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Tag: BUHARI

  • ‘Why Buhari deserves second term’

     

    Former national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Ramatu Aliyu spoke with some reporters in Lagos on why President Muhammadu Buhari deserves reelection and other issues. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE was there. Excerpts:

    Can you share your experience from the 2018 National Convention of the APC in which you contested as national woman leader?

    It was a worthwhile experience. I have since put the negatives behind me and decided to focus on the positives. In spite of the challenges, the party came out of it alive and we are getting stronger by the day.

    It doesn’t have to be about me. You win some, you lose some. We have to play politics with maturity. No bitterness and that is how life should be.

    Why did you lose the election?

    There will always be theories for those who do not believe in the power of destiny. I have also heard other theories to the effect that I lost because my Governor was against my return. So how many theories will one react to?

    At the end of the day, my firm belief in the will of the Almighty allows me to be at peace with myself and by extension my party. I remain fully committed to the same goal of ensuring the success of President Muhammadu Buhari, especially with the elections around the corner.

    The concern now is how to put in more efforts for our President to re-emerge in the forthcoming election so that he can continue with the good works.  And we have been mobilising people, not just women before now and we are still going round to strategise.

     What is your assessment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the last three and a half years?

    Very high. When you look at security, economy and anti-corruption which form the tripod upon which we ran a successful campaign in 2015 then you will see why I rate PMB’s government highly. Nobody is saying we are 100 percent, far from that.

    But success is not merely a function of how high you have gone, but also of how low you are coming from. This administration has pulled us out of recession, doused the insecurity in the country, confronted corruption in high and low places and has frontally embarked on a massive infrastructural rejuvenation across the country. We can do more, but already we have so much to be proud of

    Do you think the President stands a better chance ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar?

    Absolutely. With everything PMB has achieved in the past three and half years with even meager resources, a lot of Nigerians can see beyond the propaganda of the PDP. How would they return to power without disparaging the President?

    But we are not distracted by their desperation. PDP and its candidate have nothing to offer Nigeria beyond a return to the dark alleys of corruption and insecurity. Nigeria has moved on for good.

    What is your assessment of the inclusion of women in the present administration?

    I get this question a lot and my answer is generally not too dissimilar on each occasion. We can hardly ever have enough women in government to be honest. Under this APC administration we have women occupying key positions in the cabinet as well as other parastatals.

    READ ALSO: Look beyond 2019, Bakare tells Buhari, Atiku, others

    Of course we’ll keep asking for more but I am proud of the effort of the current government thus far. At least , I can boldly say more women are coming out with boldness , they are ready to serve, eager to make an impact.

    Considering the serious opposition mounted by Atiku, will it be different from what we had in 2015?

    The set circumstances which led to the ouster of a sitting government in 2015 are markedly different from what is obtainable today under this government.

    In 2015, Nigeria was for all intent and purpose in a limbo. Key indices like security, economy and infrastructure were all looking bleak. Nigerians had to come together to effect a change of government.

    Today most of these indices are looking better and things can only get better from here. So Nigerians have no need to go back to our “collective National vomit”.

    We are moving forward and thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari, a role model and a father figure to corrupt free minds.

    How will the APC fare in Kogi State despite the reported government under performance?

    Well, for starters we need to clarify the general elections in Kogi would not include the governorship elections and therefore, the President can be judged by Kogites on his own merit; which we generally agree is stellar.

    Kogites stand a chance to continue to benefit from the numerous interventions and programs of the APC led government like the N-power, Tradermoni, school feeding and bailout funds. So I urge all Kogites to rally behind APC in the overriding interest of our beloved state.

     

  • How Buhari plans to rig elections, by Obasanjo

  • Photos: Unprecedented crowd as Buhari campaigns in Borno/Yobe

    Despite security challenges in Borno and Yobe, there was a massive turn out at the APC presidential campaign held in Borno and Yobe on Monday.

  • Obasanjo, an expired politician – Tinubu

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Monday called on Nigerians to ignore former President Olusegun Obasanjo, dismissing him as an expired politician.

    Tinubu, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress(APC) rally in Maiduguri, told the teeming supporters: “I can hear the other expired leaders like Obasanjo, ranting and lying. Don’t believe, don’t trust him, he is expired.”

