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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari, Tinubu for Ebonyi campaign kick off

    President Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole will lead other stalwarts to Ebonyi State on January 30 to kick off the party’s campaign.

    The campaign is scheduled to hold at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki.

    The governorship candidate, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, said the campaign would be an opportunity for Ebonyi people to know his plans to liberate the state from the stranglehold of the purveyors of poverty and underdevelopment.

    He said: “I am on a liberation mission in Ebonyi State. I have always believed that public officers should work with the people to enthrone a collective sense of common purpose and direction for the benefit of all.

    “This belief has not changed, instead it has been strengthened over the years, necessitating my desire to serve the people. For these people to come to support our campaign, despite their tight schedule, shows how significant the event is for the party.

    “Ebonyi people should rest assured that the governance of prosperity and progress, which APC is bringing to the state, will reach everybody. We will ensure that our youths are sufficiently empowered and taken off the streets – the era of Ebonyi street hawkers will be a thing of the past when APC takes over in May.”

  • Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole reassure Nigerians of hope

    The presidential campaign train of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) on Wednesday took the front stage of Sokoto politics with its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari reassuring Nigerians of his resolve to strengthen the economy, fight corruption and guarantee the security of the country and its citizens.

    Buhari who arrived the Giginya township stadium venue of the rally amidst thunderous ovation from hundreds of thousand supporters said he was going to re-engineer the machinery of governance to cause relief for Nigerians through boosting agriculture.

    According to him, within the over three years of his administration, farmers have been placed on a beneficial yield through government responsive agriculture programmes.

    ” It has afforded a number of them the legitimate means of responding to their financial needs and sustained food security.”

    In the same vein, he explained that the issue of insecurity particularly in Borno and Yobe states and the whole of northeast was fast being tackled with appreciable successes.

    ” We are doing our best and Borno people can testify that”, he added.

    Similarly, the President who acknowledged the untiring efforts of Senator Wamakko in uniting the party in Sokoto state pointed out that his government was doing everything possible in  fighting corruption, adding that” we are not relenting and anyone established to be guilty will face appropriate penalty.”

    The party’s National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said President Muhammad Buhari and the APC were set to make Nigeria a better place for an average citizen.

    According to Tinubu, Buhari had always been the best and trusted candidate to steer the ship of governance at the centre without recourse.

    ” He has the moral character, honesty and zeal to move the country to the Next Level of prosperity.

    ” Farmers in Nigeria have never had it good like in this APC government which Buhari is leading.

    ” I am convinced that Nigerians will vote for him to move the country in the right direction”, he solicited.

    Speaking, National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said Nigerians were ready to give their votes to Buhari whom he described as “a man of the people” with national acceptance across the states.

    According to Oshiomhole” that is why we are behind the voice of the people of Nigeria to ensure his reelection.”

    Read Also; APC Presidential Campaign: Birnin Kebbi agog for Buhari

    While noting that the opposition PDP outcry over alleged attempt to rig election, Oshiomhloe reassured that APC’s grand support was enough to send signal to the opposition.

    ” It is clear that since their defeat in 2015, PDP has lost ground and machinery of rigging which they were used to hence the allegations, he pointed out.

    Earlier, the  DG Presidential campaign council, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi explained the veritable need to give President Buhari a fresh mandate to put the country on the right pedestal of good governance that would ensure transformation of the nation’s economy.

    He disclosed that a lot was on the pipeline to strengthen the transport sector with a view to shaping the economy.

    Those in attendance at the rally included the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, Minister of state, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar; Gov. Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara state, Sen.  Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura, former Senators. Ali Modu Sherif, Abubakar Umar Gada.

    Others were the National Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Baiwa, DG Sokoto state APC campaign Council, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, Alhaji Musa Bashar and Shiekh Malam Badhir Gidan Kanawa who led the opening prayer to herald the event amidst tight security.

