mineral mining as well as credits to small and medium size business, there are introduction of ‘traders money” and “Money Market”, Microfinance banks were mobilized throughout the states in Nigeria to organise seminars to create awareness to the people for registration into co-operative societies and microfinance banks, to facilitate loans, acquisitions, for the take-off of their various business.

    There are success recorded in the implementation of the employment of 500,000 graduates, All over the country between 5000 and 10,000 youths are to be registered for training and loan empowerment in each state of Nigeria, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme. The youths under the programme are to be registered to undergo training on various skilled enterprises and to be empowered financially to become self-employed.

    Another N-Power programme initiated by the Buhari Administration started since 2016, by December 1st, 2016, at least 200,000 graduates left the countries unemployment club. The N-Power engaged and trained 500,000 unemployed graduates in the areas of education, agriculture and health management, with payment of N30,000 per month for 2 years in their localities.

    The trained graduates after 2 years would be self-employed and empowered materially and financially. This is one of loudable achievements of Buhari Administration.

     

    Agricultural development and industrialisation

    The empowerment of farmers and would-be farmers through skillful training, supply of materials, equipments and finance help a lot in boosting agricultural employment and self-employment throughout the country. The farmers are provided with hectares of Land, farming seedlings, chemicals, fertilizers and equipments including tractors for rentage at low and affordable rates. One of the noticeable outcomes are flooding of the markets with garri and Nigerian rice with reduced prices.

    The creation of enabling atmosphere through the increment in power generation from 4000MV to 7500MV, effective distribution and marketing encouraged investors to come to Nigeria to established industries. The existing industries also increased their productivities. The improved production definely brought down prices of commodities; Mostly rice and garri. The markets in the country are mostly flooded with well-packed Nigerian rice.

    There was proper enlightment and encouragement of individual, and cooperate bodies to the Functions  of Bank of industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and (NEXIM) Nigeria Export, Import Bank in Buhari Administration.

    There was also improvement in the foreign exchange market (FOREX) all these are catalysts for employment.

    As entrenched in Nigeria Constitution, the position of the President is contestable for two terms, each for four years in the office.

    President Mohammadu Buhari should be allowed to go for the second term because of his government good  performance during his fist tenure of year 2015 to 2019 and for continuation to complete any outstanding project and embarkment  on the remaining.

    The need for Buhari to be voted for as the president of Nigeria now become very necessary to actualize the rotation of the president office between the Northern and Southern Nigeria.

    Buhari has fulfilled a greater percentage of his electioneering campaign promises to Nigerians during his campaign tour in 2015 across the country.

    PMB should be voted in as president of Nigeria under All Progressive Congress (APC) political party in the coming February 16th 2019 Presidential election to complete his second term tenure, to pave way easily for the Southern Nigerian presentation of Presidential candidates by all the political parties in the year 2023. Otherwise, the victory of any other major political party apart from the incumbent APC party would definitely translate into occupation of the president office for another two term tenure from the year 2019 to 2027, because the victorious major political party would also struggle to come back for second term to win the presidential election of the year 2023.

    Since independence in 1960 up till date, 14 Head of States and civilian presidents have ruled Nigeria. 9 from North, 5 from south. In the past, some geo-political zones have not had their citizen either becoming Head of State or President of Nigeria. If Nigerians truly want peace and unity, let us put in our constitution the rotation of the office of the President, let us follow it honestly and sincerely. Let President Tenure be a term of 6 years in office.

    In many advanced countries, the electorate vote for their political parties according to their manifestoes and capabilities of their candidates and not for money.

    It is crystal clear that the APC political party manifesto lay emphasis on their pursuit for “Good Governance”, while the PDP manifesto put, premium on “restructuring Nigeria”, with no particular areas or what to be restructured, which I believe would result to mare political gym stick, because the North has never hide their opposition to any type of restructuring in Nigeria.

    Rationally, it is the turn of the southern part of the country to present Presidential candidates for registered political party in Nigeria in 2023.

    A serious consideration, for the entrenchment into the Nigeria constitutions, the rotation of the office of the President of Nigeria and commander-in-chief of Armed forces, should be given now without delay, to reduce to the bearest minimum the much crisis and calamities usually experienced during campaign and elections into political offices.

    There are six geo-political zones in Nigeria. Zones should produce presidential candidates rotationally. The advantages are many, less contestants to president office, and other political offices, therefore less statistical problems for INEC, less  Crisis, genuine harmony and unity in Nigeria.

    If the nation can strictly observe federal character cum quota systems to create balance in education and in many other areas, then, we should be able to place emphasis on the rotation of the office of the President for all Nigerians to have sense of belongingness and unity.

     

  • Polls: Buhari raises alarm over influx of foreign currency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed astonishment at the huge amount of foreign currency flooding the country intended to influence the general elections beginning on Saturday.

    He spoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, issued on Thursday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

    President Buhari, however, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”

    Read Also: ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    “The EFCC success followed the presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.”

    Reassuring the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing, the President again appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above all others, as they troop out to cast their votes in the coming elections.

  • ‘Why Buhari gave directive on ballot box snatching’

    National Chairman of the Door-to-Door Campaign group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign, Bola Ilori, has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to prosecute ballot box snatchers during the Saturday’s election.

    He said the directive was to guard against manipulations during the polls, stressing the pronouncement would curtail killings and maiming during elections and prevent electoral stealing.

    Ilori, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while leading canvassers to different parts of the state in furtherance of the door-to-door and market -to-market mobilisation strategy of the Field Operations of the Directorate of APC Presidential Campaign Council.

    The former Osun state commissioner for Regional Integration said the APC was prepared for a free and fair election on Saturday.

    According to him, the achievements of the Buhari- led administration cut across the various sectors of the nation’s economy, assuring he would be re-elected.

    Ilori said Buhari’s administration has achieved in the areas of rural development, social investment programmes and far reaching reforms in other areas of the economy.

    He appealed to voters to choose Buhari and other APC candidates from Saturday.

    He assured the people that if President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are reelected on Saturday, Nigerians would enjoy more of the numerous social investment programmes their administration has embarked upon since inception.

    Ilori said: “God used Moses to take the Israelites from Egypt as He first led them into the wilderness, not five star hotel.

    “Some people complained about hardships in the wilderness and made another god to lead them back to Egypt, thereby unwittingly turned a journey of 40 days to 40yrs.

    “Eventually Moses led them out of the wilderness and handed them over to a Joshua that led them to the Promise land.

    “It is clear that Nigeria has left PDP’s Egypt through Moses Buhari, but currently in a wilderness Moses is laying a solid foundation for a Joshua to get Nigerians to the promise land.

    “The Next Level is not to go back to Egypt but to move to the Promised land and we shall get there.

    He said the President was against ballot box snatching, stressing that order was to check against the perpetration of extra judicial killings during elections.