The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Why Nigeria is static, by Buhari

    Why Nigeria is static, by Buhari

    ALL Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has named social injustice, insecurity and poor economy as contributing to Nigeria being static.

    The former head of state spoke at the weekend in Onitsha, when he visited the commercial city for the burial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Chike Ofodile (SAN).

    He argued that a society, where social injustice, insecurity and poor economy reigned could not stand, adding that it was bound to fall as Nigeria was falling.

    He said he was disturbed that the Federal Government did not allow the National Assembly to set up a panel to investigate the appropriation of billions of naira budgeted to fight insurgency in the Northeast as well as the transparency of Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) privatisation and petroleum subsidy.

    On why he was persistent in contesting the presidential election even after  three occasions and failing, Buhari declared: “I am contesting based on my efforts to institute social justice, adequate security and economic recovery”.

    Onitsha stood still for the APC leader and his entourage, which included the Senator representing Anambra Central zone, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, with APC supporters and Onitsha youths singing, beating drums and dancing.

    They also visited the country home of Nigeria’s first president, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, where they were received by his first son, Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe.

    Ofodile, who served under Buhari’s administration, was the Onowu Iyasele (Prime Minister of Onitsha).

    Buhari and his entourage also visited the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Onitsha as well as the Anglican Bishop of the Niger, Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo, before departing to Asaba Airport from where he boarded a flight back to Abuja.

    He said Ofodile performed creditably as his then justice minister, adding that he was particularly impressed with Ofodile for defending him properly at the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa panel set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to verify the activities of past regimes.

    Buhari noted that he deliberately refused to appear before the Oputa panel on the grounds that Obasanjo should take him to court, if he felt that he was found wanting during his regime.

    He added that it was Ofodile that volunteered himself and went to the panel to defend him.

    Buhari and Ngige, at the residence of the late Ofodile, paid their last respects by his remains, which were still lying on the bed where they also signed the condolence register.

    Ngige described the death of Ofodile as a great loss to Nigeria and Ndigbo.

  • ‘Buhari’s presidency ’ll end corruption’

    ‘Buhari’s presidency ’ll end corruption’

    The Oyo State Coordinator of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), Deacon Abimbade Oyemakinde, has said Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s envisaged victory in next year’s presidential election will end corruption and impunity in the country.

    The coordinator said corruption had retarded the nation’s progress.

    In a statement at the weekend in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Oyemakinde said a mention of Buhari’s name, when he was Head of State, was an effective mantra and antidote against corruption in the public and private sectors.

    This, he said, would become the vogue as Buhari was never known to condone corruption.

    He urged Nigerians to support the APC aspirant to enable him end corruption in the country.

  • Why Buhari should be APC candidate, by Shagaya

    Why Buhari should be APC candidate, by Shagaya

    Former Minister of Internal Affair General John Shagaya has said in Abuja that the time has come for Nigerians  to elect a leader, who is capable of bringing back the nation’s lost glory.

    Speaking at a news conference organised by the Buhari Friends Organisation,  Shagaya said that Nigeria is lagging behind its counterparts because of corruption and insecurity in the land.

    He said it is unfortunate that Nigeria, which was a recognised as a continental power a few years ago because of her exploit in peace keeping in other African countries is not able to deal with pocket of insurgents who are occupying cities  with impunity.

    He said: “Nigeria was two years ago recognised as a continental power and a great contributor to world peace, hence, we were elected a non- voting member of the security council. I said in the last two years because the world has began to frown against some of the happenings in this country. There is a high level of insecurity and corruption.

    “The western world is saying this is the Nigeria that saved Tangayyika, now Tanzania. We were in Rwanda and Angola and other parts of Agrica. How come that we cannot cure ourselves of minor misdemeanor? The solution can be found in the statement of the America Secretary of State in Europe  that we have corrupt and porous leadership. These two factors have contributed to insecurity”.

    Speaking on why Buhari should be given the mandate to lead the country, he said: “This man we are hoping that Nigerians will give the opportunity to rule is incorruptible and fearless.

    “He is one man who in 1984, when the World Bank decided that we must swallow line, hook and sinker heavy conditionalities in Nigeriia, he stood up and said, I must consult my country because Nigeria must not be judged on western values because we are a developing nation. You know what happened when we began to bite the conditionalities of the World Bank. When he made this speech in 1984, the naira was equivalent to 2.2 dollars.

