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Tag: BUHARI

  • Support Buhari, Osinbajo for genuine transformation – Group

    Support Buhari, Osinbajo for genuine transformation – Group

    A support group for the All Progressives Congress(APC),Change Network Initiative(CNI) has urged the people of Ondo State to join the crusade for the victory of the party’s Presidential Candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

    CNI is a group of APC Aspirants who came together after losing party primaries in their various constituencies across the country.

    Their mission was to work for the victory of all Candidates that emerged after the primaries through aggressive mobilisation of the electorate.

    Speaking to reporters at the APC Secretariat, Akure Thursday, the CNI Chairman, Austin Ola Pelemo said as a forum for all APC Aspirants across the country, they were determined to put their resources together for the victory of all the candidates of the party.

    He said the group apart from embarking on aggressive one-on-one campaign round all the 18 local government areas, had provided bill boards, posters and other souvenirs for many of the Candidates.

    According to him, “the project is self-sponsored, we levied ourselves without minding the huge resources we spent before our primaries and we eventually lost out, but we still resolved to join the candidates to ensure victory for them.”

    Pelemo urged the people opposing the usage of Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) particularly the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to desist, stressing that this is the only way to prevent electoral fraud.

  • Students play Jonathan, Buhari at debate

    Students play Jonathan, Buhari at debate

    Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State have held a mock presidential debate ahead of the March 28 election. The debaters, who stood on the platform of either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marshalled points on why their parties should win the election. The parking lot of the students’ Union Building was aglow for the event. AFEES LASISI (300-Level Political Science) reports.

    Call it a mock presidential debate and you won’t be wrong. But the discussants had a common purpose – the progress of the country. They made their presentation without rancour. They explained how their adopted parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – would achieve their goals – if elected.

    These were no candidates contesting elections; they are students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Last Friday, they participated in a debate organised by the leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    The car park of the Students’ Union Building (SUB) was filled by students who came to listen to the programmes of both parties. The debate, which was part of the union’s leadership conference, was put together by Akorede Awode, its Assistant General Secretary.

    Akorede said the debate was to enlighten students on the party with the best programmes and candidate in the March 28 presidential election.

    President Goodluck Jonathan is PDP’s candidate; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is for APC. Both parties were represented by students at the debate.

    PDP’s representatives were Goodluck Osaretin and Samuel Fakiyesi. Ismaheel Bayewunmi represented APC. The session was moderated by Olatayo Shittu, the General Secretary and Seun Fakorede, a student.

    APC, PDP clash at students' debate...students at the conferenceSamuel, one of the PDP discussants, argued that President Jonathan should be given another chance to bring his Transformation Agenda to fruition, noting that the president’s programmes had brought meaningful development in the last six years. He said another four years of Jonathan would be to the country’s good.

    He said: “President Jonathan has allowed other arms of government to function freely without meddling in their affairs. The entrepreneurship programmes introduced by the president have created millions of jobs for  youths. We have also enjoyed freedom of speech unlike what we used to have under the military.

    “The signing of Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill into law has brought about free press and people can criticise the government without fear of arrest. The president has boosted education with the establishment of more federal universities across regions. The increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has made our economy to grow faster, thereby making the nation largest economy in Africa.”

    But APC’s Ismaheel said there was a difference between economic growth and economic development.

    Economic growth, he said, is the number of sustained businesses and investment in the country. He defined economic development as the impact of the growth on the masses. He punctured PDP’s debaters’ claim of economic development, saying the condition of living of the masses has worsened.

    Ismaheel challenged his opponents to explain why the value of naira is falling against the dollar if truly the economy is growing. He asked them to provide statistics of jobs created yearly by the Jonathan administration in the last five years.

    Insurgency in the Northeast, Ismaheel argued, attests to the failure of the PDP-led Federal Government. Courageous leadership, he added, is needed to combat the Boko Haram menace, saying Gen. Buhari remained the best man for the top job.

    He said: “Under the PDP administration, the rate of corruption has increased and the nation has gone down further in corruption rating. To redeem the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations, we need an incorruptible and a tested leader, who will lead by example. It must be someone whose antecedent speaks volume in effective leadership and ability to fight corruption.

    “All these attributes are found in Gen Buhari. I am convinced that he has what it takes to lead this nation and pave the way for real growth and development in all sectors. If our economy is stabilised, the widening gap between the dollar and naira would close and the economy would grow. APC would proffer solutions to the insecurity challenge claiming innocent lives  daily. Also, education is one of the priorities in the APC manifesto; we should expect re-structuring of the education system for better and quality education.”