    Tinubu regretted the frequent attacks on the Buhari-led administration by Obasanjo, stressing the current government was cleaning up the mess and rot of the past PDP administrations.

    “When we came on board in 2015, we made promises to all Nigerians that as the sheep of this country, we are going to turn it to the right direction and we have done that.

    “We are sweeping all the cobwebs of the collateral corruption, we are sweeping it away to give Nigerians a new life, new home and a solid foundation; that is what President Buhari is doing and we are 100 per cent with him.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has been upright, firm and has been steady, focused with a great vision for the betterment and progress of this country.

    “We can recall the rigging in 2003 under Obasanjo, we also knew what happened in 2007 under President Obasanjo.

    “95 percent of you must come out and vote en mass for Buhari because no other president had upheld democratic principles like President Buhari.

    “In 1999, we gave it to him but he cannot remember even one day to recognise MKO’s mandate of June 12. Again, when he came back into power, we ask him for the recognition he failed. Who did it? President Buhari. declared June 12 as Democracy day to honour MKO Abiola,” Tinubu said.

    Read Also: Unprecedented crowd as Buhari campaigns in Borno/ Yobe

    He declared Obasanjo’s attacks were in bad faith, stating “ he could not stop Nigerians from re-electing the president”.

    APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole scored Buhari’s government very high in security, saying all the 24 local government councils under the control of Boko Haram during the last administration have been liberated.

    “No LGA is under the control of the insurgents. You have gained control of the 774 councils.

    ”We still have security challenges but the arrogance, impunity that Nigeria is wallowing in had become a thing of the past,” he declared.

    He added: “Everything that we are in today started in Obasanjo’s regime. Do- or- die politics was Obasanjo’s legacy. Today, the era of impeaching state governors is over.

    “The era of quarrelling with Vice President and fighting in the market place is. The era of withdrawal of Lagos state monthly allocations was the legacy of Obasanjo.“

  • Unprecedented crowd as Buhari campaigns in Borno/ Yobe

    Despite security challenges in Borno and Yobe, there was massive turn out at the APC presidential campaign held in Borno and Yobe on Monday.

    Hoards of APC supporters in the two states have taken over the Ramat Square in Maiduguri and August 27 Stadium in Damaturu where President Mohammadu Buhari launched his 2019 campaign in the two states.

    President Buhari who first arrived Maiduguri a few minutes after 10 am with his campaign train was greeted with an unprecedented crowd on the major streets of Maiduguri before emerging into a sea of supporters at the Ramat square. A massive square that is four times larger than the Eagle Square at the FCT.

    In, Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, President Buhari’s convoy was also buried in supporters who virtually took over the roads, swimming on the president’s car despite security presence before he arrived at a capacity full August 27 Stadium amidst cheers, jubilation and singing as the president emerge from the black bulletproof jeep.

    On his arrival in Maiduguri, President Buhari was received by Gov. Kashim Shettima in company of former Governors and National Assembly Members.

    The Presidential train drove to the Shehu’s palace for the traditional homage before proceeding to Ramat square.

    Borno State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Ali Bukar Dalori welcomed guest at the venue which marked the commencement of the event.

    Governor Kashim Shettima in his remarks noted that Borno is a natural habitat of President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that the president has always gathered more votes than any presidential candidate.

    Gov. Kashim Shettima announced that stakeholders of the party in the state were poised to ensure Borno falls amongst states that will give the President the highest votes come February 16 elections.

    In their different remarks, the Leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the Director-General Buhari Campaign Organization Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi were all amazed by the crowd while expressing confidence in the re-election of President Muhamadu Buhari.

    While making his remarks, Buhari promised to sustain the fight against corruption and Boko Haram.

    Buhari, who spoke in Hausa, said: “In 2015, I promised to you that I will fight graft, Boko Haram insurgency; and transformation the economy for self-reliance, instead of massive importation of food.”

    “As your President, I want to assure you that our government will reciprocate all the support you have been rendering to this administration and APC.

    “The security situation is glaring that government has done wonderfully well, we will not relent, but strive to ensure total restoration of peace in the country.

    “All of you have attested that this government is committed to ending Boko Haram and other criminal activities.”