    “Today, you need a basket of naira to buy one dollar. Those are the qualities he has. He is a man that most Nigerians who are not hungry would want to rule this country. Of course, democracy is a game of numbers and I know that all of us from different background who love this country will say that we have someone we respect and will be respected by the continental bodies. Since Nigeria cannot operate in a vacuum, we need someone that the world can accept for us to develop and progress together.

    “There is, no doubt, that our leaders have done the best from the beginning in 1960 and even the struggle for, independence through the civil war until the last few years. All I believe that the Friends of Buhari are saying today is that we are declining, instead of climbing to the top of the ladder. This is were the entire world did not expect us to be.

    “Whether as Christians or Muslims or non-believers, we must realise that we must govern this country with a high sense of responsibility through incorruptible citizens as well as men and women that the world and our various communities will respect.

    “I want to say that, if other Nigerians listen to you, they should vote one man, General Muhammadu Buhari, and by so doing, we will be back to the great nation that we were a few years back and we will not be losing 16 local governments to Boko Haram. In some states like mine, we have 17 local governments and, if they occupy 16 local governments, it means that an entire state has been lost”.

    The National Coordinator of Buhari Friends Organisation, Saint Athanasius Okon, appealled to the leadership of the APC to look inward and give the party’s presidential ticket to the former  leader.

    He also appeal to other aspirants on the platform of the party to reconsider their position and adopt the retired  General. He added. “They should do justice to the man who has been fighting for us so that we should have a better society. They should give him a consensus ticket.

    “Other aspirants should give the ticket to the man they were using to consult. Let him carry the flag so that it will be easy for the younger ones to follow. He stands for equity. Allow merit to thrive over mediocrity. Plead, that we do more work by going to mobilise potential delegates.”

  • Why Buhari should be president – Shagaya

    Why Buhari should be president – Shagaya

    Former Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen. John Shagaya (rtd), said Wednesday in Abuja the time has come for Nigerians to elect a leader that would bring back the nation’s lost glory.

    Speaking at a news conference organized by Buhari Friends Organisation in Abuja, Shagaya said Nigeria is lagging behind its counterparts because of corruption and insecurity in the land.

    The former minister said it is unfortunate that Nigeria that was recognized as a continental power a few years ago because of her exploits in peace keeping operations in other African countries is unable to deal with pocket of insurgents who daily occupy cities in the country with impunity.

    He said “Nigeria was two years ago recognised as a continental power and a great contributor to world peace hence we were elected a non- voting member of the United Nations Security Council. I said in the last two years because the world has begun to frown against some of the happenings in this country. There is a high level of insecurity and corruption.

    “The west is saying this is the Nigeria that saved Tangayyika, now Tanzania, we were in Rwanda and Angola and other parts of Africa. How come that we cannot cure ourselves if minor misdemeanor?  The solution can be found in the statement of the America Secretary of State in Europe where he concluded that we have corrupt and porous leadership. These two factors have contributed to insecurity.”

    Speaking on why Buhari should be given the mandate to lead the country, he said, “this man we are hoping that Nigerians will give the opportunity to rule is incorruptible and fearless.

    “He is one man who in 1984, when the World Bank decided that we must swallow line, hook and sinker heavy conditionalities in Nigeria, he stood up and said, I must consult my country because Nigeria must not be judged on western values because we are a developing nation. As time goes on, you know what happened when we begin to bite the conditionalities of the World Bank. When he made this speech in 1984, the naira was equivalent to 2.2 dollars.

    “Today, you need a basket of naira to buy one dollar. Those are the qualities he has. He is a man that most Nigerians who are not hungry would want to rule this country. Of course, democracy is a game of numbers and I know that all of us from different background who love this country will say that we have someone we respect and will be respected by the continental bodies. Since Nigeria cannot operate in a vacuum, we need someone that the world can accept for us to develop and progress together.

    “There is no doubt that our leaders have done the best from the beginning in 1960 and even the struggle for independence through the civil war until the last few years. All I believe that the friends of Buhari are saying today is that we are declining instead of climbing to the top of the ladder. This is where the entire world did not expect us to be.

     

  • Buhari, Amaechi and people power

    Of all the possible expressive metaphors, why did Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) go for the gun?  It would appear that the former military ruler and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential hopeful is still in love with the weapon nearly 30 years after his military government was toppled and after three futile electoral attempts to be president. He blurred the fundamental distinction between the gun and the vote at a rally in Kaduna where Nasir El-Rufai, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), formally unveiled his governorship aspiration.

