The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Buhari mourns Prof. Sophie Oluwole

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the Oluwole family on the death of Prof. Sophie Oluwole, renowned philosopher and Nigeria’s first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy, who died at 83.

    The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina in Abuja on Monday, joined members of the family, the academia and other close associates in mourning the philosopher.

    He noted the deceased had through her teachings and works celebrated the Yoruba culture, history and worldview as well as reminded the world that within pristine traditions are values that promote the ideals of democracy, fairness, equity and justice.

    Buhari said that the deceased would be honoured and remembered for her commitment in promoting African tradition, culture, knowledge and languages.

    He urged all who mourned Prof. Oluwole to honour her memory by carrying on from where she left in her zeal to promote indigenous knowledge, skills and discipline that could help to redefine people and a nation.

    The President prayed that almighty God grant her soul eternal rest and comfort and grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Born in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State in 1936, Oluwole died in the early hours of Monday, Dec. 24.

    She went to school in Ife, and was critical of the education system in the 1940s, saying a woman’s career prospects were “not your ambition: it was your parents’ ambition.”

    She studied History, Geography and Philosophy at University of Lagos (UNILAG) and eventually settled on philosophy.

    Following her first degree, she was employed in UNILAG as an assistant lecturer in 1972, and went on to complete her PhD in philosophy at University of Ibadan.

    The first female doctorate degree holder in philosophy in Nigeria and professor taught African Philosophy at UNILAG for six years between 2002 and 2008.

    Oluwole’s teachings and works generally attributed to the Yoruba school of philosophical thought were ingrained in the cultural and religious beliefs (Ifá) of the various regions of Yorubaland.

    According to Oluwole, this branch of philosophy predates the Western tradition, as the ancient African philosopher Orunmila predates Socrates by her estimate.

    The two thinkers, representing the values of the African and Western traditions, were two of Oluwole’s biggest influences and she compared the two in her book — Socrates and Orunmila. (NAN)

     

  • Buhari greets Nigerians at Christmas

    *Says Nigeria had mixed blessings in 2018

    *Nigeria’s future bright – Buhari

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday felicitated with Nigerians as they mark Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

    In his 2018 Christmas message to Nigerians, he also pointed out that Nigeria has had mixed blessings in the outgoing year.

    The President was confident that what lies ahead for Nigeria is better than what it has gone through.

    He said “I felicitate with all Nigerians, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, on the joyous occasion of this year’s

    “Like I have done in the last three Christmas messages to my fellow compatriots as a serving President, I believe this season is another opportunity to reflect on the imagery of the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea, and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys.

    “In 2018, Nigerians have had mixed blessings, typical of human beings.

    “On the pleasant side, our economy has made significant progress since coming out from recession and our faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

    “Agricultural revolution has seen a vastly improved local production to the detriment of importation, while we have achieved surplus in our trade balance. Similarly, infrastructural deficit has been greatly reduced with significant improvements in roads, railways, aviation and power.

    “In addition, we have not relented in the fight against corruption while the business environment has been improved through institutional reforms.

    “On the downside, we have seen so many unnecessary deaths caused by violent clashes between neighbours, who ordinarily should complement and support one another.

    “We cannot bring back the lives lost to floods, unfortunate fire disasters, road accidents, farmers/herders clashes and insurgency.

    “But we can put back smiles on the faces of the grieving, the displaced and the troubled, if we show a little love and recommit ourselves to building relationships with those outside our ethnic, religious and socio-political divides.”

    He urged Nigerians to exchange gifts, pray and visit loved ones as they celebrate Christmas.

    Read Also: NSCDC trains 70 security guards in C/River

    The President also urged them to remember many others who cannot be with their families during the festive period.

    He said “Our brave Armed Forces, and other security men and women who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, the aged, the sick, physically challenged persons, all deserve our goodwill in this season of love and sharing.

    “Together we can show generosity to our neighbours and demonstrate the diversity that makes Nigeria unique – a land with a beautiful climate and vegetation, beaming with an energetic and creative youth population.” he said

    Stressing that Nigeria’s future is bright, he said “We must not also forget that what lies ahead of us as a nation is better than whatever we must have experienced in the past.”

    With general elections around the corner and heightened political activities across the country, he said that he has charged the security and law enforcement agencies to secure the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that the outcome of the polls reflects the will of the Nigerian people.