    In his counter-argument, the second PDP discussant, Goodluck, said corruption had been in the system before the incumbent came to power. He said the president had fought corruption than any of his predecessors, stressing that Jonathan would do more to stop graft if re-elected.

    Goodluck said: “We must never allow a dictator to steer the affairs of this nation in a democratic period. He would infringe on the fundamental rights of the people and prosecute people he perceives as personal enemies. President Jonathan is an unrepentant democrat and he is the best man to lead the country.”

    In his closing remarks, Ismaheel said: “We have several challenges facing the nation and these are caused by years of PDP misrule. We must vote in Gen. Buhari to move this country forward.”

    There were questions and contributions from members of the audience. Many were convinced beyond doubts who to vote in the presidential election.

    A guest, Pastor Peter Alabi of Rhema Word Church, said the presidential election would re-define the country’s destiny, adding: “This is an election that has generated more than a passing interest on the people in the history of this country. No one knows who would win or lose.”

    He advised the students not be induced by material property before voting for a party, urging them to vote according to their conscience.

    Olawale Kessington, a graduate of the university, said a leader who could not tackle the nation’s challenges has no right to be in office.

    Akorede said the debate was to make students decide which party to vote for in the general elections. He promised to organise a post-election debate that would feature Edo State Chief of Staff Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon.

  • Yobe APC mobilises grassroots support for Buhari

    Yobe APC mobilises grassroots support for Buhari

    The Buhari Support Organization (BSO) in Yobe State has called on the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during the March 28 polls.

    As part of its mobilisation drive, the group headed by Mohammed Ali Tanimu has put together a sensitisation forum in Damaturu, the state capital.

    The event, which was held at the BSO office complex along Maiduguri Road, brought together  the 17 local government coordinators. At the campaign, seasoned politicians spoke on votes protection, politics without violence, discouraging money politics among the electorate and the role of women in mobilisation of voters.

    One of the guest speakers and one-time presidential aspirant, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, said there is the need for voters to “jealously guide their votes from the point of casting it to the collation and counting.”

    Yusuf, who is also the former Chairman of Damaturu Local Government and a member of the 1999 Constitutional Conference, charged coordinators to take their assignment seriously, particularly the idea of mobilising  grassroot support for Gen. Buhari.

    He said: “From what I have seen, most of you are young with a lot of energy. Your age reminds me of the time we were young politician in 1959. I want to use this opportunity to call on all of you not to use your energy for violence, but to deploy it towards mobilising support at your various local governments for Gen. Buhari.”

    The Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Political Affairs, Aji Yerima Bularafa, lamented the decision to postpone the election, saying it is a rape on democracy. He however reminded the coordinators of the message of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari who has called on all his supporters to remain calm.

    The Political Adviser, however, noted that the decision of INEC to postphone the election is purely the script of the PDP-led government as according to him, the PDP is jittery of Buhari’s victory at the polls hence their fear to conduct the election.

  • I want to serve, not dictate – Buhari

    I want to serve, not dictate – Buhari

    General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that as President, he was seeking to serve the Nigerian nation and not to dictate.

    General Buhari went on to ask Nigerians to be weary of those individuals who speak derogatory words about fellow human beings.

    Speaking through his Vice Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at a town hall meeting with religious leaders in Kaduna, Buhari stressed that leadership was not a one man show.

    “We have to work together, we must come together putting religious sentiments aside and rise above the vicious lies the propagandists seeing those negative comments as nothing but a wicked mind trying to incite same wickedness in the generality of people,’ he said.

    According to him, the prospects of elections are heated in themselves all over the world ‘so we do a great injustice to ourselves if we begin to insult the things that we hold dear and believe in’.

    He said: “I greet you all with gladness and express my delight to be amongst you in this engagement. “There is no doubt in our heart that this gathering is a good one to help us re-establish the goodness in being in each others’ company.

    “It is also not a secret, especially due to the forthcoming elections that some groups are being tagged as religiously intolerant of the other. I hope that this gathering will help quell such unfair sentiments.

    “As our nation approaches perhaps the most crucial election on our history, all true patriots are called to deeper reflection of the basic ingredients that bonds the nation together – these being our common freedom, peace and unity.

