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Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari greets Godwin Abbe at 70

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former military governor Maj-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd) on the occasion of his 70thbirthday anniversary.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, rejoiced with the family, former military colleagues, associates and the government and people of Edo State as the former minister of interior and defence reaches the remarkable biblical age.

    President Buhari recalled the outstanding 32-year military career of Gen. Abbe during which he served as military governor of Akwa Ibom State and held several top command positions.

    “Gen. Abbe’s commitment to the unity and development of the country is not in doubt,” the President noted in reference not only to the elder statesman’s military life, but also his public service career as minister even after his retirement from the military in 1999.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges to end illegal tax collections

    President Buhari particularly applauded Gen. Abbe’s role as the pioneer Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta.

    He prayed God Almighty to grant the septuagenarian many more years of robust health and wisdom to continue to serve his fatherland and humanity.

  • Photos: Buhari receives S/West Traditional Rulers in Abuja

    Traditional rulers from South West Nigeria, on Friday, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the state house, Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria.
    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) flanked by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, SGF Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.
    President Muhammadu Buhari (M) in a handshake with the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Others are Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja
    R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.
    . R-L;; President Muhammadu Buhari being presented with an artwork by the Ooni of Ife Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi accompanied by Alake of Egbaland Chairman Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alayemore of Ido Osun South West Coordinator, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Vice Chairman, Lagos Traditional Ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Olukare of Ikare Akoko Chairman Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba ( Alhaji) Akadiri Momoh 1V, Oloye Oye Chairman Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Michael Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbole III, during an audience with Traditional Rulers from SouthWest of Nigeria held at the State House, Abuja.

     

     

  • Buhari to Tinubu, others: I’ve confidence you can deliver

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with the Co-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He spoke of his confidence that his party will win the February 16 presidential election and advised the team not to slow down its pace.

    The meeting was convened to consider and approve the structure and operation modalities of the Campaign Council.

    Buhari said: “It is my pleasure to welcome all of you members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council to this inaugural meeting. Our main objective is to serve as the forum for collective decision-making to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign effort.

    “I would like to appeal to you to dedicate and commit yourself once again to the task at hand. There is no doubt that victory is with us; it is ours, but that shouldn’t mean we should rest even for a moment.

    “Even though we are confident of winning, I urge you to work as hard as you can so that we can maximise the scale and extent of our victory. I urge you to rise to the challenge of the great expectations this party and Nigerians have for you and the confidence that I personally have in the ability of all of you to deliver.

    “You are the cream of the party and I assure you that with unity of purpose and effective harmony and communication, there is no political opponent you cannot overcome. Our agenda for this meeting is to consider and approve the structure and operational modalities of the Presidential Campaign Council – the terms of reference of your various directorates and organogram that will determine how you will relate with each other and how you will eventually discharge your responsibilities in the campaign.”

    But before the meeting went into closed session, APC governors were absent at the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Campaign Council.

    The APC governors are expected to serve as coordinators in their states. Governorship candidates in non- APC states are to serve as state coordinators.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, said that the governors were absent because they stayed back to govern their states.

    He said: “Because they are governors, they are governing their states.

    “Don’t forget that elections are not defined in Abuja; it will take place in the 36 states and I am sure there are APC members who are campaigning for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate constituencies, governorship constituencies.

    “So, it will not be helpful to bring them to Abuja. Here, it is about policies, it will be consummated and translated to practice across the 36 states, 774 local government areas and awards.”

    Oshiomhole also stated that President Buhari will visit the 36 states because the entire country is his constituency.

    Oshiomhole said: “The whole country is Mr. President’s constituency. So, he will have to visit each of the 36 states with appropriate message, reminding people always. You know in the country today , given the challenges of survival, people tend to forget where we are coming from they just look at where we are.

    “There is a saying that except you know and remember where you are coming from, you cannot appreciate where you are. Even in the life of a man those who look at those in their front will never thank God enough but when you look at your back and see those behind then you will appreciate that you have made a lot of progress.

    “So, you need to constantly remind Nigerians of what happened in the last 16 years and what has changed over the past three and half years, and what will change even more over the next four years, if given the mandate to continue and consolidate. You know that the business of construction is even much more challenging than when you are building a complete new house,” Oshiomhole said.