    “My avowed commitment to free, fair, credible and violence-free polls is not a ruse or yet another vain political promise. My word is my bond.

    “It is a sworn declaration on the advancement of Nigeria, the future and safety of our young and unborn generations.

    “Let us tell the world that, indeed, ‘‘something good’’ can come out from Nigeria. And it will happen, as we all team up to make it happen.” he said

  • PDP to Buhari: don’t extend IGP’s tenure

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said that the tenure of the Police Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris should not be extended.

    The party, which claimed that the police boss is expected to retire in January next year, said he deserves a blissful retirement after January.

    Its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said PDP does not trust the Inspector-General because the police have been biased towards the opposition under his tenure.

    He said the police deserves a new IGP who will be politically neutral instead of dancing to the tune of the Federal Government.

    Ologbondiyan said PDP has bows the fear that Idris will not be far to the main opposition party during next year’s polls.

    He spoke with reporters in Lagos on the preparations for the polls.

    Ologbondiyan said the police has taken sides in some partisan issues in many neutrality and capacity for fiarness.

    He added: “We know that the tenure of the IGP expires in January, next year. We don’t want the government to extend his tenure. We want neutrality during the election.”

    Ologbondiyan, who aknowledged that President Buhari has mandated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to represent him at the presidential debate, said the PDP candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is ready for the live debate.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Row over Osinbajo’s push for Buhari in Southwest

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sparked a huge controversy at the weekend when he asked his kinsmen in the Southwest to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid next year.

    He was quoted as saying that the re-election of the President for another four-year term will pave the way for the Southwest  to vie for the presidency after the expiration of Buhari’s tenure.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused Osinbajo of positioning himself to succeed Buhari in 2023, describing it as an ambition that can never materialise.

    A source close to the Vice President dismissed it all as “amusing”.

    The PDP also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of promising to give the presidential slot to the Southwest and the Southeast in 2023.

    It said Osinbajo’s position contradicted that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha who, it said, assured the Southeast of the slot if the Igbo would vote Buhari next year.

    In a statement, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan said the vice president’s 2023 presidential bid will end up a pipe dream

    But the vice President cleared the air last night. He said he had no ambition to take a shot at the presidency in 2023 as alleged by the PDP.

    A source close to Osinbajo said that the PDP and its foot soldiers were free to amuse themselves.

    The source told The Nation: “Osinbajo has never focused on ambition but only passionately gets assignments given him done and done well. He is not talking of 2023 for himself at all.

    “He has a leader and is known as a loyal person by all Nigerians. The PDP and its foot soldiers can, however, continue to amuse themselves and lie as they have always done.”

    Ologbodiyan said that President Buhari, who Osinbajo is banking on for the 2023 ambition, will be defeated in the February 2019 election.

    The PDP statement reads: “It’s laughable that Prof. Osinbajo is swimming in wishful thinking, even when it has become obvious that he and President Buhari will no longer have any political relevance after May 29, 2019.”

    “Prof. Osinbajo thinks he can sweet-talk and cajole the people of the Southwest to shed their already established support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

    “Our ambitious vice president in his political hallucination, has failed to realise that the Southwest is politically sophisticated and cannot fall for his gimmicks and self-serving venture.

    “What should rather occupy Prof. Osinbajo’s mind, now that it is clear that he is leaving office in May, 2019, is how to answer for the (alleged) mindless looting of our patrimony, particularly the alleged looting of huge part of the funds meant for food and welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast, while he was Acting President in 2017.”

    The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee that investigated the diversion of the IDP votes said the Osinbajo’s name was not included in the panel’s report.

    The PDP also criticized the Tradermoni scheme as a way of diverting “funds in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to finance the wasteful lifestyle of APC leaders and his benefactors.”

    Many Nigerians have, however, lauded the Federal Government for introducing theTradermoni programme, which they see as a direct answer to poverty in the land. Under the programme, traders get at least N10,000 without any collateral.

  • Why Buhari can’t use stadium for campaign, by Akwa Ibom Govt

    The controversy surrounding Akwa Ibom State government’s decision not to allow the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium for political campaigns and other activities may have died down, it was learnt yesterday.