    Interestingly, Buhari reportedly said to the crowd: “Your card is your gun against incompetence in government and deception.” He added: “We have suffered enough. You know what it takes to repair Nigeria, especially as regards infrastructure, security and employment. Let us get the infrastructure working; let’s get security materially, physically and morally.”

    Considering that his party’s symbol is a broom, it may have been more fitting, and by far less jolting, if Buhari had stuck to the familiar image of sweeping as a means of removing the unwanted. It is possible to interpret his language of violence as a reflection of the depth of his political frustration, which is understandable in the context of the observable continuing ruin of the country by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There is no doubt that the picture of the gun, perhaps more than any other euphemistic expression, drives the point home not only about the need for direct action but also the necessity for a destruction of the status quo.

    The suggestion of blood and death, in the framework of social resistance, was similarly communicated by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi of the APC at another rally in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed publicly announced his pursuit of re-election. In an impassioned speech, Amaechi said: “I am very impressed by the number of persons that I have seen here today. What you must do is to stop the PDP from rigging.” He continued: “When you vote, do not go home at all. They will bring soldiers and police, remain there. If they want to kill us, let them kill us. If you go home, you will hear a different result. Stay there and make sure nobody rigs you out.”

    This striking convergence of thoughts, particularly the frightening verbalisation of violence, mirrors the decay and the defiance in the country’s political arena. Against this background, next year’s general elections promise to be, in a manner of speaking, a battle to the death for the country’s soul. It may be considered reassuring that the situation is not without instances of non-violent combativeness. APC leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said at Ahmed’s event: “The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution.”  Significantly, his choice of words, even with the apparent lexical ambiguity, plays down blood and guts.

    It is a tribute to the essential concept of political sovereignty that, by clear implication, the APC’s approach is to rouse people power. It is a positive and creditable corporate stance, which has an excellent potential for achieving the desired regime change. However, the party will need to get its act together in order to surmount the objective challenges of organising for power and change, especially given the crippling socio-economic conditions that have blunted political consciousness across the country, resulting in an unbelievable atrophy of the exercise of political sovereignty. In other words, the people seem to have lost their voice, if not their votes.

    To save the sinking ship, words, whether hot or cold, will never be enough. How well the campaigners for change can demonstrate difference and distinction will likely be an indispensable factor in awakening the people. Sadly, it is still possible to argue, as various observers have done, that the opposition is yet to acquire a distinctive and unimpeachable stamp of progressivism.

    It would amount to a gross failure of discernment to trivialise the capacity of the Goodluck Jonathan administration for self-perpetuation. Indeed, Jonathan’s stunning choreographic approach to the 2015 presidential election may qualify as arguably the most systematically planned and methodically controlled pursuit of power in the country’s history of democratic politics, which should not necessarily be seen in constructive terms. Consider his unprecedented exclusive endorsement for re-election by the PDP state governors, Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee, which effectively foreclosed the conventional presidential primary to choose a candidate.  Add to this picture the reinforcing activities of the myriad Jonathan support groups practically begging him to be the PDP presidential candidate in the coming election.

    In a manner that may have been thought impossible based on reason, the desperadoes have not only redefined the noble concept of “transformational government”; they have also gone to the ridiculous extent of labelling the Jonathan administration as an exemplary case in point. It is instructive to note that Jonathan has continued to display a reptilian sneakiness, and perhaps the ultimate joke concerning his open concealment of his re-election ambition must be his show at his party’s September 20 “Southwest sensitisation rally.”  In his speech on the occasion, he referred to the various endorsements and introduced a calculated complication. He said: “I also have the right of refusal and I thank the party for giving me the opportunity.”

    Whoever thought he might exercise this “right of refusal” must be living on another planet. So, news that he had set up a Presidential Declaration Committee to work towards a November date when he would formally declare his presidential ambition was unsurprising. When he eventually pronounces his hunger for power, or finally puts his power-hungry scheming beyond question, the countdown to an unforgettable power struggle would begin in earnest.

    There is no doubt that the country is at a historical juncture of colossal consequence. It is a ripe moment for a full and far-reaching performance by the people, who will need to reclaim their sovereignty by seizing the stage. It remains to be seen whether they would be guided by Buhari’s image of the gun, or Amaechi’s be-ready-for-death presentation, or Tinubu’s picture of a thorough sweep.

