The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Buhari’s victory

  • Attah: Import of Buhari’s victory for Nigeria

    FORMER Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State has described the 2019 general elections and the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari as the triumph of the will of the common man and a death knell for the three power blocs that have constantly exerted their manipulative influence on the country.

    This, he added, would provide the opportunity for the President to set the stage for the much-talked about restructuring.

    Obong Attah, who spoke at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, said Buhari’s second term would bring to an end the influence of the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as that of retired military officers that have been directing the political game from behind the scene.

    The former governor said Nigerians would not have been able to withstand the arrogance and the orgy of excesses that the PDP would unleash on the country, if its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had won the election. He said it took Atiku’s candidature in 2019 to galvanise the party to give Buhari a run for his money and that with the former vice president not likely to run in 2023, the party’s fortune is going to change for the worse.

    For the APC, Attah said it is President Buhari that has been holding the party together and that in the no distant future Nigerians are going to be singing its dirge. He said in the last four years nobody can say that the President was a truly party man in the conventional sense and that in his second term “it is my conviction that he is going to pay even less attention to the party”.

    He added: “There was yet a third group – the military block. They did not hide their support for Atiku and the PDP. They openly showed their hand and have been spanked. Their influence therefore is bound to wane. It is my prediction that from now on we are going to witness less and less of those pilgrimages to Abeokuta and Minna.  With this loss of influence, it is also safe to say that the military oligarchy is dead.

    “These were the three power blocks that constantly exerted their manipulative wiles on the country. If they did not approve of you, be as wise as Solomon, as brave as David, as strong as Sampson, you will not get anywhere and that is what has kept Nigeria down. The system has never allowed us to put forward our most capable.

    “Buhari’s victory is the death knell to these power blocks. It has started the process of dismembering these menacing Behemoths, pulling out their fangs, blunting the ir claws and neutralising their sting. Buhari’s victory has returned power to the common man. Positions negotiated in Abuja and Lagos over the heads of the people can no longer be guaranteed. His victory has therefore given Nigeria a long- delayed but much needed opportunity for a new life; an opportunity to chart a new course. That is why for me his victory represents not only the triumph of the common man, but indeed also a great blessing for Nigeria.”

    With this state of affairs, Attah said an opportunity has now been created for fresh hands to take over the leadership of the country. He said: “Nigeria can now look forward to a new birth. The phoenix can now rise out of the ashes and attain its destined glory.

    “If Atiku had won, it is possible that he would have atikulated this country to the next level – to borrow from the slogan of both parties. But I also had the fear that if Atiku wins and the PDP gets back in the saddle, this country would be plunged into an orgy of intolerable excesses.”

    The elder statesman said now that Buhari has won, he must take steps to put a stop to all agitations to split up the country, by restructuring the polity. He said: “He must see to it that we re-enact and reinstate the terms and conditions of the agreement that caused all the various peoples of this country, at independence, to agree to come together and form one country – federalism. Anything short of this is to court a disaster of unimaginable magnitude. The popular word today that describes this is restructuring. My prediction is that unless this is done, by the end of his tenure in the next four years, there may not be a country called Nigeria as we know it today.”

    Attah was categorical that there would be no Nigeria without restructuring. He added: “What is going to happen is that agitation for break up is going to get more violent, more virulent and the country will scatter. Certainly, Buhari would not allow that to happen.”

    The former governor said the entire process of restructuring may not happen within the next four years, because it would a lot of negotiation to arrive at an agreement. He added: “It would be like the quest for independence, some said we were ready, while others insisted we were not ready. But we must agree that restructuring is something we can do, so that there will be a Nigeria.”

    Attah said an effort was made before the general elections to convince President Buhari that it had become absolutely necessary to restructure the country. He said as interim chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), he led a delegation that presented a 16-point agenda to the President, which centred on the Niger Delta and restructuring at the national level.

    Nevertheless, he admitted that the group committed a blunder by identifying itself with a candidate. He said: “We made the same mistake that the military bloc made; we identified ourselves with a candidate. So, we were seen as a party, even though we are not a political party. We would have been in a better position if we had asked each of the candidates to restructure after they win the election.”