    In Yobe State, President Mohammadu Buhari met with traditional rule in a closed door at the presidential lodge where they asked the president to consider their teeming farming population.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam promised that Yobe is going to give the president one hundred percent votes as the state has always done.

    “In 2011, Mr. President, Ibrahim Shakarau was our presidential candidate in ANPP but you in CPC got the highest votes in Yobe State. In 2015, you had 96% votes in Yobe, this time we are going to close that gap by giving you 100% votes in Yobe State,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    The governor assured that PDP has no votes in Yobe, Stressing that, “ the last soul of PDP in zone B, Ibrahim Talba, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary has defected to the APC with Hajiya Mairo Amshi with their supporters”.

    The National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshomole accused former president Obasanjo as introducing corruption in the country.

    According to Oshomole, Obasanjo during his time was giving millions of naira to members of the National Assembly while calling on the president to probe those finances if re-elected.

    One of the high points of the event was the symbolic presentation of APC flag to the party’s governorship candidate of Borno and Yobe, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and Alhaji Mai Mala Buni respectively

    Meanwhile, some key figures of the PDP amongst them former Governor of Borno, Mohammed Goni and some other chieftains were formally received into the APC. A spokesman on their behalf said the defection marked the burial of PDP in Borno.

     

  • Deceiving Nigerians with ethnicity, religion is nonsense -Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described as “bloody nonsense” the penchant of some Nigerians to hide under the canopy of ethnicity and religion to perpetuate injustice and corrupt acts.

    He made the remark while hosting his former staff who worked with him during his tenure as military head of state (January 1984-August 1985) on Sunday night at the State House, Abuja.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity Femi Adesina, said “Recourse to the smokescreen of religion and ethnicity “is just corruption, pure and simple.”

    To justify his thesis, President Buhari went down memory lane, drawing lessons from his electoral battles at the courts in 2003, 2007, and 2011, where those who ruled against him were Muslims from the North, but those who defended him were Christians from the South.

    His words: “I was recently forced to talk to somebody I respect a lot about Nigeria. I said in 2003, when I started out, complaints about presidential election used to start from the Court of Appeal. The president of the court then was my classmate in secondary school for six years. Himself, myself and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, were classmates.

    “My lawyer, Mike Ahamba, was Roman Catholic and an Ibo man. My first witness was in the box. Ahamba said he needed the register of voters in certain constituencies and states to prove that votes were just allocated, and not true reflection of what existed in the constituencies. He asked them to record his request and sign. They did so.

    “When they came to give judgment later, the matter was not mentioned at all. In the panel was another Roman Catholic and Ibo, who raised his hand and said, this is what Buhari’s lawyer had said.

    “Did we write to those constituencies and states to submit the register? If so, why is it not in the judgment? They just shut him up. He had to write a minority judgment. Of course, he’s now our Ambassador in United States of America.

    “I petitioned the Supreme Court. Who was the Chief Justice? A Muslim, probably a Fulani, from Zaria. After 27 months, we went. Ahamba addressed the court for 2 hours and 45 minutes. They went in, came out after about 45 minutes, and said they were proceeding on vacation the next day. They were away for three months, making it 30 months in all. When they came back, they dismissed the case within 45 minutes.

    Read Also:  Buhari removes executive secretary of TETFund

    “In 2007, they repeated the same thing. Who was the Chief Justice? A northerner and Muslim. After 18 months, they dismissed the case.

    “The third time, who was CJ? A Muslim, Fulani man from Jigawa. After 8 months, he dismissed the case. This bloody nonsense about Nigeria on ethnicity and religion is just corruption, pure and simple. Wherever we find ourselves, let’s pray to God that we maintain our faith. That’s all we have.

    “I try to do my best, and pray to God to help me. May God Almighty give us the ways and means to continue to do our best for the country. Whatever religion we follow, let’s do it seriously, as finally, we would appear before God. Whether we believe it or not, it will happen. So, we better continue to behave ourselves.” he said

    President Buhari described the reunion and interactive meeting as an “emotional one” for him, as he had not seen some of the people since 1985, when the military regime he headed was toppled.

    Commending his former Aide-de-Camp, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, who used his initiative to put the parley together, the President equally commended his former Number 2 man, Major General Tunde Idiagbon (now deceased), whom he said, showed uncommon loyalty and courage.