  • Labour unions hail Buhari for not privatising health

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for not privatising the health sector. They condemned privatisation of the sector, saying it would lead to masses’ exploitation.

    The leaderships of the two Unions, Ayuba Wabba and Biobelemoye Josiah, who expressed their concern at the recent 45th session of the MHWUN’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, urged health workers to unite for a common interest to resist the idea, described as anti-masses.

    According to Wabba, anyone who says health care privatisation will better the sector is telling lies. ”Anybody that tells me that privatising the health care will make it better, it is false. What has become of the privitisation of the power sector? We have seen it as an exploitation. Nigerians have been crying to be given meters, but there is none. Not because meters cannot be provided, but they realised that once they provide meters, exploitation will end, estimated billing will end and citizens will drive the process; that is why up till now they have refused, despite the fact that it is a major component of the agreement of privisation,” Wabba said.

    Josiah on his part, commended President Buhari, for refusing to privatise the healthcare system, even as he warned against fresh strike action. He called on the President to always listen to the other side of every story given to him by his aides. ”The truth of the matter is that, in the health sector, there has been deprivation. Seventy per cent of the healthcare professionals, their voices are not being heard. Their voices have been dominated,” he said.

    The MHWUN President also hinted an impending strike action if the government continued to delay in addressing the demands of health workers, especially  Skipping arears. It, therefore, urged its members to prepare for an indefinite strike action to push home their demands.

    He called on Nigerians to prepare their minds and bear with the workers when the time comes for the strike.

    Speaking on why his group will resume the strike, he said the continous inability of the government to meet the demands of the health workers, especially the payment of areas skipping, will no longer be tolerated.

    “Comrades, we have to prepare ourselves. We will no longer take that deceitful  story of there is no money.  At the appropriate time, we will come to you so that we will carry out destiny in our hands.

    “We call on Nigerians to have that understanding with us when the time comes because if the same ministry can appropriate to pay illegal items to the medical doctors such as skipping arears.

    “Another exposure of insincerity was that after paying the medical doctors skipping arears, which they were not supposed to benefit, they now went into the Federal Executive Council with a so-called white paper that skipping has been abrogated. Can FEC quash the ruling of any court?

    “If we believe in the rule of law, they just have to pay us that money because they have paid those who are not entitled to it.

    “Even when the Income and Wages Commission advised that these people are not entitled to this money, don’t pay them, the same government, the same ministry of health that said there is no money still went ahead to pay them.

    “Unless we agree to take our destiny in our hands, nobody in that ministry will be human enough to give us what is due to us,” he said.

    Reacting to the fight against corruption by President Buhari-led administraion, Josiah said: “It is our view that corruption cannot be fought when injustice cannot be redressed.

    He said: “Let me therefore, use this opportunity to call on the government to redesign the anti-corruption war to assume a holistic and down-to-the-grassroot approach, as well as support and protect those heeding the call to support and advance the fight.”

    Speaking on his achievements within the past two years, he said: “Recall that in 2017, we performed the ground breaking ceremony of our Specialist Hospital project. I am happy to report to you that work has steadily progressed at the sight.

    “We shall endeavour to make out time for an inspection visit to the sight in the course of our crowded programme. Our efforts at remodeling the fourth floor to suit the purpose it was meant to serve has reached 99 per cent completion with the delivery of a 550KVA plant that is expected to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the facility. You would agree with me that power supply is central to the success of any hospital facility.”

    He, however, condemned the killing of health workers in the northeast by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, describing it as barbaric and satanic.

  • Dogara to Buhari: Solve insecurity challenges now or leave

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to vacate the office if he can not fix the insecurity challenges facing the country.

    Dogara also accused northern Nigerian elders over their ‘silence’ on insecurity in the region in contrast to what they did during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dogara spoke in Lafia, Nasarawa state at the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday where he also accused the President of being indifferent to the plight of University teachers and their demands for better working environment.

    He said President Buhari is not sincere in the resolution of the crisis.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan on Thursday, Dogara noted that the silence of the northern elders on insecurity in the region could be taken as enabling the poor management of security in the country, especially in the north, a situation that continues to threaten the nation’s democracy and its very foundations.

    Dogara was quoted as saying, “Just like my last speech to Nigerians that were gathered in a rally like this in Gombe, I said that the 2019 general elections is not about President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s not about Atiku Abubakar, but I said it is about you who are gathered here and it will be a referendum on insecurity and hunger in this land.