    “This reflection is even more relevant in the face of the illegal postponement of the General elections, a feat achieved through various sinister ploys and with the sole aim of avoiding the will and verdict of the people.
    “In these, I feel the urge to communicate my personal vision and thoughts to the people of our great nation especially on the question of religion, a sensitive matter for many citizens that has become the most frequently used tool by the ruling party.
    “I must add that no one is exempted from over zealousness where faith is concerned.
    “Just as the Christians believe so much in their cause, so also do the Muslims as well as other religions in our country.

    “However, those who deliberately disseminate divisive disinformation and attempt to stoke primordial sentiments using religion or ethnicity and create fear in the minds of people fail the standard of patriotism that this nation demands of them and deserves from them.

    “There are talks today about the fear of Isamisation or Christianisation of the Nigeria states by my running mate and I or by our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is absolutely against elevating any religion to a state religion.

    “That said, our religion or faith is expected to guide us, such that the good that we do transcend into good living conditions and to make life more abundant in our communities, states and the country at large.

    “It seems though that the exact tenets of our beliefs have been abandoned, but often revisited only for self gratification.

    “I would like to solemnly declare that in spite of what our detractors say, I am not a religious fanatic of any sort and I have never been.

    “In all my life, I have never supported extremism of any kind and nowhere in my record of service to our nation can this false toga which political detractors have tried so hard to put on me be substantiated.

    “Indeed, it is very unfortunate and I feel extremely sad that I have to give this type of assurance at this time in our national life.

    “Let me reiterate that I Muhammadu Buhari have come as an individual to serve and not to dictate and as a President, if given the opportunity I nurture no ambition to Islamise the country, either is my running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo nursing any ulterior agenda to Christianise the country.

    “Please be clear that no member of our team puts one religion above the other or one interest above another.

    “My background is in the Army and there is no doubt that the military is one of the most integrated pan-Nigerian institutions in this country. And even today, the military is one of the few national institutions that represent the pride of our nation’s possibilities in unity.

    “Soldiers from every nook and cranny of this country come together, work and live together, entrust their lives to each other and integrate their families.

    “It is a military where many of my dearest friends, from all faiths and parts of the country lost their lives defending the unity of our nation. That was the military I served in. In the Nigeria military that I know and can speak of, it was impossible to be a bigot.

    “Just as it will be considered favoritism when someone is favored based on his affiliations even when he is less worthy of the favour, so also is the grievances of favoritism when religious sentiments is brought into a democracy or into a highly sensitive issue as choosing the leader of an entire country.

    “In our Qur’an and Bible, we were never told that leaders were chosen because they were Jewish or Israelites. But because they have what it takes to liberate the people of God because they have what it takes to make the people realise the intended good and potentials for the growth and benefits the society.
    “In most sincerity of heart, I urge you all to have a discerning mind, double check any individual who speaks about another person in ways derogatory to the dignity of a human being, surely, our faiths preach against back bitters and gossips.

    “I enjoin all of us to exhibit the virtue of tolerance because where your strength gives way is where the strength of the other Person begins- that strength is what you both need to forge ahead and it is the collective strength that we need as a people to build our nation.

    “Tolerance because the supporters of Sharia are protecting their customs as the Sharia law is synonymous with customary laws covering customs of marriage, divorce and inheritance which cannot be forced on people who do not subscribe to it, but expecting understanding from them in appreciation of their customs.

    “This tolerance should guide us because even in the south of Nigeria where there are no laws like Sharia, we still experience some level of lawlessness and jungle justice and inhuman treatment.

    “So, it is not about the law; it is simple that we have lost the sense of dignity that should accrue to the human person. We now only see religion, tribe, place of origin and so on when we look at our neighbours.

    “If we know the sacredness of the position of leadership, we would wish only those after our heart assume such positions; Those who have us at hearts because of the genuineness of their intentions and deeds; those who will be quick to rise to your defense rather than deny the attack or ask for proof of attack.

    “I expect leaders to treat this position like a religion; knowing that they have been put there in trust that they will manage affairs well and make sure that no member of any community is neglected.

    “Truth be told, any leader who continues to show signs of increased wealth while the people cried of hunger has not been true to his faith.

    “Nations around the world are envious of our diversity. They covet the strength in our diversity. We should focus on having a leader who stands as a rallying point around whom people can gather.

    “One who will mend fences and build bridges so that when called to give account of stewardship, he can boldly say ‘not one of the people you have given me have I lost in the course of our journey”.