    His words: “He was in Saudi Arabia, performing the hajj, when we were removed. The Saudi king said the coup was not just against us, but also against him, since Idiagbon was praying with him.

    “He asked him to send for his family to join him in Saudi until it was clear where I was. Idiagbon said no, I want to go back, Your Majesty. If they kill him, let them kill me also.

    “He joined the next flight and came back. I think there’s no way you can describe such loyalty, such courage. May his soul rest in perfect peace.” he said

    Alhaji Jokolo said though the departure of the former staff from government was “unexpected and disappointing, if not regrettable,” the affected people recall the ugly experiences today, “not with bitterness because individually, they had since moved on with their lives, though painfully aware that they were victims of misplaced aggression.”

    He added: “The fact that among us today are highly respected Royal Fathers, businessmen, captains of industry, lawyers and other specialists in the professions, and a university professor, speaks volumes that God is good and that values of discipline and perseverance that we imbibed under Your Excellency’s tutelage had not been in vain.”

  • Buhari campaign train hits Kwara Feb 4

    The campaign train of President Muhammadu Buhari will berth in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital next month.
    The event slated for February 4th this year is part of President Buhari’s ongoing reelection campaign across the country,

    “We are pleased to announce that Mr President will arrive Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on 4 February in furtherance of his energetic reelection campaigns. The president will be accompanied by several party bigwigs, including the National Chairman, governors and ministers, among other officials,” Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship and the state coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdurazaq has said in the statement.

    Read Also: Buhari campaign train arrives Maiduguri

    He added that “like you all did during the recent launch of the TraderMoni by the Vice President, we are again calling on all Kwarans of good conscience to come out in millions to welcome Mr President to the state in appreciation of his numerous of gestures to the people of our state. These include roads, irrigation projects and several appointments.“

  • Residents take self-imposed leave to welcome Buhari in Yobe

    Some residents in Damaturu have taken a day leave to receive President Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) who is on a presidential campaign visit to the Yobe capital on Monday.

    The residents, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, said the one-day leave would afford them the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the president while in the state.

    Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha, a provision seller at Bayan Tasha Business Centre, said he had locked his shop until after the president’s visit.

    “I am going to the main road where he will be passing through so that I can catch a glimpse of the president,” he said.

    Habu Habibu, an electric materials dealer, said: “today we are on a self-declared holiday to welcome the president until after the visit.”

    “Everyone on our street has closed his shop to welcome the president; we are so proud of him to have restored relative peace to the Northeast,” he said.

    Mohammed AbdulRahman of Zanna Zakariya Housing Estate, said: “we will support and re-elect Buhari for a second term for providing more dividends of democracy.”

    Read Also; Buhari campaign train arrives Maiduguri

    Meanwhile, security operatives have been deployed to all strategic locations in the metropolis to ensure safety and peace throughout the visit.

    NAN reports that there was no official declaration of a public holiday by the state government, but most of the state civil servants have not been to work, while most schools and business centres are closed.

    Some streets were cleaned, while the Damaturu Stadium, the venue of the campaign, was given a facelift as part of the preparation for the President’s visit.

  • Buhari campaign train arrives Maiduguri

    The President Muhammadu Buhari campaign train on Monday arrived Maiduguri in continuation of its re-election campaign activities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari landed at about 10:30am at the Nigerian Air Force wing of the Maiduguri International Airport.

    He was received by Mr Adams Oshiomole, the Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC); National Security Adviser, Maj. -Gen. (rtd), Babagana Monguno and the Minister of State Works, Alhaji Baba Shehuri.

    Read Also: Buhari, Obasanjo clash over election fraud alert

    Other dignitaries that received the president are Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, members of the national and state House of Assembly and other party leaders.

    The president is expected to address a gathering of party supporters at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri, to drum up support for his re-election bid.

    Hundreds of party supporters displaying posters and singing solidarity songs throng the streets of the metropolis to welcome the president.

    NAN reports that the Borno State Government had declared Monday public holiday to enable the residents welcome the president.

  • 2019: Ganduje campaigns for Buhari’s re-election

    Overwhelmed by the feats achieved by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state moves his campaign train for Buhari re-election bid, in the forthcoming general election, to the 44 local government areas of the state, revealing to the electorate that Buhari would continue with the good projects and policies he started when given the mandate for the second time.