    “On the issue of insecurity, all of us know what is happening in Borno and, unfortunately too, between Abuja and Kaduna, as well as in Zamfara, Katsina, Nassarawa, Benue, Plateau and even Sokoto States.

    “Now, I cannot even mention all because it is a general problem in the county, but I was highlighting the states where the problem is more endemic as of now. The issue is this, when this thing was going on under Jonathan, we had Borno elders always speaking.

    “Where are the Borno elders now? Where are the leaders of Northern Nigeria now that this problem has become endemic? What are they saying now? Are we not guilty of what we allow? Are we not responsible for the killings to say that enough is enough and demand as a matter of right that President Buhari puts an end to this or leave if he can’t?

    “The truth is that if we don’t rise up to the endemic challenges now, sooner than later, if things continue this way, we are not going to have a country. So it is our responsibility to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of insecurity.

    “Without security; we would not have a meaningful democracy.

    “The sad reality in Nigeria is that by our silence we have condoned those who have been unable to effectively tackle the insecurity in the nation. We have have wittingly become enablers of evil. You know what enablers do? Enablers don’t build a country only courageous people do.

    “What enablers do is that they instigate the worship of individuals and the office they occupy, they will confuse such an individual with accolades. You know none of us was built to receive worship, anyone who attempts to receive worship will meet destruction in his wake.

    “So that is why we are witnessing destruction in Nigeria, because we have elevated some human beings to the status of God. We now need to rise up and rescue our country from the clutches of insecurity.”

    Read Also: Buhari: I won’t approve public funds for campaigns

    Dogara also said that the 2019 election would be a referendum on many issues, including education.

    According to him, President Buhari has failed to give enough attention it deserves considering the lackluster way he (Buhari) is handling the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    “It’s been said that if you want to destroy a community, state or nation, don’t even fire shots or bring the crisis that is being perpetrated by Boko Haram, don’t even bring nuclear bomb, all you need to do is to lower the standard of education in that Community state, or nation. Once you succeed in doing that, you’ve killed the nation.

    “So many of us may not understand what I’m implying, but right now in Nigeria, the university lecturers are on strike. If it was a decent government that is committed to the future of this country, it wouldn’t take one week to resolve this problem, but unfortunately, through ineptitude, the strike is allowed to fester.

    “If we shut down education, we shut down progress, we shut down the future of our teeming youth who have gathered here, we shut down the advancement of this great country called Nigeria.

    “So the 2019 election will be a referendum on education also,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.

  • Buhari, Tinubu, APC Presidential council meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with the Co-chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking during the opening session of the meeting, President Buhari said that the meeting was convened to consider and approve structure and operation modalities of the campaign council.

    But before the meeting went into closed session, APC Governors were absent at the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Campaign Council.

    The APC governors are expected to serve as State Coordinators in their respective states while Gubernatorial Candidates in non- APC States will serve as State Coordinators in their respective states.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report

  • 2019 : Opposition can wrangle, but don’t misinterpret Buhari!