    Secondly, former Governor Attah said the Buhari-led administration must work relentlessly to see that in the shortest possible time every hamlet, every corner of the country enjoys 24 hours constant supply of electric power. He added: “In today’s world, it is not a luxury but an absolute necessity.”

    He also urged the President to forge ahead with his fight against corruption. His words: “The fact still remains that if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us. This time the fight must be total and unsparing.”

    The elder statesman urged President Buhari to put a stop to all the killings, “whether by herdsmen, Libyan mercenaries, marauders, cattle rustlers or whoever”. Attah also wants Buhari to facilitate the release of the abducted Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu, and totally annihilate Boko Haram.

     

  • Buhari’s victory a vote for honesty, integrity

    One of Nigeria’s most successful musicians, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, waxed a record over 20 years ago, part of which was dedicated to the honest traits in Niyi, the son of an unsung hero of democracy in the First Republic, Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, and a faithful and incorruptible ally of foremost nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    In it, Obey crooned: “Otito lo ma leke iro; Adegbenro mi o, ma ma y’iwa pada o …”, meaning Niyi Adegbenro, now a high chief of Owu in Abeokuta and Egbaland, should persist in doing good and being honest about it, admonishing the easy-going socialite that if truth and falsehood grapple, truth can never be worsted in such an encounter.

    I recall that song-line in celebrating with President Muhammad Buhari on his deserved re-election, which, as I have always insisted and authoritative New York Times also agreed in its editorial opinion was a referendum on honesty.

    Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, I must admit, is well connected and must have spread his goodwill among his array of friends and business associates. I’m also told he helped his boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, scout for some people who held top and visible positions in the Obasanjo-Atiku government for eight years from 1999.

    I’m correctly informed that he recommended Nuhu Ribadu and El-Rufai to then President Obasanjo for appointment as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and director-general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises respectively. But it would be interesting to hear from Ribadu and El-Rufai why they abandoned Atiku and pitched their tents first with Obasanjo and now with Buhari.

    Buhari may not be sound in economics as self-appointed assessor Obasanjo once spitefully dismissed him, but he admitted to his unimpeachable integrity, the major asset he has flaunted and with which he has been able to attract retired Col Sani into the Nigeria Customs Service and the late Dr Bala Usman’s daughter, Hadiza, who heads the Nigerian Ports Authority and top class internal revenue generator, Tunde Fowler, to his government to help drive economic recovery and development in the country.

    Now, is it true Atiku’s main grouse with the Buhari Administration has to do with the insistence of the NPA on his company (INTEL) to remit fully into the coffers of the government all monies collected or due on its behalf?

    Honesty and integrity are the logos of credibility Buhari parades, which others who contested against him could not beat in the eyes and minds of the Nigerian electorate.

    Now, to the next level. Honour and integrity will henceforth be the yardstick for the attainment of high office in the land.

  • Buhari’s victory: Coronation MB predicts early passage of N8.83tr 2019 budget

    Coronation Merchant Bank survey has predicted early passage of the 2019 N8.83 trillion budget with the All Progressives Congress’(APC’s) renewed majority in the Senate.

    In a report released at the weekend, the bank said the announcement of election results saw the APC of President Muhammadu Buhari retain the presidency, defeating the challenge from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

    “This implies a continuation of the government based on firm regulation and security. However, while Buhari’s first term sailed into the oil price crash of 2015 and the recession of 2016, economic conditions are different – arguably better – now.  The APC’s renewed majority in the Senate is significant. The Senate proved frustrating to Buhari’s agenda in his first term, 2015-19. Expect the budget to be passed quickly this year,”  the report said.

    Coronation Research said Nigeria will almost certainly continue with a managed exchange rate.  “As we argue in Coronation Research: Year Ahead 2019, A Year of Two Halves, 15 January, the Naira is within 10 per cent of its fair value, so fundamental pressure to revalue it is weak. Foreign exchange reserves are $42.4 billion, which we calculate is compatible with Naira/$ stability, at close to N363/$1, for the rest of 2019,” he said.

    According to the report, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offers a risk-free-rate 587 basis points above inflation, which keeps foreign investors in naira money markets.