    Starting from Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, Ganduje, while at the palace of the District Head of Doguwa, where all other village heads including Imams were converged, informed them about the many projects cutting across all the six geo-political zones, executed by the federal government.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is a leader whose love for Nigeria Superceded any other presidential candidate from all the opposition parties contesting against him in the forthcoming presidential election, ”

    Ganduje urged them to continue praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections, emphasising that, “It is with your prayers that this government is able to achieve what we are witnessing now. While at the same time we have a leader who is focused and has the political will to deliver.”

    Read Also: Principals laud Ganduje on members’ promotion

    Ganduje continued that, “We are here today to convey the message of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, that, Nigeria is the only place we have on earth. So we must remain resolute to see to the genuine and sustainable development of our fatherland. This can only be possible when we come together and elect those that have the country at heart.”

    As Ganduje’s tour entered its sixth day, he has covered 13 local governments areas, campaigning for Buhari with incessant urge, for the strong reason that Buhari loves Nigeria more than any other presidential candidates.

    Governor’s unprecedented confidence in President Buhari, makes him to take more than half of the time he spends talking to the traditional leaders, when he visits them at their palaces, canvassing for unflinching support for Buhari.

    Even on the podium, he urges people, to first see the reason why Buhari deserves second term, as he speaks with all sense of responsibility and commitment, governor Ganduje repeats the same message in all the local governments that,

    “Our dear President Muhammadu Buhari has directed me to come and convey his message to you that, APC government at all levels brings succour to Nigerians. Our party will continue with the good work it started when given another chance.”

    The tour is designed in such a way that, governor with his campaign train move around local governments under federal constituency arrangements, daily. So far he toured Doguwa/Tudunwada, Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Takai/Sumaila, Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya, Dambatta/Makoda and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies.

    In all the places he touches he says “Kano state promised to give President Muhammadu Buhari 5 million votes. We should strive and make sure that we give him what we promised when the election comes.”

    “We should also make sure that we elect APC candidates as legislators, that will help him to continue with his developmental projects and programmes. He needs good legislators that will put heads together with him for the overall development of our dear nation,” Ganduje says.

    He challenged that whoever is interested in a peaceful Nigeria with good leadership, that is focused and committed, should vote Buhari for the second term, into office, insisting that, “This people-oriented President is a leader we can all trust.”

    While at the palace of the District Head of Dambatta, who is also the Sarkin Bai of Kano, and the Kingmaker of the Emirate, Alhaji Mukhtari Adnan, after urging all the District Heads and Imams to continue praying for Buhari’s victory in the coming election, Ganduje urged them to work hard and inform all their subjects to go and collect their permanent voters card.

    In his remarks, the Sarkin Bai, commended the governor for developing the state and for the achievements recorded in all the sectors of the society, “We are also aware that, you are doing well in the area of human development. We appreciate what you are doing in the state.”

    For this reason, he added “You deserve another term of four years. We are solidly behind your candidature. And we shall tell people to support you.”

    He added that, people like Ganduje who respects people of all ages and social status “…need to be encouraged in their public responsibilities. Because supporting Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for second term is a project that all should accept.”

    All chairmen of the visiting local governments believe that governor Ganduje is a performing governor, whose vision and interest in the development of the state, takes him to higher level both politically and in governance.

    Projects executed by his administration, ranging from road construction to renovation or upgrading of health facilities, among other things, are some of the many reasons why many people believe that, his (Ganduje) achievements are enough reasons for him to get re-elected even without him going round for campaigns.

    No local government, that he goes without either commissioning completed projects or inspecting ongoing projects. In Makoda local government, the governor commissioned two health facilities. One in Makoda town and the other one in Chidari, that was renovated and fully equipped with modern health care equipment, at over N400 Million.

    In Sumaila local government, it was not only the chairman of the local government, who attested to what the administration of Ganduje was able to do, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, commended the governor for an all-important Gani Bridge, hospital in Rimi town and other projects executed.

    .In all places the governor visited, he urged people to make sure that they collect their permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) for their support to be realistic and meaningful. He then calls electorate to make sure that they vote for the APC at all levels of elective position.