    Interestingly, I am getting to know more about the impressive, but  silent aspects of President Muhammadu Buhari’s life and personage. I have never met him personally. But with his credentials as a retired Army officer, and given the military culture, it was safer for me to believe he is rough and unapologetically ruthless.
    But I was damn wrong! He is just a leader who is blunt and plain.  He hates any brazen act of trampling on laws of the land or decency in conduct.
    President Buhari, as Nigeria’s incumbent President is gunning for reelection in 2019 for another term of four years, on the platform of the ruling APC. But he was enraged over INEC’s sudden postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly ballots. His party, the APC was equally angered and condemned the impromptu shift of elections, barely five hours to the commencement of the ballot. I think, the electoral umpire knows better why the decision was taken. We are sad, but what else can anybody do?
    When I listened to INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s address to the nation on the elections postponement, I pitied him. From  his facial scowls, it was clear to discerning minds that something terribly went wrong. And discontinuing with  the ballot as scheduled became inevitable.
    Prof. Yakubu nicely concealed his anger in these official explanation;  “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan, and the determination to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.”
    But political actors and Nigerians did not swallow this excuse lightly. And it has sparked very profound reactions from all segments of  the Nigerian community.  I may not bother with every view expressed by every Nigerian. But at least, we can speak to our conscience and it will certainly prick us in glaring terms that the ballot was compromised even before the vote cast. And our leaders know this; INEC knows it; critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project are aware and Nigerians know everything dubiously contrived affected the ballot in focus.
    President Buhari was more disappointed. And  so,  at the opening session  of the National Caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja,  the President who is not oblivious of what crooked politicians planned in dark chambers and rigged the ballot before the vote fumed;
    “The security agencies have identified hot spots and flash points and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford. Anybody who decide to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, may be that will be the last unlawful action you will take.We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.”
    This innocent comment from Mr. President has provoked partisan outbursts, especially from PDP chieftains and stalwarts. These Nigerians have imputed very funny meanings into the comments, which are beyond any reasonable limits of decency. I understand the intention of antagonistic elements to spite and slight the President in order to diminish his electoral value in the eyes of Nigerians.
    But in truth and to our conscience, what contents of the presidential statement alludes to an order calling for the killing of Nigerians as propagated by the opposition? There is none! An election rigger is worse than an armed robber. Accepted, we are guided by laws, which presumes every person is innocent until pronounced guilty by a competent court. But why do we think, criminals should be allowed to ply their trade unmolested by security agents?
    I do not buy the arguments of the vocal PDP analysts. They  have repeatedly said the President has issued a direct order to security agents to kill Nigerians.  Why would any decent Nigerian think the best thing to do is to foist a regime of electoral violence on Nigerians, but gets offended when the President ask security agents to ruthlessly handle such miscreants or hoodlums? And why would anybody happily contemplate this absurdity? Is it because the potential culprits know there are elder statesmen and people who would rise up to their defence?
    APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been speaking on  Buhari’s presidential statement. He has done what is humanely possibly to deflect the misconstrued interpretations. But trust Nigerians! We are more comfortable promoting evil than good. But let me leave the mischief makers and the drugged or incensed partisans that President Buhari never wished  the death of any Nigerian because he wants to continue as Nigeria’s leader.
    Let’s get some sense in what Tinubu said on the misinterpretations of the President’s comments. He said;   “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens that he is in that office to protect. Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Book Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election, did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?”

    Read Also: We’ve completed Card Readers’ configuration 100 per cent, says INEC

    However, we cannot pretend that elections results were written before the ballot. How can Nigerians explain the pre-ballot violence, deaths and destructions in some states in Nigeria? Are we canvassing that  President Buhari, as Chief Security Officer of the nation should be soft with such characters so that tomorrow, we shall gladly also  blame him  for a degenerative insecurity in the country? This is not wisdom from any sane mind.
    Let me leave these adversaries of Nigeria with the sound advice from my friend, Alhaji Aminu Musa.  His words; “Those with ears have been so blessed. I believe,  the words that made up the statement of Mr. President are unambiguous. We are by it advised to stay clear of any form of malpractices in the forthcoming rescheduled election.”
    So, those who have plotted violence and rigging are forewarned. Security agents would ruthlessly handle the destroyers of our nation’s democracy and the electoral process. Well done,  Mr. President for this forewarning.
    Ikpa is Executive Secretary, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) and wrote this piece from Abuja.

  • Buhari: I won’t approve public funds for campaigns

    President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his commitment to the elimination of corruption in campaign financing, saying he will not authorise the use of funds from the public treasury for his re-election campaign.

    Dr. Saraki, who is the campaign director for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, condemned what he called the stifling of financial institutions from supporting political campaigns.

    Buhari spoke after of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Saraki spoke on a Channels Television programme One-on-One monitored in Lagos.

    The President directed Council members to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the forthcoming general elections.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: “As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and cranny of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.

    “Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government. There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorise that,” he said.

    President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

    He was quoted as saying: “This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.

    “Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics.”

    The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish her success in her electoral contest.

    The minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.

    Speaking on the television programme, the Senate accused the Federal Government of frightening financial institutions from funding campaigns.

    According to him, most business communities are afraid to come to participate in election campaigns.

    He debunked insinuation that the PDP had gone out of cash to fund its presidential election camapigns.

    Rather, he described the Muhammadu Buhari-led government as “grossly intolerance.”