  • APC campaign: Buhari departs Sokoto for Kebbi

    The Presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has departed for Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, after a successful rally in Sokoto, Sokoto State, on Wednesday.

    President Buhari and his entourage had first paid a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III before moving to the stadium for the rally where he addressed the mammoth crowd.

    The president, who alongside APC bigwigs addressed the mammoth crowd of party faithful at the stadium, enjoined all APC members and supporters to ensure electoral victory for the party in the forthcoming general elections.

    President Buhari, who spoke in Hausa language, acknowledged that the governing APC government had done tremendously well in the key areas of security, revamping the economy and the fight against corruption.

    While reassuring that his administration will continue to identify and bring to book all those found wanting in misappropriation of public funds, the president vowed never to betray the trust reposed in him by Nigerians.
    President Buhari expressed delight over the bumper harvests experienced by farmers in different parts of the country in the last two years and urged the people to embark on agricultural activities.

    He said: “We thank God that our country witnessed stable rainfalls and subsequent bumper harvest in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons.

    Read Also: Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole to storm Abakaliki for campaign

    “Let me call on all our people to engage in agricultural activities to enable them obtain additional income to solve some of their domestic challenges like paying children’s school fees, offsetting medical bills and other needs.’’

    The president, who presented the Sokoto APC governorship candidate to the people of the state, urged APC members to vote only the party’s candidates in the forthcoming elections.

    Buhari alongside APC National Chairman Adams Oshiohmole, APC National Leader Bola Tinubu, Director-General, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau departed Sokoto for Birnin Kebbi at about 1.15p.m.

  • Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole to storm Abakaliki for campaign

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as its National Chairman , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will on Wednesday, January 2019, lead other stalwarts to the flag-off of the party’s campaign in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    The flag-off is scheduled to hold at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki.

    The governorship candidate of the APC in Ebonyi State, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, said the flag-off will be an opportunity for Ebonyi people to know his plans for the liberation of the state from the stranglehold of the purveyors of poverty and underdevelopment of the State.

    “I am on a liberation mission in Ebonyi State. I have always believed that public officers should work to enthrone a government works with the people to enthrone a collective sense of common purpose and direction for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Ogbuoji said. “This belief has not changed; instead it has been strengthened over the years, necessitating my desire to serve the good people of Ebonyi State.”

    Other bigwigs of the party who are expected to grace the occasion include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Governor Nassir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Chief Ajomole, former Chairman of All Chairmen of APC, and the members of the National Working Committee of the APC.

    “For these people to come to Ebonyi State to support our campaign despite their already tight schedules, shows how significant the event is for the party,” said Senator Ogbuoji in a telephone interview. “Ebonyi people should rest assured that the governance of prosperity and progress which APC is bringing to the state will reach everybody.

    “We will ensure that our youths are sufficiently empowered and taken off the streets of Nigerian cities – the era of Ebonyi street hawkers will be a thing of the past when APC takes over government in Ebonyi State come May 2019,” Ogbuoji emphasised.

    Analysts who are familiar with political events in the State said that the flag-off accentuate the popularity of the party in the State and lay to rest any semblance of doubt regarding the capacity of the party to garner landslide victory in the February and March elections in the state.

    Speaking about the flag-off ceremony, Prince Nweze Onu, the APC Candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, said that Ogbuoji has used his position as a senator to attract many projects to the people of the State.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari resumes nationwide campaign as he arrives Sokoto

    “Senator Ogbuoji went beyond his primary constituency to impact the lives of people from other parts of the State,” Prince Onu told journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital on Thursday, January 24 2018. “His impacts have been felt in all aspects of life of Ebonyi people – from health infrastructure to education, electricity, portable water, good road networks and a myriad of empowerment projects.”

    Onu said that Ogbuoji is a silent achiever who likes his works to speak for him, adding that the numerous projects of the incoming governor of Ebonyi State will be showcased to the people on the flag-off day as a peep into the good times that await Ebonyians when the people’s Senator assumes the political leadership of the State as the Governor.