    The dispute over the 30,000 capacity stadium started after the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) applied to the state government requesting for the use of the facility for the kick-off of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign on the Friday.

    The state government through the commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Monday Uko gave reasons the facility cannot be used for now.

    In a statement made available to reporters, Uko said: “The government of Akwa Ibom State has received with gladness the notice of the proposed visit of His Excellency, the President of the Federal

    Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, to our dear state on December 28, 2018.

    “Consequent to this proposed visit, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Akwa Ibom State is in receipt of a letter of application dated December 19, 2018, requesting for the use of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as the venue for his reception ceremony.

    “Whereas we have sent a letter, dated December 20, 2018 in response to the application, addressed to Hon. Ini Okopido, the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Akwa Ibom State, we are obliged, in light of the unfortunate attempt by some political actors and commentators to pit Akwa Ibom State Government against President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidency. May we inform Akwa Ibom people and the entire public, of the reasons for our inability to approve the use of the requested venue. As stated in our response, our inability is hinged on two grounds.

    “That the next season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2018. In view of this and the fixtures of home matches for Akwa United FC, it will be practically impossible to ‘regrass’ the stadium for pre-fixed matches, if used for non-sports activities, because of the nature of pressure that such events bring on the pitch.

    “Additionally, the maintenance contractor (Julius Berger) had also advised that the present atmospheric conditions being very hostile to the pitch, the facility should not be used for non-sport activities during this harmattan period, so as to avoid inflicting long term or irreversible damage to the grass on the football pitch.

    “This reason forced the relocation of the State’s Christmas Carols festival from the earlier proposed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to the Uyo township Stadium. “Moreover, the stadium from its inception has been under a maintenance contract with Julius Berger Construction Company.

    “They operate all the sensitive and non-sensitive components of the facility. They had closed for the year and proceeded on vacation (as it has been their usual practice) and are due to resume on January 7, 2018. The implication of this is that, the technical capacity required to activate the venue is currently unavailable, and this is not within our control.

    “The ministry has however approved, in the alternative, the use of the Uyo Township Stadium for the event. We guarantee that the approved venue is in perfect condition”.

    Though the APC has not given issued any response to government’s position on the state, our correspondent gathered that the party may resort to the Uyo Township Stadium for the Buhari campaign.

    Spokesperson of the APC campaigns in the state, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh told The Nation that “the party will do everything within its ability to give President Buhari a befitting reception in Uyo and also ensure that the campaign kick-off takes place peacefully and successfully.

    He, was however, silent on whether the party will insist on the use of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium for the event.

  • Buhari praises Unity Bank over Anchor Borrowers’ Programme

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Unity Bank Plc for its contributions to the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

    The lender got an award from Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) for  participating in ABP.

    The farmers presented the award in Abuja during a gala night organised by beneficiaries of the government’s ABP  held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Receiving the award, the bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Tomi Somefun praised the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and RIFAN for the recognition and promised that the bank would continue to contribute to the success of the ABP initiative.

    It would recalled that Unity Bank  recently  won the CBN sustainable banking award,  emerging tops in the sustainable transaction of the year in agriculture.

    The lender won the coveted award for its compliance with the Sustainable Banking Principles on the management of Environmental and Social Risk set out by the CBN for adoption by Nigerian Banks, Discount Houses and Development Banks.

    At the just-concluded Bankers’ retreat held in Lagos, the CBN while presenting the award to the bank, commended its efforts in promoting ABP, stressing that the lender deserved the award for the role it played in actualising and managing the project.

    The social and economic impact of the project on the household income of over 270,000 participating small holder farmers as well the contribution to gross domestic product of the country cannot be under estimated.

    Commenting on the Award, Mrs Somefun  observed that the lender has on-boarded over 90,000 financially excluded farmers and generated bank verification number for them to facilitate financial and banking transaction.

    Capacities of about 60 agro input suppliers were expanded through provision of facilities and financial advisory services.

     

  • I fear only God not even Buhari – Amosun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun has clarified that he only fears God and not human beings, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Amosun said God whose counsel or pronouncement cannot be altered by man, is the one he fears and nobody else.

    The Governor spoke during the 2018 edition of the state’s Christmas Carol and Service of Nine Lessons at Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital,  in an apparent allusion to the report by the Saturday edition of The Nation which quoted him to have said “I only fear God and Buhari.”

