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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, other APC leaders for Ondo rally tomorrow

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are expected tomorrow in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for the state’s presidential campaign rally.

    Already, Akure streets have been adorned with President Buhari’s posters and billboards – from the Airport, Eleyewo, running through Oba-Ile dual carriageway to Akure metropolis.

    Intermittent radio jingles and television advertisement by various groups and individuals have been running to educate the residents on the President’s visit.

    President Buhari is expected to address APC faithful and his admirers at a campaign rally scheduled for MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital.

    The visit is in continuation of President Buhari’s campaign for a second term in office.

    Ondo State Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu is expected to receive the President and his entourage in the town.

    During the visit, the President is expected to pay homage to the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladewusi, at his palace and meet with some top party members.

    Also expected in the entourage of the President are: Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun).

    Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Director of Buhari Campaign Organisation in the Southwest, Chief Olusola Oke, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Development, Prof. Cladius Daramola, are among other dignitaries expected to join the President.

  • ‘Buhari will win in Ondo’

    A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Tunji Light Ariyomo has expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the presidential election.

    Ariyomo, a fellow of  the Nigerian Society of Engineers, is a former National president of  the Nigerian Kungfu Federation.

    He noted that various high impact projects being executed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government will make the electorate vote for him.

    Ariyomo, in the past weeks, has sponsored door-to-door campaigns in different communities in Akure metropolis, canvassing the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo.

    As part of his strategies to ensure President Buhari emerges as winner at the February 16 poll, Ariyomo, who is former the Managing Director of EVIS Limited set up a multi-million naira empowerment programme for people of the various communities.

    His  team has been storming some communities in Akure to speak to the people on why they should re-elect President Buhari and other APC candidates in the election.

    In Constituency 1 in  Akure, at the Store Community near Adofure along Idanre Road, Ariyomo was accompanied by some big wigs of the party including the APC candidate for the House of Assembly, Akure Constituency I, Toluwani Borokini, the Supervisory Councillor of Ward 8,  Akinwumi Olabinjo. He reeled out some of the goodies the people would benefit from the re-election of the APC-led Federal Government.

    He explained that his present position as a Special Adviser is a vantage point that has enabled him to see the activities of the Federal Government in the state and that Ondo State stands better chances of gaining a better deal from the massive infrastructure development being embarked upon by the Buhari-led administration.

    He cited the proposed dualisation of Ore/Ondo/Akure road and the Ilesha/Akure/Owo/Ikare Roads and  the concerted efforts of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti to ensure the dualisation of Akure/Ado-Ekiti Road, which the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has already instructed that the engineering designs should be produced by the ministry.

    Ariyomo expressed fear, that such laudable projects could be abandoned, if Buhari is not re-elected.

    In their response, the residents of Adofure said that their major challenge is power supply.

    They complained that the transformer installed in the community  has not been energised by BEDC, thereby making life difficult for them.

    The Baale (the head of the community), Chief Sunday Erinle, who spoke on behalf of the community said: “we are suffering in our community here. Despite our large population, BEDC didn’t see it necessary to supply us power. That transformer you’re looking at has been installed there for over 5 years, but they have not activated it.

    “I must be blunt with you, in the last election, we voted massively for PDP here. They got their highest votes here. But I can assure you that because of your humility and genuineness, we will vote for APC this time. If you can also help us solve this power problem, we promise to compensate you with massive votes. We are not asking for money. Nobody in our community will collect money to vote. Please help us.”

    While responding to their request, Ariyomo assured them that he would send engineers from the Electricity Board to inspect the electricity facility and get the transformer energised without delay in conjunction with BEDC.

    The campaign train later moved to Gaga junction at Idanre motor park where the PMB/PYO campaign team was given a warm welcome by the drivers and market women.

    The encounter at Idanre Motor Park took a different dimension as some of the market women complained about unavailability of funds to trade. They claimed that any of their members was yet to benefit from several of the APC government business support interest free loans or grants such as the trader-moni. A number of them said they would have improved on their trade if they had access to fund.

    The APC chieftain in his response to the yearnings of the indigent women extended 25 slots from his personal yearly empowerment programme to the market women through their Iyaloja.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ajiboye Bose, expressed gratitude to Ariyomo, saying she was surprised at the speed at which he responded to their yearnings.

    She therefore, promised that they would use the money judiciously to improve their trades and services.