    Speaking about the event which he said will be the mother of all campaign flag-offs in Nigeria, Eze Nwachukwu Eze, the Ebonyi State Chairman of APC, said that the party has applied to the State Ministry of Youths and Sports for the release of the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, the arena that will host the event.

    “We have duly written the Ministry of Sports to allow us the use of the Stadium to host our dear President Buhari and his teeming supporters,” Nwachukwu said. “We have made all arrangements to ensure that our people give Mr. President a heroic welcome.”

    In a copy of the letter requesting for the use of the Stadium dated January 21, 2019 and made available to journalists, Nwachukwu said that the event will kick off by 8.00 am, and urged the Commissioner in charge of the Youths and Sports Ministry to grant quick access to the Stadium.

    “Your quick response to enable us and the security agents to gain access to the Stadium from 28th – 30th January 2019, to make adequate preparations,” The Letter concluded.

  • 2019: Buhari arrives Sokoto for campaign

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived Sokoto State to resume his nationwide political campaign for the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the president on Jan. 22 presided over the meeting of the National Council of State at the State House, Abuja.

    The council of state took major decisions on national issues including that on the National Minimum Wage.

    Read Also: Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Villa

    The National Council of State had approved N27,000 as the new national minimum wage and lauded the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

    Buhari is also expected to take his campaign train to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State later in the day.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Villa

    It would have been a routine spectacle attracting no curiosity.

    The President and a former leader who used to be a frequent caller at the seat of power. Smiles, banters and handshake – that’s all.

    That was not the situation yesterday when President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met at the Council of State meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    All eyes were on them as the President and Obasanjo moved towards each other, hands stretched out. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

    Obasanjo’s face was wreathed in smiles – not the toothy, broad smiles or laughter that he is known for when in a cheery mood. His face was firm; it was a wry smile.

    Buhari also smiled, his trademark gap tooth on display.

    Why the animosity?

    Not a few thought the former leader would not show up at yesterday’s meeting following his 16-page statement in which he lashed Buhari, accusing him of planning to rig the February 16 election and behaving like the late Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha.

    But Obasanjo proved bookmakers wrong as he made his way into Council Chamber, venue of the meeting scheduled for 11am at exactly 10.51am.

    Read also: Labour rejects N27, 000 offer for states

    His presence immediately drew the attention of those who had arrived before him as well as those who came after.

    Some of those in the hall standing or sitting on the path he followed to take his seat greeted him and he was in his usual element, exchanging pleasantries with them.

    He also exchanged pleasantries with former Interim National Government (ING) Head Ernest Shonekan, who was already seated.

    He sat down momentarily, stood up and walked back towards the entrance to greet some of those in the hall, including former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Obasanjo was still discussing when it was announced that everyone should settle down.  The President was on the way.

    He was still in transit when Buhari entered the Chamber.

    Buhari immediately went straight to exchange pleasantries with Shonekan, who remained seated and then Gen. Abdulsalami, who walked towards him.

    By the time he finished with Gen. Abdulsalami, Obasanjo was close to him.

    So, standing eyeball to eyeball and smiling, the duo greeted and shook hands- to the admiration of all in the hall.

    The President returned to his seat and called for the rendition of the National Anthem.

    After the national anthem, the President asked Obasanjo, a theologian, to say the Christian prayer, which he did.

  • Ekiti APC elders back Buhari for second term

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum in Ekiti State has said President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo deserve re-election to consolidate on the task of rebuilding the country.

    Rising from their monthly meeting held in Igbara Odo in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area, the APC elders pledged their support for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket in the February 16 presidential poll.

    The Forum also commended Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, for the way they have been piloting the affairs of the state since assumption of office.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting signed by the Forum’s Chairman, Chief George Akosile and Secretary, Chief Abiodun Ajayi, the group appealed to the electorate in Ekiti to vote massively for Buhari and Osinbajo at the presidential election.

