The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Buhari’s reelection

  • My second term ’ll be guided by inclusiveness, Buhari assures

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja assured his administration will in the next four years pursue inclusive and transparent policies that will guarantee security and economic safety of every citizen.

    The President, who received a delegation of the Nigerian Union of Journalists led by Mr. Chris Isiguzo at the State House, said: “As I look to the next four years, I will remain committed to a safe and secure nation; creating an inclusive and diversified economy; and a governance system that is free of corrupt practices.

    “In all these areas, we will remain transparent in implementing our policies.’’

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, urged members of the NUJ to support the government in devising a means to control the spread of false information.

    He warned that those who “create alternative reality’’ on social media are steadily eroding the credibility of journalism.

    “Your profession today is undergoing a fundamental shift. For better or worse, the digital space is now becoming the major outlet for ‘news’.

    “This space is difficult to regulate and police. In many instances, the participants in this medium are not trained or professional journalists.

    “The stories they present are neither factual nor true. However, through the digital platform, they are able to reach millions and create an alternate reality in their minds.

    Read Also: Buhari declines assent to five bills

     

    “I am sure you will all agree that the biggest threat to the sustainability and credibility of your profession is the uncontrolled and unregulated news platforms operating in the cyber space,’’ he said.

    The President noted that some misleading information in the social media were created and posted by people who lived outside the country.

    “Many of the perpetrators of these acts do not even live within our shores. However, they have been able to damage the reputation of hardworking Nigerian journalists while at the same time promoting conflict and divisions within our society,’’ he added.

    He commended journalists for effective coverage of the 2019 elections, pointing that many, out of patriotism, went beyond their call of duty and took risks to ensure full and balanced reporting of the election, assuring the NUJ that security agencies will do their best to protect journalists, especially in hostile environments.

    Isiguzo congratulated the President for his re-election, attributing it to his integrity and commitment to the development of the nation.

     

     

  • I won’t let you down, Buhari reassures Nigerians

    *Promises to work harder

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday reassured Nigerians that he would not let them down in his second term in office.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), who paid him a congratulatory visit.

    Read Also: Buhari ’ll decide senate presidency – Omo-Agege

    According to him, he would work harder in the next four years to address the challenges facing the country.

    “This is my last lap, I will try to work harder. I assure you, I will not let you down.” he stated

    Chairman of the ACF’s board of trustees, Alhaji Adamu Fika who led the delegation, said the visit was to congratulate the president over his victory at the polls.

  • Why Nigerians re-elected Buhari, by Ojo

    Former governorship aspirant in Ekiti state, Mr. Kayode Ojo, has said the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the just- concluded presidential election reflected the Nigerians’ will.

    Kayode described the re-election as well- deserved victory for the President, saying the clear cut difference in governance gave him the resounding victory.

    He disclosed another four years of Buhari’s leadership will provide the much-desired impetus for good governance, the ongoing war on corruption, completion of ongoing infrastructural projects and boost our new image in the comity of nations.

    In a statement he personally signed in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Ojo said Buhari’s victory was a demonstration of the confidence Nigerians have in his leadership.

    “The reelection of President Buhari and his vice, Prof., Osinbajo is well deserved victory and confirmed the trust Nigerians have in the President in particular and APC in general.

    “The results of the elections showed that Nigerians recognized the contributions of the APC controlled government to the development of the country within the past four years,” Ojo said.

    The APC chieftain saluted the relentless doggedness and tenacious gestures demonstrated by the APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for standing against all forces in ensuring the electoral victory of President Buhari.

    He also hailed Governor Kayode Fayemi for successfully delivering the three Senatorial Districts and the six seats of the House of Representatives for the APC.

    Ojo urged Ekiti people to maintain the tempo in the forthcoming State Assembly election in the State schedule to hold on March 9.

    Similarly, a House of Representatives member-elect in Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, Hon. Femi Bamisile, also said the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari is as a result of the love and trust of Nigerian masses for the President.

    Bamisile, who also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said: “The victory of President Buhari at the just concluded presidential election was a true reflection of the masses love for him against the notion of few elites.