    “I have heard so much about him as a promise keeper. But this is the first time I am seeing him at close range. This is a big surprise to all of us. This has never happened here before, for any political leader to promise us and do it quickly. We didn’t expect he would address our needs and assist us with funds for our trade. We just said we should bare our hearts to him probably he would help a little way at a future date. But here we are! He asked his men to compile our names and immediately set the ball rolling. It’s still like a dream. I still can’t believe this is happening to me.

    “Most of us could not meet the conditions being given by some microfinance companies that give loans. The percentage of interest is too high. They make us pay back on weekly basis whether there is a sale or not.

    “Sir, we want to assure you that we shall all vote for Buhari and Osinbajo as well as all candidates of APC in our constituency here.

    “The morning tells what the evening would be. Thank you very much for the assistance,” Mrs. Ajiboye said.

    All the beneficiaries and the people at the park declared their support for APC.

    Next stop for the Buhari/Osinbajo ground troop in Akure south was the Orisun-iye community near Potoki area of Akure south. The people again came out in their large numbers.

    The representative of the community, Rev. Samuel Duyilemi, told Ariyomo that the efforts appeared to be very slow on the construction of their culvert as approved by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. He requested for a transformer on behalf of the community.

    Ariyomo told them that the team handling the culvert is a capable team and that he would inform them of the concern of the community. He assured them that the slight delay was only due to some basic logistics issues and that it is not something to worry  about. He thereafter further assured them that he would liaise with BEDC on the issue of their transformer.

    The palace of Aro of Akure kingdom was where Ariyomo’s campaign train headed afterwards with the PMB/PYO gospel. He was well received by the people of Oke-aro, one of the largest communities in Akure south local government area.

    Ariyomo presented the House of Assembly candidate for the constituency to High Chief Aro for his blessings.

    The Aro of Akure, High Chief Anthony Falowo, declared that the track records of Ariyomo and that of Bishop Borokini, the father of the assembly candidate as well as the performance of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu were enough to make him declare his support for all APC candidates starting from President Buhari to Borokini.

  • Ex-militants endorse Buhari, Ogboru

    The Urhobo Ex-militant group has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for the February 16 presidential election.

    The group also endorsed Delta State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Great Ovedje Ogboru.

    The chairman, Gen. Abraham Ekokotu, who addressed reporters in Otor-Udu, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, said President Buhari’s re-eleection, and the election of Ogboru, are not negotiable.

    Ekokotu lamented that Deltans have suffered too long in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bad government, saying the time has come for Ogboru to take what belongs to him.

    He said: “We call on all women, men and youths to go for their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to vote President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others in the general elections. We will ensure all our members participate in the exercise.

    “We are not ignorant of the fact that Ovedje Ogboru has won several elections in the state, but has always be denied because of the federal might. But we know that this time around, having him in a party like APC, there is no doubt that his votes will count, and that is why we are appealing to all to turn out en masse to vote for him.

    “We appeal to all Urhobos at home and in Diaspora to mobilise and support the candidature of all APC aspirants to ensure that the victory is achieved at the end of the day through the power of their PVC.”

  • Buhari promises to arrest, prosecute corrupt people

    President Muhammadu Buhari has again said corrupt people will be arrested, prosecuted and their illegal wealth confiscated and return to treasury. The president made the promise yesterday in Dutse, the capital city of Jigawa state while addressing a mammoth crowd during his presidential campaign in the state. He said, “if you give me another opportunity, all corrupt people will be arrested prosecuted and we will confiscate all their illegal wealth and return such to treasury.”

    President Buhari said he has delivered on his three major campaign promises of fighting corruption, tackling insecurity and ensuring economic development. Also speaking, the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, assured President Buhari of all Jigawa votes in the presidential election. “PDP is dead in Jigawa state and it can no longer make any impact,” he said.

    Governor Abubakar expressed his appreciation to the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari for the construction of Kano-Shuwari-Maiduguri dual road and the long abandoned Shawari-Kwanar-Huguma road which was rewarded when Buhari assumed to office. The national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, said President Buhari’s integrity will lead the APC to victory in 2019.

    Speaking earlier in his well come address, the Jigawa state chairman of the APC enjoined all the youths to votes for President Muhammadu Buhari because his government established laudable youth empowerment programs which are positively affecting the social and economical lives of the people. He therefore called on Nigerians to reelect Buhari so that he will finally terminate corruption and insecurity in the country while improving the socio-economical lives of people.