    Amosun was reported to have made the comments while addressing  leaders and members of All Progressives Congress (APC)  during a stakeholders meeting  last Friday at the party Secretariat in Abeokuta .

    But clarifying his earlier statement, he said he fears only God and not Buhari.

    “You know this is our time as politician, a time when politicians will call black, blue. Yesterday I held a  meeting with our people, and the way I started was that, I was brought up to fear God but only for me to see in the paper this morning that ‘Amosun says he fears  God and Buhari’.

    “No, it is only God I fear, the one that is alive, the only one that will say ‘kufayakun’ and no one can change(it), that is the only God that I fear.

    “Of course, I respect President Buhari, I love him and he loves me too but I know him he fears God because he is from God. He doesn’t beg for respect he commands and earns  it. So it is only God that I fear.”

    In his yuletide sermon,  the Secretary-General, Anglican communion worldwide, Anglican communion office and consultative council, London,  Archbishop  Josiah Idowu-Fearon attributed the nation’s problem to scanty knowledge of both the Holy bible and the Quran.

    Idowu – Fearon said politicians are negatively using religion to divide the country but enjoined citizens to refuse any of such moves.

    He said: “Our major problem in this country today is that, so many people has scanty knowledge and understanding of the holy Quran and the holy Bible and they tend to propagate that little understanding of the word of God and anyone who does not agree with them, will be seen as an enemy.

    “For the Christians, the real problem is sin because it was sin that caused the reincarnation and that is why Jesus came as sacrifice and as ransom for men.

    “Jesus is a word that came in human flesh and as a result, he is a messenger and his mission is to save the people from their sins.

    “Meanwhile God expect us all to humble ourselves but our politicians are negatively using religion to divide us in this country and the time has come for all us to say no to them.”

  • Southeast Presidency only possible through Buhari – Sen. Ndoma Egba

    Former Senate Leader and senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, Senator Ndoma Egba has said that for the South East to be in a position to produce the President of the country in 2013, they will have no choice than to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The former Senator said this in an interview with news correspondents at his Apo, Abuja office.

    He said no candidates can guarantee an Igbo Presidency in the near future.

    “let me hazard what may happen and I think they will go with President Buhari. They are hoping to produce a President in 2023 and that opportunity can only come through a President Buhari because by the application of the law, come 2023, Buhari will become illegible to contest because he must end his tenure and that is when the south east can have their turn” he said.

    “Any other person that comes, forget whatever promises they make. The moment they seat on that chair, they must take their constitutional two full terms. So, any other person will delay the chances for the south east. That is why I think the south east will go with President Buhari”.

    “It is not automatic though. We are talking about the opportunity and it is for the south east to go and organize themselves and ready itself for that opportunity”.

    “Will they have an opportunity in 2023 through President Buhari? The answer is yes, the opportunity will be there and you need to put your house in order. Will it be possible with other person in 2023 considering the fact that the person would have a constitutional two term. The answer is no.”

  • PDP short-changed Cross River for 16 years – Ndoma Egba

    Former Senate Leader and senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, Senator Ndoma Egba has said that the PDP government short changed the state in the 16 years it governed the country, depriving it of 76 oil well and the Bakassi peninsula.

    Senator Ndoma Egba also said that for the south east to be in a position to produce the President of the country in 2013, they will have no choice than to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying any other candidate cannot guarantee an Igbo Presidency in the near future.

    Speaking to newsmen at his Apo, Abuja office, the former lawmaker who is seeking a return to the Senate after a short absence said even though his state gave the President what he described as paltry 28,000 votes, they have benefited tremendously from the APC government.

    The former Senator said the State governor who has always boasted of his closeness with the President should reciprocate the President’s good gesture to him and the state by mobilizing votes for him in the Presidential election.

    He also said the sentiments that played out in the 2015 elections in the south south are no longer there since former President Jonathan or any body for the zone is seeking election as President.

    “Yes, it was a traditional PDP ares because at a time, we had our son who was contesting the Presidency. There was that underlining sentiment that our son was contesting. But today, we don’t have that situation and we don’t have anybody who is contesting from that zone” he said.

    “The two major candidates are from the same region and from the same religion. So, that sentiment will not be there. Take the example of Cross River state. In 2015, President Buhari got a paltry 28,000 votes and inspite of the low level of support, see what he has done for Cross River”.