    “As we argued in January, if inflation trends down mid-year, there may be scope for rate cuts in fourth quarter, or even third quarter. There was a brief pre-election rally, which partly unwound last week. High economic growth rates were not a feature of the last APC administration. That said, the trend in non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, evident in recent data, suggests that the economy is doing better than earlier thought. As we argued in January, we believe that under such conditions there is upside risk in bank stocks,” the report said.

    Continuing, it said a feature of President Buhari’s first term as President was weak economic growth, 2015-18.

    “GDP developed well below trend and fell into recession in 2016.  One key cause was the oil price collapse in late 2014 and 2015 which put pressure on: government revenues; the naira exchange rate; the trade account; and Nigeria’s ability to import critical industrial inputs,” it said.

  • Buhari’s victory an end to tyranny, says Afenifere

    Ekiti State chapter of the Yoruba socio cultural and political organisation, Egbe Afenifere Ilosiwaju Yoruba, under the national leadership of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has declared the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari as the end of discussion for old breed politicians. The elders said those parading themselves as ‘deciders of human fate’ and holding Nigerians to ransom have been rendered useless politically. It added that the people have taken over power in a bloodless and democratic manner.

    The group disclosed that the election was a departure from the old nuances oligarchs , who had always believed they held the ace in through politics of the nation. A statement signed by its publicity secretary, Chief Biodun Akin Fasae, in Ado Ekiti, described the victory of the president as a referendum for good governance, integrity, honesty, patriotism and love of the masses. He said it is a poof that Nigerians were appreciative of the giant strides recorded by Buhari-led federal government.

    “On behalf of Egbe Afenifere Ilosiwaju Yoruba in Ekiti State, I heartily congratulate our President Buhari for this historic re-election to pilot the affairs of our great nation for the next four years. Our interpretation of the historic victory is that the power of darkness is limited to the extent of availability of light and since Nigerians have chosen to hold on to light, then darkness has perished. Power brokers who always believed that they held the ace, holding Nigerians by the jugular had now been rendered useless.

    The group also congratulated the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi who within four months have changed the Ekiti political narrative from that of backwaters to a front liner. Afenifere said: “He did not only come up with a winning strategy, he also led Ekiti people to Aso Rock by the result of over 60% coming out as the best in the Southwest for APC. This is apart from scoring a full mark as all members of both Senate and House of Representatives were elected on the platform of the party”.

  • Buhari’s victory triumph of ordinary Nigerians over elite, says Lai Mohammed

    •Obasa greets President, APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in last Saturday’s presidential election symbolised the triumph of the ordinary Nigerians over the elite, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    Mohammed spoke in Abuja yesterday when he received the management of his ministry, who came to congratulate him on the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at last week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “Last weekend’s election is a direct contest between ordinary Nigerians and the elite, most of whom are rent seekers. Of course, the ordinary Nigerians have won!” he said.

    Mohammed went on: “Overall, this government is doing more with less and is restoring decency and integrity to governance. Like the New York Times said, the re-election of President Buhari is a referendum on honesty. There is no better way to put it.”

    While reeling out the policies that endeared President Buhari to the ordinary Nigerians, the minister said under the Social Investment Programme, the government feeds 9.3 million school children every day and some 500,000 unemployed graduates have been employed under N-Power, in addition to some 300,000 families who are benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfer.

    In a deliberate effort to boost the Small and Medium Enterprises to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, the Buhari Administration, he said, gives out interest-free loans of between N10,000 and N100,000 under the TraderMoni and the MarketMoni schemes to small business owners.

    “Pensioners who have been left in the lurch are being paid, and I am talking of ex-workers of the Nigerian Airways, NITEL and former Biafran policemen, among others. The former Nigeria Airways staffers were so delighted that they held a rally in support of the President

    before the elections,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

    He said the fight against corruption is being institutionalised with a number of policies that include Treasury Single Account (TSA), Whistleblower policy, and that it has led to the recovery of huge amounts of money as well as property from looters.

    The minister enjoined the citizenry to continue to support the Buhari Administration in building of a strong, secure, economically-buoyant and corrupt-free society.