  • Buhari plans frontier basins’ exploration

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the next step towards the achievement of a more prosperous Nigeria is to ensure the intensification of efforts at   the exploration of the nation’s frontier basins. Addressing a mammoth crowd at the flag-off of the spud-in of Kolmani River-II Well, Gongola Basin, Upper Benue Trough in Bauchi State, he named the basins as follows: Chad Basin, Gongola  Basin, Anambra Basin, Sokoto Basin, Dahomey Basin, Bida Basin and Benue Trough. The site of the Kolmani River-II well is between Bauchi and Gombe States and the respective state governors were present in the ceremony.

    His words: “Our next level is to ensure that exploration efforts in all our frontier basins, namely Chad Basin, Gongola Basin, Anambra Basin, Sokoto Basin, Dahomey Basin, Bida Basin and Benue Trough are intensified to usher in prospects for more prosperous Nigeria. We have worked hard to fulfill our promises and have succeeded in laying the foundation for a strong, virile and prosperous Nigeria through the economic recovery and growth plan.”

    “A key execution priority of the ERGP is ensuring national energy sufficiency and this cannot be achieved through hydrocarbon resources from the conventional basins alone. Therefore exploration in our frontier basins is a national imperative and a core policy thrust that must be sustained. It is on this note that I directed the NNPC to aggressively intensify its exploration campaign in the inland basins to discover new hydrocarbon reserves that will boost oil and gas production and extend economic benefits to the people within the North-East and the nation at large.”

    Speaking at the ceremony, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, explained that as an hydrocarbon producing country, Nigeria needs to sustain its production but since reserves cannot be replenished, there must be searches for more reserves. But he dropped the hint that “exploring frontier basin, areas that have not been explored, are normally very risky and costly, and normally, the private sector would not want to take that risk.

    “They expect the government to go out and look for it, and once the reserves had established and the presence of hydrocarbons, then the private sector would come in and develop it. It is the same concept that we are adopting based on the President directives. Then after Kolmani River III,  we will go about 7 to 8 kilometers away from the third location to go to Kolmani River South East Location, and it would be the third well that we intend to drill successfully, just after this.”

  • Christian lawyers to Buhari: CJN’s suspension wrong

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) did not follow due process, Christian lawyers have declared.

    They said the action was a flagrant rape of the nation’s constitution and carried out in bad faith.

    In a statement under the aegies of The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), the body said only reversal of the suspension would serve the course of justice.

    CLASFON’s National President, Arome M. Okwori, in the statement said: “CLASFON is of the considered view by the President decision, the executive arm of government under the supervision of the President has precipitated a needless constitutional crisis having regard to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances entrenched in the said Constitution”.

    The body suggested the President should have disciplined the suspended CJN instead of suspending him completely.

    “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 does not make express provision for the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria but this does not foreclose the exercise of disciplinary measures including suspension of the said judicial officer pending resolution of grave moral or criminal allegations against the holder of the important constitutional office.

    “The point we are making is that taking the radical step of suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC) is a naked usurpation of the functions of that constitutional organ and a brazen violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which the President has sworn to protect and defend.

    “The Constitution, subject to its provisions on removal of certain judicial officers, has vested the NJC with power to exercise disciplinary control over all judicial officers,” the Christian lawyers explained.

     

  • Buhari prevaricates on Ganduje

    GIVEN his fanatical posture on corruption, Nigerians had widely expected President Muhammadu Buhari to be unsparing of Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was recently accused of bribery and corruption that became evident through a sting operation mounted by a concerned citizen. Either privately or during election campaign, the president has, however, waffled over the allegations against the Kano governor. The president’s timid attitude towards the governor is partly explained by Mr Ganduje’s fanatical support for the president’s re-election ambition.

    First the president cast doubt on the efficacy of the technology deployed to expose the governor’s alleged bribe-taking deals, in other words suggesting that the evidence was doctored. Then, during a campaign in Kano last Thursday, the president performed the role of an advocate for Mr Ganduje, a role he is generally loth to play for anyone else, especially his foes. He argued during the campaign that Mr Ganduje had immunity and must be presumed innocent until a court properly convicts him. Going by the provisions of the constitution, the president is partially right. Admittedly, the Kano governor could not be presumed guilty until a court so declares.