    “Leadership is not a one man show. So, we have to work together, we must come together putting religious sentiments aside and rise above the vicious lies the propagandists seeing those negative comments as nothing but a wicked mind trying to incite same wickedness in the generality of people.

    “I dare say that the prospects of elections are heated in themselves all over the world so we do a great injustice to ourselves if we begin to insult the things that we hold dear and believe in.

    “I believe I am speaking the minds of most if I say that Nigeria and Nigerians are tired of the hopeless state and the hopelessness our country has been plunged into. We want to have faith in our leaders, as we do in our religions, a faith that will help us recognize the strength in our diversity and in the long run, unit us as a nation.

    God bless Nigeria as we struggle again to build a united Nigeria in faith, service and good works”.

    Some of those present at the town hall meeting with the Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC in Kaduna state.

    Others include Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex, Senator Tokumbo Afikuyomi, former INEC Secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Gen. Mohammed Magoro and former Director General of National Orientation Agency, Alhaji Idi Farouk,

  • Party dismisses rumour of Buhari serving one term

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked the rumour allegedly being peddled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will spend only one term in office, if elected President.

    It said it was the creation of the PDP, “which is seeking to play a section of the country against another”.

    APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, said: “The APC will not abridge the right of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to spend the constitutionally-guaranteed two terms as president, if elected in the March 28 polls.

    “No conditionality whatsoever was attached to Gen. Buhari’s candidacy. He won the party primaries fair and square in a globally-acclaimed transparent manner, and he was neither a compromise nor a consensus candidate, hence there is no need for him to make a deal with anyone.

    “We are, therefore, telling Nigerians to disregard the tales by the moonlight which some PDP elements are yarning, in their desperation to muddle the waters ahead of the forthcoming elections and create disaffection between a section of the country and another.”

    The party said it had ignored the myth all long because it was being peddled by fringe elements in the PDP, but decided to put the record straight once and for all after those who were thought to be saner elements in the ruling party started parroting the same incredulous lies.

    “his myth that Buhari will spend one term, after which power will return to the South-west, is along the same line as the outlandish claim that our vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has sworn to an oath to resign in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu once elected.

    “The question to ask is: When will the PDP stop this campaign of calumny and character assassination against our candidates and leaders? When will they stop this one-day, one-lie nonsense?

    “The truth is that Gen. Buhari’s candidacy has brought out the worst in the PDP leadership and supporters, including Mr. President and his wife. Unfortunately for them, the more they campaign against our candidate, the more popular he becomes. Perhaps the PDP would have stood a better chance of winning the forthcoming polls if its state governors, in particular, have devoted as much time and energy to running their states as they have devoted to maligning Gen. Buhari,’’ the party said.

  • ‘Buhari’ll solve Nigeria’s problem’

    Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). He said Buhari is the panacea to the problems bedeviling Nigeria.

    The deputy governor spoke on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole when he received leaders and members of APC from Ogwa community Ward 1 in Esan West Local Government Area.

    Odubu, who lamented the infrastructural decay and economic quagmire in Nigeria, stressed that the APC’s presidential candidate have all it takes to fix Nigeria.

    He urged the leadership and members of APC in Ogwa Ward to redouble their efforts to ensure victory for the APC.

    Spokesman for Ogwa community Prince Eddy Imaralu said their visit was to reassure the governor of their continued loyalty and support for the administration and the APC.

    Imaralu emphasised that 193 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Ogwa Ward 1 recently defected to the APC.

     

  • I ‘ll confront insecurity with grit, says Buhari

    I ‘ll confront insecurity with grit, says Buhari

    THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said his administration will confront insecurity with determination.

    He expressed outrage and grief at the latest terrorist suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri, which left scores of people dead.

    In a condolence message in Abuja yesterday through his media campaign committee, Gen. Buhari said the frequency with which terrorists destroy lives and property embarrassed him beyond measure.

    According to him, terrorism achieved nothing good for anybody and  that nothing could justify the endless and brutal violence targeted at innocent people, which also destroyed the economic and social lives of the people in areas where terrorists were notoriously active.

    Gen. Buhari, however, called for increased vigilance, stressing that the ease with which suicide bombers blend with law-abiding citizens and reach their targets undetected was disturbing.

    He explained that majority of the people had no idea about the features and characteristics of suicide bombers, and could not, therefore, identify such killers in their company.

    The statement extended Buhari’s condolences to the families of the victims of the latest terrorist attacks on Maiduguri.