    “Cross River remain the only state that he has visited twice. The state is well represented in government. We have the Chief Justice of Nigeria even though he is not a politician. You can’t run away from the fact that he became Chief Justice under President Buhari, but anything could have happened.

    “The Head of Service of the Federation is from Cross River state, the Auditor General of the Federation is from that state, the Minister of the Niger Delta, the Chairman, NDDC, the Special Adviser on Prosecution are all from that state in addition to Chairmen of boards, all for a paltry 28,000.

    “What was the record under PDP? The best we ever had as a state under the PDP was when we had Kanu Agabi as Minister and Senator Liyel Imoke as Special Adviser. These are arguments that will be taken to the field in Cross River. It will be the height of ingratitude for any Cross Riverian not to vote for President Buhari and it will be uncharitable ingratitude.

    “Recently I had an interview with a radio station and I challenged the public. Any tarred road that was constructed in the last two years in Cross River, 90 percent of the chances is that it was tarred by the NDDC or the Ministry of the Niger Delta.

    Any renovation of any school in the last two years, the chances are that it was done by either the NDDC or the Ministry of the Niger Delta.

    “So, we have benefited a lot from this government. We also have our argument. What was the experience under the PDP government. It was one loss or the other for us as a state.

    “It was under the PDP that we lost Bakassi and also lost 76 oil wells. It was under the PDP that we lost the hosting right of the National Sport Festival. Cross River at a time was paradise game under Donald Duke when we had the Cattle Ranch and the Mountain Range. But it was still under the PDP that the paradise was lost.

    “These and many more are the arguments that we are going to confront the people with. The sentiments that our son is contesting is no longer there. We are now dealing with verifiable records which we are going to be dealing with and the records favour the President unequivocally and the APC.”

    On the agitation for a south east Presidency come 2023, he said “For the south east, let me hazard what may happen and I think they will go with President Buhari.

    “They are hoping to produce a President in 2023 and that opportunity can only come through a President Buhari because by the application of the law, come 2023, Buhari will become illegible to contest because he must end his tenure and that is when the south east can have their turn.

    “Any other person that comes, forget whatever promises they make. The moment they seat on that chair, they must take their constitutional two full terms. So, any other person will delay the chances for the south east. That is why I think the south east will go with President Buhari.

    “It is not automatic though. We are talking about the opportunity and it is for the south east to go and organize themselves and ready itself for that opportunity.

    “Will they have an opportunity in 2023 through President Buhari? The answer is yes, the opportunity will be there and you need to put your house in order. Will it be possible with other person in 2023 considering the fact that the person would have a constitutional two term. The answer is no.”

  • Terrorism: Buhari, Chambas rally ECOWAS leaders

    •Call for collective action against menace

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNIWAS), Mr. Ibn Chambas, have expressed concern over growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region.

    The duo spoke yesterday at the opening of the 54th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.

    Expressing his concern, Buhari said that the sub-region is still confronted with several challenges including peace and security.

    The President therefore called for collective action by all members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in dealing with terrorism in the sub-region.

    This threat, he said, calls for collective approach if it is to be effectively executed.

    He said: “It is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security in our sub-region. This threat calls for collective action on our part, if we are to effectively and definitively eliminate it.”

    The president also called for the support of other partners in the efforts towards eliminating terrorism in the sub-region.

    “As we work on new strategies to combat and eradicate this menace, we require the support of our partners to ensure the achievement of our objectives,” he added.

    Besides, President Buhari also tasked ECOWAS member states on the need to pay their dues promptly, saying that no institution can function effectively without adequate funding.”

    He, therefore, charged other leaders of the sub-region on the need to work towards eliminating other challenges bedevilling the region.

    In his remarks, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNIWAS), Mr. Ibn Chambas, called for continuous collaboration among member states in the efforts towards ending terrorism in the sub-region.

    He said: “Peace and security in the sub-region are still threatened by growing number of terrorist attacks, the consequences of which have a direct impact on the development and coexistence of the different communities. We must intensify efforts to reverse the trend.”

    President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on his part, highlighted the improvement in the sub-region.

    He said ECOWAS economic growth is on the rise, inflation down and the situation finances public remains stable despite the strong pressures related in particular to security issues.