    But how many others, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has the president not already condemned and even virtually sentenced? Who can forget how he pronounced former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, guilty of crimes against the state even before their trial began? It is true that presumption of innocence is part of Nigerian jurisprudence, but the president sets no store by that presumption, and worse, selectively applies it only when it suits him. But of course there is no changing the president on this delicate matter. He often makes up his mind, regardless of whether there is rhyme or reason to it.

  • Why I ‘ll continue to take tough decisions — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that his administration would continue to take tough decisions with a view to creating a better future for the youths.

    Buhari, in a message at the 28th convocation of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said Nigerians must embrace the idea of taking tough decisions, if they want to have a prosperous nation.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, Buhari declared: “We will continue to wage war against corruption and impunity until we succeed in creating a prosperous economy.”

    His administration, he said, had employed over seven million Nigerians under its  N-Power Scheme and disbursed loans to 259,451 individuals across the nation.

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    “Our achievements in government are visible enough for all to see, feel and touch throughout the country,” he said.

    A total of  4,443 students were graduated yesterday.

    They included  3,671 first degree holders, while 772  received postgraduate degrees and diplomas.

  •  Vote for APC, Buhari will enhance Yoruba relevance in polity, says Ajimobi

    The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that a vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates and President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election will be a vote for the continued relevance of the Yoruba nation in the country’s polity.

    He also said that the state would collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies of the Federal Government to ensure a hitch-free, credible and free election.

    The governor, who is also the candidate of the APC for the Oyo South Senatorial District at the forthcoming election, disclosed this during the party’s campaign rally at Lalupon, in Lagelu Local Government Area of the state.

    He used the occasion to present the APC governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, and others, including the candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Teslim Folarin.

    Ajimobi warned that the full weight of the law would be brought down on any person or group of persons that might attempt to disrupt the peace of the state before, during and after the elections.

    He assured the people that a vote for him would be a vote for the sustenance of the achievements of Ajimobi, adding that he would open up the state for greater development if elected.

    In a separate event, the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, on Friday, said no politician or political party is worth dying for and called on women, to ensure that no member of their families, including husbands, children and relatives are used as tools of political violence in the forthcoming general elections.

    She charged women to constitute a peace vanguard and oppose any form of political violence, which could make them become victims, should anything happen to their children or spouses.

    She made the call during a special town hall meeting which held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, with various women groups in the state.

    Osinbajo said, “We are here to discuss the next general election because of our children. Our children should be very much dear to us. Every woman must take the upbringing of her ward as a major priority. We must ensure that our children are guided to the right direction in life.

    “We must ensure that our children, husbands and relatives do not involve in any form of violence during and after the election. No politician is worth dying for.”

    She urged the women to only vote for political parties that have compassion for their children and the people of the state, recounting that the administration of President Buhari, has obviously shown compassion as evident in the various social intervention and welfare programmes for the people.

  • Buhari shifts Zamfara campaign rally

    President Muhammadu Buhari has postponed his campaign rally earlier scheduled for Zamfara State on Sunday.

    The postponement of the rally is linked to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also released the final list of candidates for the March 2 Governorship and State House of Assembly election without any name for APC Governorship candidate for Zamfara State.

    The Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina confirmed the postponement.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on the latest development, Senator Kabiru Marafa, said: “I am not aware of the cancellation of the APC Zamfara rally; honestly because I was not told. Like I said, I just submitted a proposal which I think will  serve the interest of our party, the president and our people.

    “We don’t have candidates for now because of the political impasse that characterised Zamfara State in the last few months and the president is billed to be in Zamfara on Sunday, Feb. 3

    “Because of the rumple between disagreeing parties, we felt it is better Mr President suspends his visit to Zamfara. After all, we are there; we can campaign for him; he knows us; he knows our individual capacities; there is no point bringing all the factions under one umbrella, because once the president is there, if you like the president and you are with him, you will like to show your face.

    “However, we feel it is avoidable; but you cannot come to the president with just one single suggestion. So. I just put my opinion across; that if it is a must;  maybe the party has fixed Feb. 3 for the visit, then we want to excused because there is no way President Muhammad Buhari will go to Zamfara and my face is not seen and people will not ask questions and I think it is not fair just to absent like that,” Marafa said.