    “Therefore, Nigerian democracy has grown beyond what it used to be, especially in the areas of transparency, fairness and credibility of the electoral process.

    “Many big names couldn’t make it during the poll whereas unknown names won.

    “The latest development has proved pessimists wrong on the Nigerian electoral process. Nigerians are now having more confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commision INEC ability to deliver acceptable polls”.

    The former Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker noted that his experience during the on-going general elections had further broadened his knowledge on the value and importance of the electorate as the major players in democracy.

    He said: “Politicians can now look down on voters at their own peril, but accord them the desired values and recognition through performance will surely guarantee you their votes to serve them.

    “The beauty of the just concluded elections is that it will afford both politicians and electorate the opportunity to be more cordial and sincere in relationship in the game of politics,” he said.

    According to him, his major priority at the lower chamber of the National Assembly will be, to contribute on bills and motions that will develop the country especially his constituency and Ekiti State in general.

    “Many Nigerian laws are long over- due for a revisit inorder for them to have meaningful impacts on the lives of all Citizenry, hence all hands will be on deck to do the needful in this regard,” Bamisile said.

  • Pro Buhari group to Atiku: respect verdict of Nigerians

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has told the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to respect the verdict of Nigerians, as well as the position of International Observers on the just-concluded Presidential election.

    Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that virtually all the countries and international bodies that sent representatives to observe the election are convinced that the outcome of the election reflects the wishes of majority of the Nigerian electorate.

    The group said that all indications point to a President Muhammadu Buhari win, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), recalling “that Atiku Abubakar tweeted just after addressing the media recently that the position of many international observers corroborated his view that the election was a sham.

    “But Nigerians know by now that this is a fallacy as many international observers, including reputable locals, have released preliminary reports that are consistent with the outcome of the electoral process”.

    The pro-Buhari group said nothing better captured the mindset of the International community on the election than the position of the UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin.

    “We at BMO are satisfied that in the midst of PDP’s efforts to discredit the process, Britain, which had its representatives on ground as observers before and after the election, is emphatic that the result declared by the Nigerian electoral commission is consistent with the result obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.

    “If this is not an endorsement of the process based on international best practices, we wonder what it is, especially at a time the opposition is fighting tooth and nail to smear the process as the ‘worst in thirty years.’”

    The group also pointed at the position of a reputable observer group, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa which released a report that tallied with INEC’s result of the Presidential election.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole to Atiku: we’ll meet you in court

    “A comparison of INEC official results with YIAGA AFRICA #WatchingTheVote estimate showed that what was announced by the Chief Returning Officer and INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu is consisting with field reports from 3,898 observers deployed across the country.

    “In its post-election statement, the US and UK-backed group had validated President Buhari’s victory over his closest challenger on the basis of reports from 1,491 or 98.4 per cent of sampled polling units

    “YIAGA Africa’s findings showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should receive between 50.0 per cent and 55.8 per cent of the vote; and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should receive between 41.2 per cent and 47.0 per cent of the vote.

    “INEC’s result however showed that President Buhari scored 55.6 percent while Atiku Abubakar had 41.2 percent, so YIAGA’s position tallies with what was announced by Professor Yakubu at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.

    “These figures are consistent with the official results as announced by INEC. For both APC and PDP, the official results fall within the PVT estimated ranges.”

    BMO said if Atiku has any doubt about the veracity of YIAGA Africa’s position that President Buhari won fair and square, he should remember that its technical partners are the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI).

  • Finance minister congratulates Buhari over re-election

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari over his re-election, describing it as an ‘impressive success’.

    She said this in a congratulatory message addressed to Buhari.

    The congratulatory message contained in a statement issued by Mr Paul Abechi, her Special Adviser on Media and Communications on Friday in Abuja, said Buhari’s victory shows his acceptability across the length and breadth of the country.

    She added that the victory was a testimony that the solid foundation laid in the last three and half years was appreciated by majority of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Re-election: AU congratulates Buhari

    “I am pleased to congratulate you and the entire campaign team on this impressive success.