  • Buhari to Nigerians: Shun apathy, collect your voter cards

    Buhari to Nigerians: Shun apathy, collect your voter cards

    Former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has urged eligible voters not to allow apathy to stop them from collecting their permanent voter cards as the 2015 general election draws closer.

    Buhari made the appeal on Wednesday in Katsina during mobilisation tour to urge his supporters to collect and register for the new permanent voter cards being issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “I hereby appeal to all Nigerians, especially my supporters to register and collect their voter cards.

    “I want the youths that have attained the age of 18 years to strive hard and register so that they can vote in 2015.

    “I don’t want you to allow apathy and disenchantment arising from what happened in the past to prevent or discourage you from exercising your rights,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the All Progressives Congress presidential hopeful as saying during the tour.

    He called on the APC youths’ wing to rise up from their slumber and protect their votes in 2015.

    Buhari said the party was determined to prevent any form of political manipulation, especially rigging in 2015.

    “I advised all Nigerians to shine their eyes and prevent any form of political mischiefs by the opposition.

    “The APC is the party to beat in 2015 and that the party that will not take chances during the elections.

    “We are going to come out en mass and ready to defend our votes in all the nooks and crannies of the nations,” he said

    The former head of state advised the people of Katsina State and the nation in general to unite and change the present administration.

    He said the present government in the country had failed due to its inability to provide adequate security of lives and property.

     

  • Tambuwal, Buhari shun Council of State meeting

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambawal was absent yesterday at the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week, Tambuwal’s security aides were withdrawn.

    Besides, there were moves to impeach him.

    Former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and many of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were also absent when the meeting started at about 11.35 am.

    At the meeting were former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari, former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and former Head of the Interim National Government Ernest Shonekan.

    Also at the meeting were the Senate President David Mark, former chief justices Idris Kutigi and Mohammadu Uwais as well as the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Present also were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke.

    The governors at the meeting when it started included those from Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Cross Rivers, Kogi and Ebonyi.

    Katsina deputy governor and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole arrived after the meeting started.

    Also yesterday, the Police Council headed by President Goodluck Jonathan confirmed the appointment of Suleiman Abba as the substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    He was confirmed at the meeting in the Presidential Villa and thereafter admitted into the council.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Oshiomhole said Abba was confirmed after his curriculum vitae was reviewed by the council.

    He said: “We reviewed his CV, his level of competence by those who have worked with him and the council was unanimous that the acting IGP be confirmed as a substantive IG and the President was accordingly advised and the President accepted the advice and appointed Mallam Abba as the substantive IG of Police.”

    “We also recognised that the police alone won’t be able to secure lives and properties. They will need the cooperation and collaboration of every  Nigerian and when it comes to the issues of security, all of us should be seen as activists – at the community level, state level, local level and of course at the national level.

    “We also agreed to do whatever we can to support the police to provide some resources to complement Federal effort to see that the police have all that they need to ensure effective policing of Nigeria, so that they can guarantee and ensure protection of lives and properties.”

    On the call for Abba’s sack, Oshiomhole said: “Well, I think the issue is not about the person of Mr. Abba. I think the issue you are referring to is the decision of the IGP to withdraw the security detail of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Aminu Tambuwal. I’m not aware before then that anybody had issues. It is the decision of police which shocked many of us, myself inclusive, that has led to those sentiments.

    “But, incidentally, this issue was not discussed at council because as the  President advised, the matter is in court and council could not discuss it.”

    Abba, who replaced former IGP Mohammed Abubakar who retired on July 31, said: “I must tell you it is a happy moment. But it is also a moment of sober reflection. Reflection on the responsibilities and expectations. Certainly, I have to work hard to ensure that I meet up with the expectations of the office.”

    “Truly, Nigerians and in fact all people in Nigeria deserve the best from us, so that we make the environment safer and secured. I assure you having reflected on all these, we will ensure that we manage all the resources of the police, to ensure they are used judiciously for the safety and security of Nigeria”.

    On the heavy criticism that trailed the withdrawal of the police aides of the Speaker and his alleged partisanship, Abba said: “Well, that is a matter before the court and it’s prejudice for me to comment on it. I wouldn’t want to have any problem with the judiciary”.

    Asked if he was concerned that the matter was heating up the polity, he said: “Well, it is still a matter before the court and I think whatever consequences it has on the polity we have to wait for the outcome.”