    The APC presidential candidate also condoled with the families of those affected by the violence in Rivers State, in which some unidentified gunmen attacked and killed APC supporters.

    Another statement in Lagos yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, condoled with the families of those killed in the Maiduguri blast as well as the government and people of Borno State.

    It prayed God to grant repose to the souls of the innocent citizens, who were sent to their early graves, while wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery.

    “As we have said many times, nothing in the world justifies the killing of innocent men, women and children, and the cowards who have continued to kill and maim must realise that they will not escape justice, no matter how long it takes,” APC said.

     

  • Ondo Hausa community for Buhari

    Leaders of the Hausa community in the 18 local governments in Ondo State yesterday met in Akure, the state capital, to strategise for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

    The APC supporters debunked the report from “faceless people”, who claimed to have endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A statement by the leader of the APC Hausa Community, Mallam Bala Umaru, dissociated his members from the purported support given to President Jonathan.

    The statement reads: “After an emergency executive meeting of our group, we re-affirm our resolve as bonafide members of the Ondo Hausa Community in support of APC and its candidates.

    “We are saying emphatically that all our members across all local governments have resolved to use our human and material resources to ensure victory for Buhari and other APC candidates.

    “Nobody can blindfold us, we have been in this state for several years now. We want the positive change many Nigerians are yearning for.”

  • Mbeki, Abdulsalami in closed door meeting with Buhari

    Mbeki, Abdulsalami in closed door meeting with Buhari

    Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar Monday, stormed Kaduna to meet with the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari over the forth coming general elections.

    At the end of the meeting which was held behind closed doors at General Buhari’s office along Jabi Road in an eyebrow area of Kaduna metropolis Monday morning, neither the visitors, nor General Buhari spoke with newsmen.

    Mbeki and Abdulsalami left to the Kaduna International Airport to fly back to Abuja after a photo session which marked the end of the over one hour meeting.

    However, a source close to General Buhari told our Correspondent that, the meeting was unconnected with the Presidential election rescheduled for March 28.

    According to the source who spoke unofficially said, “They are here to prevail on General Buhari not to probe Jonathan after emerging President in the coming election.”

    He went further to say that, “you see, they have realized that, all efforts to turn Nigerians against General Buhari have failed and all manner of opinion polls have favoured the old man, even the ones the government organized.

    “They have also made several attempts to make the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu compromise and sell out, but he has refused. So, having realized that, Buhari will win the election, they have been sending people to prevail on him not to probe Jonathan for his misdeed.

    “So, this delegation was sent to beg General Buhari not to probe President Goodluck Jonathan after winning the election,” said.

  • Elections beyond Jonathan, Buhari, says Presidency

    Elections beyond Jonathan, Buhari, says Presidency

    Is President Goodluck Jonathan afraid of an election?

    That was the question yesterday as one of his aides spoke on the March 28 poll.

    The poll, he said, is beyond the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, said the elections are about the stability of the country.

    Urging the North to wait for the 2019 Presidency, he said when Jonathan completes his second term, the region would have what he described as an “unequivocal” and “indisputable” opportunity to rule for eight years.

    According to him, the Yoruba are no longer causing trouble because their son has been allowed to rule Nigeria for eight years.

    “Why can we not concede this remaining four years?” he queried.

    He also said the North had always been the Nigeria’s political stabilising group.

    Said Okupe: “The North, since independence, has been the political stabilising group in this country. The North is far more advanced than any section of this country in terms of politics and political leadership. When MKO died and civilian politics was brought back for us to vote, the North sat down and met and decided that because of the injustice done to the Yoruba people, the Yoruba must present the next president at that time.”

    “And they called this nation to accept and buy into a national consensus to patronise Yoruba people. And that had a salutary effect on the political stability of this country. That is the role the North has always played in the politics of Nigeria.”

    “The consideration and implication of the 2015 general elections for this country go beyond Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.  It is beyond both of them. It is about stability of this country. And both the North and the South have always given concessionary consideration to each other. When we went for independence, the North was not ready; the South waited.”

    “In 1958, the colonial masters had agreed to give Nigeria independence, but the North said they were not ready. Nnamdi Azikwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other southern leadership conceded. They agreed and said they would wait for their brothers.  So, we did not start the concession for peace just now.”

    “We have always tried to balance the polity and not create problems in this country. Now, Goodluck Jonathan comes from an area that, in perpetuity, has always been the strongest ally of the North.”