    The party elders also advised voters to vote all APC candidates for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate seats in the general elections.

    They said the APC administration has succeeded in steadying the ship of the nation politically, economically and socially noting that another four years would help deepen good governance being witnessed in the last three and half years.

    The communiqué reads in part: “This forum is pledging its total support for President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 general elections.

    “The forum is using this medium to appeal to the good people of Ekiti State to come out en masse to vote for our high performing duo of the President and the Vice President in the 2019 general election for them to continue the good programmes they have started.

    “These include the fight against insurgency in the Northeast, the fight against corrupt elements in the country, stabilising the Nigerian economy, provision of job opportunities for the unemployed youth like the N-Power programme and the School Feeding Programme about to start in Ekiti State soon.

    “We note with happiness and appreciation the vigorous way the APC-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are projecting the revolution for the regeneration of Nigeria.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Buhari to EU Observer Mission: I’m satisfied with INEC’s preparation

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja told the European Union Observer Mission (EOM) for election monitoring in Nigeria that he was impressed by the preparations made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He was optimistic that the electoral body would deliver on its mandate of a credible poll.

    Buhari spoke when he received the EOM, led by the Chief Observer and member of the European Parliament, Maria Arena, at the State House, Abuja.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said he had listened earlier in the day to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, when he briefed the National Council of State.

    He said: “I am happy and impressed with the briefing he gave. I hope that the confidence he exuded and the intellect he brought to bear on the report will be justified at the end of the day.”

    The President told the EU delegation that Nigeria had grown its electoral system incrementally, getting better year after year.

    “Having participated in elections four times in the past, I would say that since 2015, technology has helped the credibility of our elections,” he said.

    Buhari said Nigeria with over 250 cultural groups across religions and ethnic groups, with each group canvassing for identity and primacy in the affairs of the nation, “patriotism demands that we identify the nation’s best interest and go with it”.

    He said the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had the good sense of identifying the national interest to include security, peace and stability, improved economy, jobs creation and the campaign against corruption, noting that the party was not wrong in 2015 and is not wrong going into the election this year with the same issues in its campaigns.

    The President thanked the delegation for taking interest in Nigeria’s elections and in the affairs of the nation generally.

    The EOM team, accompanied by Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, Head, European Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the EU had observed every election in Nigeria since 1999, and had come here again for the next one, following an invitation by INEC.

    The delegation promised impartiality and neutrality in the monitoring of the elections.

  • Buhari, Osinbajo supporters make final push in Southwest

    SUPPORTERS of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have launched a final push in the Southwest beginning from Friday in their ongoing grassroots campaign to consolidate the duo’s ‘grip’ on the zone in the February 16 presidential election.

    Under the latest strategy, pro-Buhari organisations are to be consolidated under the Presidential Support Committee (PSC), as the Presidency has appointed Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice as the main coordinator with a mandate to harness legitimate resources in the remaining four weeks before the poll to further brighten the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and his deputy.

    The decision was reportedly reached at a crucial meeting held in Abuja by the leadership of the PSC after appraising activities of the various campaign groups, with the stakeholders agreeing to raise the bar ahead of the elections.

    Former Akwa Ibom State Governor and serving senator Godswill Akpabio is the national chairman of the PSC. The national coordinator (South) is Senator Babalola Akin Odunsi.

    Their first assignment is the inauguration of the executives of the Southwest zone as well as the coordinators for Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo on Friday at the Premier Hotel Ibadan, Oyo State, with Governor Abiola Ajimobi as host.

    In a bid to further fortify the team, APC candidates for National Assembly and governorship standard-bearers in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, as well as other influential faithful from the Southwest form the nucleus of the final phase of the campaign. They are to collaborate with other supporters and loyalists of Buhari and Osinbajo to seriously engage in a blitz of campaign strategies that include door-to-door campaign, one-on-one discussion and group discussions.