    Kogi State governor Idris Wada congratulated Abba.

    He said that the president directed Vice President, Namadi Sambo, to take advantage of the National Economic Council to ensure true and adequate security.

  • Tambuwal, Buhari, APC governors shun Council of State meeting

    Tambuwal, Buhari, APC governors shun Council of State meeting

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambawal, was absent at the Council of State meeting held on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week, Tambuwal’s security aides have been withdrawn with alleged underground moves to impeach him.

    The former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and all the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were also absent when the meeting started by 11.35am.

    Those at the meeting included former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and former Head of Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.

    Also at the meeting are the Senate President, David Mark, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi, Mohammadu Uwais, National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.

    The governors at the meeting when it started are that of Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Cross Rivers, Kogi, and Ebonyi States.

    Katsina Deputy Governor also attended the meeting.

  • Voter’s card, tool to sack incompetent leaders – Buhari

    Voter’s card, tool to sack incompetent leaders – Buhari

    Former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari  (rtd)has told Nigerians to go out and obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), saying that is their tool to sack incompetent leaders in 2015.

    Buhari , who is the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, stated this in Kaduna on Monday, while speaking at a public declaration of former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s  governorship bid.

    He also endorsed El-Rufai at the occasion, saying, people of Kaduna State would be doing themselves a great favour if they elect the former minister as their governor.

    “Your card is your tool against incompetence in the government, and against the deception of Nigerians. We have suffered enough. You know what it takes to repair Nigeria, especially the infrastructure, security, and above all employment.

    “Lets us get the infrastructures working. Let’s get the security materially, physically and morally,” he stated.

    Speaking on El-Rufai, Buhari said, “I developed cold feet to come and present El-Rufai to you because of the sacrifices which he wanted to make on my behalf which I turned down. But he insisted that I must contest and I told him that if I must contest, he must also come out to contest because I believe he has the qualities required to make Kaduna State great again. These qualities are firstly competence, integrity and courage.

    “Whoever that is interested in the development of this country, and I have seen the way El-Rufai handled Abuja, we know that El-Rufai loves this country, and he is endowed with these three qualities I have mentioned.

    “So please people of Kaduna State, I assure you, I am not being arrogant, I am just being honest, if you vote El-Rufai, you are not doing him a favour, but you are doing yourself a favour.

    “He is a kind of person that will respect you if you respect yourself and if you don’t respect yourself, he will help you go down the drain. I am here deliberately to ask for your support and understanding for El-Rufai and for myself.”

     

  • Short Takes

    Short Takes

    While some said my choice – Buhari/Amaechi – cannot hurt the president, most of those who reacted said that will be the very last nail on the coffin of impunity, insecurity and corruption, otherwise known as the PDP.

    I received tonnes of reactions on the 4-part article: Periscoping APC’s Ideal Presidential Candidate. While some said my choice – Buhari/Amaechi – cannot hurt the president, most of those who reacted said that will be the very last nail on the coffin of impunity, insecurity and corruption, otherwise known as the PDP.

    Today’s SHORT TAKES, therefore, parade eloquent testimonies as to why the latter opinion will prevail, come February, 2015.

    PRESIDENT GOODLUCK                        JONATHAN

    . “Without security, there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is something we have to address and we are working towards that with vigour. But if I’m voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years.” – Jonathan to Nigerian diplomats at UNECA, Addis-Ababa, 2011.

    The only improvement I can see is public money being splashed on private companies called Gencos, Discos, whatever.

    DR REUBEN ABATI ON THE                 FIRST LADY.

    “The sober truth is that democracy is about rights and responsibilities, a democratic dispensation therefore cannot be a licence for disagreeable conduct as a norm; just as the possession of power in any form does not guarantee the right to be reckless or to ignore the etiquette required of office holders. Anyone in the corridors of power, either by chance or right, or appointment, is expected to behave decorously.

    Dame Patience Jonathan, our president’s wife, failed the test this week in Okrika, Rivers State. It is trite knowledge that there is a critical difference between Yenagoa and Abuja, and a world of difference between being the wife of a Deputy Governor/Governor/Vice president and being the wife of Nigeria’s No 1 citizen. When people suddenly find themselves in such latter position, prepared or unprepared, anywhere in the world, they are taken through a crash programme in finishing and poise and made to realise that being the wife of an important man comes with serious responsibilities. If Dame Patience went through such re-orientation, the course was incomplete. -The Guardian, Thursday, 27 August, 2010.