    His words: “The atmosphere does not allow what people are used to. Activities are not as buzzling as we usually witnessed in the past. The funding environment has changed.

    “The government is hounding financial institutions funding campaigns. Business communities that are donating to campaigns are being scared away. The environment we are seeing is not like an environment practising democracy. The government is scaring a lot of people away.”

    According to him, the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation is devising many tactics of passing the messages to the people.

    The opposition party, he claimed, was competing with the ruling APC and security agencies.

    “We can’t allow a situation whereby security personnel will prevent people from voting,” he said.

    Saraki insisted that Nigerians are not better off under the present administration compare to the PDP era before 2015.

    ”This campaign should not be on sentiment. The APC-led government has failed. About 20 million jobs have been lost under this administration. Over 80 million Nigerians are living under poverty line.

    “There is no way out because this government has shown no direction. If you cannot create more jobs, don’t let people lose their jobs,” he said.

    He described government’s admission of 50 million litres as daily oil consumption as a big fraud, saying “there is no way we can consume such amount of fuel. This is a new corruption. It is a huge leakage. If we disagreed with Goodluck Jonathan administration’s 20.3 million daily consumption of fuel, this is another bigger corruption under this government. Things are even gone worse.”

    According to him, revenue collections showed that there were lots of leakages in the government.

  • Buhari may not extend IG’s tenure despite pressure

    Despite pressure from lobbyists, there were strong indications last night that President Muhammadu Buhari may not extend the tenure of Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    It was learnt that the IGP might be directed to hand over to the most senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police next week.

    It was, however, unclear if an Acting IGP will oversee the security arrangement for the conduct of the general elections in February and March.

    Idris, who was born on January 15, 1959, will next week hit the statutory retirement age of 60.

    Although, it is within the prerogative of the President to extend the tenure, there had been controversy on whether or not Idris should remain in office.

    As at press time, President Buhari has kept the outgoing IGP in suspense on his fate.

    It was gathered that when the President met with the IGP last week, he only took brief from him and thanked him for his service.

    But he was non-committal on the extension or otherwise of his tenure.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President is not likely to extend the tenure of the IGP but he  is waiting for the statutory retirement day before making a pronouncement. You know, Buhari is a due process leader.

    “The outgoing IGP is most likely to hand over to the most senior Deputy Inspector-General of Police pending the appointment of a substantive holder.

    “ If Idris leaves, there will be an Acting IGP and this will not affect security arrangement for the general elections.

    “So far, the IGP is expected to be preparing his handover note.”

    On what transpired between the President and IGP last week, another source said: “Just a routine pre-retirement interaction, including a brief from the IGP and a thank you by Mr. President.

    “There was no words from the President on whether or not he may extend his tenure.”

    The second source, however, confirmed that there had been pressure for and against tenure extension for Idris.

    The source said: “There is intense lobbying by some groups to allow Idris to remain in office till after the general elections.

    “These groups argued that it is untidy to ask Idris to leave about a month to the poll when he has put all logistics in place.

    “Those for Idris also cited the case of service chiefs, some of who are due for retirement but they have had their service years extended.

    “Of course, there are some sponsored associations trying to raise dust against tenure elongation for Idris.

    “The President has taken notice of all sides. He is however keeping the IGP in suspense on his decision which will be in the best interest of the country.”

    Section 27 of the Third Schedule (Part 1)to the 1999 Constitution says: “The Nigeria Police Council shall comprise the following members: (a) the President who shall be the chairman; (b) the Governor of each state of the Federation; (c) the Chairman of the Police Service Commission; and (d) the Inspector-General.

    “The functions of the Nigeria Police Council shall include—(a) the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force.

    (b) the general supervision of the Nigeria Police Force; and

    ( c) advising the President on the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police.

  • I won’t use government fund for campaign, Buhari vows

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja reiterated his commitment to eliminate corruption in campaign financing in the country.

    He said that he will not authorise the use of any money from the treasury for his re-election campaign.

    Speaking at the close of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari directed cabinet ministers to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in next month’s general elections.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said “As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and corner of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.

    “Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government.

    ‘‘There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorize that,” he said.

    President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

    ‘‘This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.

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    ‘‘Nigerians wants change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics,’’ he said.

    The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish the minister success in her electoral contest.

    The Minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.