    According to the deputy national chairman (South), Odunsi, the Presidency appointed Senator Boroffice to oversee and coordinate the activities of the Buhari support groups and organisations in the Southwest for actualisation of the 4+4 Agenda of President Buhari to consolidate the gains of the APC-led federal administration since May 29, 2015.

    Confirming the new development, PSC zonal secretary, Dele Olanubi, who is an engineer, also explained that major stakeholders such as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters Honourable Gideon Sammani and other presidential aides serving in advisory committee to the PSC would be part of the inauguration.

    Olanubi added that the PSC was mandated to coordinate the activities of support groups to guarantee a resounding victory for Buhari and Osinbajo at the poll, urging “Nigerian not to allow those who only think and plan in Dubai and want to sell NNPC to their foreign friends to take Nigeria back to the Egypt”.

    Boroffice has promised to use his experience as a legislator and grassroots’ politician to mobilise maximum votes in the history of Southwest for Buhari. Others have assured of working assiduously to galvanise the critical mass in the Southwest for the APC ticket.

    PSC Publicity Secretary in the Southw1est, Honourable Doyin Johnson, (coordinator of Asiwaju Frontlines), affirmed that Buhari had “further convinced Nigerians that he is an upright man known to be a truthful, visionary and courageous leader.”

    He said the main opposition PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had no business being in the race.

    He added that “Nigerians have since become wiser”, even as he advised the youth to use their voting strength to vote massively for Buhari and other APC candidates because of the party’s visible landmark achievements.”

  • ‘PDP planning to attack our members in Kwara’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state to unleash violence on its members before, during and after the Presidential campaign rally scheduled for February 4 in the state capital

    Spokesman of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu Said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the PDP in the state should know that the forth coming elections in the state will not be won through the use of guns and thugs, but through the thumb of the people.

    The APC also alleged that the meetings has been held by the PDP with political thugs who have been given matching orders to unleash violence on APC supporters to scare them away from attending the campaign rally.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a sinister plan by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State to unleash violence on our teeming members and supporters before, during and after our party’s Presidential campaign rally slated to hold in Ilorin on February 4, 2019.

    “Credible intelligence available to us also indicates that the sinking PDP is planning to orchestrate spurious charges against some of our members before some compromised courts in the state. In addition, we have it on good authority that meetings are being held with thugs, where decisions were taken to create chaos in the state any moment from now.

    “The orchestrated violence is aimed at instilling fear in the minds of our members and supporters from coming out enmasse to honour President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of our party at the February 4 rally.

    “While we acknowledge the fact that the PDP is scared stiff of our party’s growing popularity amongst the good people of Kwara State and the impending doom that awaits it at the coming polls, we call on the leaders of PDP in Kwara State to rein in their hired thugs in the interest of peace and the people of the state.

    Read Also: PDP urges Yakubu to resist pressure

    “For the purpose of emphasis, we would like to reiterate that the coming elections in the state would not be determined by guns, clubs and cudgels, but by the thumbprints of Kwarans, who have resolved to change the political narrative of the state from decadence and underdevelopment as nurtured and fostered by the soon-to-expire Senator Bukola Saraki political dynasty, to one that promotes individual dignity and prosperity for all, which our party and its governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak represents.

    “We call on our members, supporters and, indeed, all good people of the state to go about their lawful duties and not be scared of welcoming our dear president on February 4, as security agencies have been put on alert to forestall any breakdown of law and order and molestation of people before, during and after the Presidential campaign rally.

    “We would wish to remind the PDP once again that no amount of scaremongering and dirty tactics it aims to deploy would stop its massive shell lacking at the polls. The obvious desire of Kwarans to change the political status quo in the state for the good of all and not for the benefit of a few retrogressive elements is now a movement aptly christened ‘O to ge’, which is total and irreversible.

    “Finally, we urge APC members and supporters to keep the positive spirit that has characterized their conduct in this electioneering period alive, as the time for the rebirth of our dear state is at hand.”