    SOME KEY  NIGERIANS ON                 GEN. BUHARI

    PRESIDENT SHAGARI -“After the Army  toppled our democratic regime it has option but to install Buhari as head of state so as to avoid credibility problems, especially in the sight of the international community because of his being an epitome of integrity.”

    -.PRESIDENT OBASANJO -“There are only two honest and reliable Nigerians – myself and Buhari. All what the PDP is saying of Buhari being a fundamentalist is mere hot

    lies. They just fear him. He is as reliable as he is hardworking, honest and incorruptible.”

    .GEN. ABDUSALAMI – “Buhari was honest and sincere in all his conduct that perhaps, only very few Nigerians could match him in integrity.”

    PRESIDENT JONATHAN – “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was a true patriot, respected former head of state, elder statesman and a nationalist.”

    -.LATE GEN. ABACHA (PTF INAUGURAL SPEECH).-“I have realised our collective mistake in over-throwing you. I have seen the terrible damage which our action caused to the Nigerian psyche. I am most sorry. Please, come and do what is best known about you. Patriotic service to the nation.”

    – PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BABANGIDA -“If Buhari quits PTF job as he promises, and as we knew him to mean his words all along, I will  support the idea of scrapping PTF as no one else can do the job like him. I respect Buhari. He was my boss. He was an honourable man. And I can say this anywhere.”

    .ALH. ISIYAKU IBRAHIM –  “As a member of PDP BOT, I decided personally to donate  N5,000,000 to Buhari’s campaign organisation because of my firm belief  in his ability to right all the nation’s wrongs-.

    ALHAJI ISIAKU IBRAHIM -MEMBER, PDP BOT MEMBER (at a Book launch in Kaduna) – “Buhari is as clean as the book I am holding.”

    -SEN. MAKARFI  (a former Kaduna State governor)- “If the truth must be said, Buhari remains the only real threat to PDP whether he runs for the presidency or not due to his wider followership among the masses that now hate the elite circle.”

    – BALARABE MUSA (a former Kaduna State governor) – Punch January 21, 2011 – “General Buhari rose from the rank of a Lieutenant in the army to a General. At one time, he was a GOC. He was later appointed Military Administrator of the old North-East. He was in the Petroleum Ministry as minister. In December 1983 he became Head of State via a coup. During the late General Sani Abacha’s regime, he headed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) before former President Obasanjo scrapped it. But I read in the papers where the General himself said after obtaining his CPC presidential form, which cost him over N5 million, he is now left with less than a million naira in his account. Now, my task is to challenge all of us to ensure this man becomes president. General Buhari deserves to be given a chance. When he became Head of State after the 1983 coup, thousands of Second Republic politicians, including me, were picked and locked up by the junta. But even in Kirikiri I discovered that the NPN elements among us were giving bribe to prison officials to ensure they got a double ration of food. It dawned on me that people who can offer bribes even in Kirikiri have no reason to be our leaders. Buhari was vindicated.”

    ON SPEAKER TAMBUWAL’S              RESIGNATION

    “Concerning calls for Mr. Speaker to step down from the position to which his colleagues freely elected him on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm that the Speakership of the House of Representatives, or any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, not the political platforms upon which such leaders emerge. While the case of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who as a sitting vice president moved to another political party – and did not get judicial reprobation for the act – is still fresh in our memories and the clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution easily settles the worries regarding the continued Speakership of Rt. Hon. Tambuwal. It says: ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.” It would, therefore, amount to an affront on members’ privilege to question their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freely elect their leaders. “Additionally, Order 1, Rule 1 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states: ‘In all cases not provided for hereinafter, or by sectional or other orders, precedents or practices of the House, the House shall by resolution regulate its procedure’. “It is in the light of the foregoing that the House wishes to appeal to those who seek to ‘regulate its procedure’ from outside its hallowed chambers to have a rethink, as the nation’s Constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and precedent – as in the Speakership of the late Rt. Hon. Edwin Ume-Ezeoke in the Second Republic on a minority platform – have all provided answers to what may have otherwise been a knotty political issue.” -Hon Victor Afam Ogene (Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs.)

    When I heard the government has withdrawn the Speaker’s security details, my reaction was: very good; there goes the 2015 budget in flames!