    “Your victory with acceptability across the length and breadth of our country fills me with immense joy.

    “By this vote, Nigerians trust and believe in your ability to lead the country to sustainable growth and development.”

    Ahmed also said that the victory would inspire him to do more to lead Nigeria on the path of sustainable prosperity.

  • Re-election: AU congratulates Buhari

    The African Union (AU) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election in the Feb. 23 presidential election.

    In a statement on the AU Commission’s website on Friday, the Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, welcomed the successful conduct of the presidential and national sssembly elections in Nigeria.

    He stated that “following the announcement made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Feb. 27, AU congratulates President Muhammadu Buhari for winning the presidential election.

    “The union wishes President Buhari and the people of Nigeria success in efforts to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous country.”

    Mahamat reiterated the conclusions of the AU Observer Mission and other international observers on the election process as largely peaceful and orderly and in conformity with Nigeria’s legal framework.

    The chairperson said the largely peaceful conduct of the elections marked another important step in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Leah’s mother congratulates Buhari, asks him to free her daughter

    He commended INEC for the conduct of the elections, and all the political actors and the Nigerian people for their high participation and maturity.

    He also called on stakeholders to continue “in this exemplary spirit’’ and refer to existing constitutional and legal framework and other peaceful meansto resolve any dispute that may arise.

    Mahamat expressed optimism in the “peaceful conduct of the remainder of the elections’’ and renewed the AU’s commitment to continue working with the Nigerian authorities in support of the efforts and in furtherance of the continental agenda.

  • Let electorate decide Buhari’s reelection fate, says Kashamu

    Let electorate decide Buhari’s reelection fate, says Kashamu

    Senator Kashamu Buruji has cautioned those advising President Muhamadu Buhari not to run for re-election to allow the   electorate to determine his fate.

    He said the only way for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to make a headway is for its leaders to ensure that aggrieved members get justice.

    Kashamu, in an interview, said: “Every Nigerian is entitled to his opinion.  Freedom of speech is one of the essentials of democracy. The President is constitutionally entitled to seek re-election and that is undeniable. The electorate should be the ones to decide whether they want him to continue in office or not since the issue of satisfactory performance is relative and might be subjective. For instance, it is common knowledge that the President promised to deliver on three things – to fight corruption, insecurity and fix our economy. Now, the jury is out as to whether he has delivered on the three programmes. But, no one can deny that he has blocked many leakages in our treasury through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Financial Management and Information System and the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, among others.

    “The Federal Government has also decimated Boko Haram. Unlike before, the insurgents are no longer in control of any Nigerian territory. Again, although not all the Chibok girls are back, a good number of the girls have returned and back in the warm embrace of their families. While those in support of the President’s re-election could say that his anti-corruption war has helped to stabilise our economy and saved it from recession, those against it could argue that he is fighting corruption and insecurity at the expense of the economy.

    “Others could say that though the administration is fixing critical infrastructure, there is no stomach infrastructure and that it is those who are alive that can use the infrastructure. But, there are those who also believe that fixing the critical infrastructure will guarantee stomach infrastructure on a more sustainable basis.

    “In my candid opinion, integrity is of the essence in all human endeavours and I am yet to see one person who can question the integrity of Mr. President. This, to me, is a very important ingredient in leadership. This might have informed the recent choice of President Buhari by the African Union (AU) as its anti-corruption champion.”

    Kashamu praised the Seriake Dickson-led PDP reconciliation panel for starting well.

    “The committee is doing its very best in reaching out to all the aggrieved members of the party with a view to ironing out all the grey areas. And I think that is a very commendable initiative,” he said.

    “We are talking and I hope that at the end of the day, justice will be done in such a manner that none of the contending forces will be shortchanged,” the senator said.

    The senator criticised Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for “running in and out of courts to enforce what he called his rights. Yet, the same person can gleefully deny others their rights to the constitutionally-guaranteed term of office.”

    “He is going nowhere. In fact, no reasonable Presidential candidate will pick a cantankerous and inordinately ambitious person as his running mate.

    “Any Presidential candidate who picks Fayose as his running mate endangers his life should he win.”