    Read also: Saudi King, Emir of Qatar, Russian envoy greet Buhari

    On the APC’s victory in Kwara, the minister thanked the management of his ministry for appreciating his ‘modest’ effort in delivering Kwara State from the grip of a crippling hegemony.

    “I must stress – and I have said this before – that the credit for the liberation of Kwara goes to the good people of State who, despite efforts to compromise them, refused to sell their votes. A simple slogan, O To Ge (Enough is Enough), captured the determination of the people to vote out those who have held them down for decades. And that is precisely what they did,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said the management and staff of the ministry were proud of the minister for his invaluable contribution to the victory of the APC at the presidential and National Assembly elections in Kwara State.

    Also yesterday, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa congratulated Buhari and the APC.

    Obasa, in his congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, stated that the victory recorded by the President and the party showed the clear desire of Nigerians to be taken to the Next Level.

    “It was a keenly contested election and we thank God for this well-deserved victory. This is a clear indication of the desire of Nigerians to be taken to the Next Level by APC administration at all levels of governance.

    “Nigerians have again trusted us with their mandate and I assure that we won’t disappoint. Commendations from local and international observers have confirmed the commendable performance of the electoral process and I will give INEC a pass mark for its performance,” he said.

    Obasa urged Nigerians not to rest on their oars appealing to them to vote massively for the party’s candidates in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.

    “We are grateful for your support and we assure you that the APC administration at all levels will not let you down as we will continue to put in place programmes and projects that will improve your standard of living and enhance your welfare.

    “However, we will continue to ask for more support from you. Therefore,  I humbly appeal to you to come out enmasse on Saturday, 9 March, 2019 to vote for our candidates in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections all over the country. I want to particularly appeal to Lagosians to vote for all our candidates in the coming election.

    “Once again, on behalf of my colleagues in the Lagos State House of Assembly, I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of our great party on this resounding and well deserved victory and I say let us do it again on Saturday, 9 March, 2019,” the Speaker said.

     

  • Afenifere: Buhari’s victory ends tyranny of old power bloc

    The Ekiti State chapter of the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Egbe Afenifere Ilosiwaju Yoruba, under the national leadership of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has said the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in last Saturday’s poll is the end of discussion for old breed politicians.

    Egbe Afenifere said those parading themselves as “deciders of human fate” and holding Nigerians to ransom have become politically useless.

    The group noted that the election was a departure from the old nuances of the oligarchs, who always believed they held the aces in the politics of the nation.

    It added that the people have taken over power in a bloodless and democratic manner to institute their will.

    A statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Chief Biodun Akin Fasae, described the victory of the President as a referendum for good governance, integrity, honesty, patriotism and love for the masses.

    Egbe Afenifere said the victory was an attestation to the fact that Nigerians were appreciative of the giant strides recorded by the Buhari-led Federal Government in all sectors of the economy.

    “On behalf of Egbe Afenifere Ilosiwaju Yoruba in Ekiti State, I heartily congratulate our President Buhari for this historic re-election to pilot the affairs of our great nation for the next four years.

    “Our interpretation of the historic victory is that the power of darkness is limited to the extent of availability of light and since Nigerians have chosen to hold on to light, then darkness has perished.

    “It is crystal clear that the power blockers, who always believed that they held the aces and held Nigerians by the jugular, have now been rendered useless in the nation’s political circuit,” it said.

    The group also congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi, saying he had, within four months, changed the Ekiti political narrative from that of backwaters to a front liner.

     

     

     

  • Photos: Jubilation over Buhari’s victory causes gridlock in Taraba

  • Obaseki congratulates Buhari on deserved victory


    …salutes Nigerians’ ballot for uprightness, honesty

    …says president’s 2nd term will provide impetus for good governance, war on corruption

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, on his re-election.

    Obaseki who issued the congratulatory message in the early hours of Wednesday, shortly after president Buhari was declared winner of the Presidential election, held on February 23, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I congratulate our President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on your well-deserved victory.”

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory testament of level of acceptance, says IYC

    Obaseki added: “I salute the renewed resolve of Nigerians to cast their ballot for uprightness and honesty, exemplified by your leadership and for endorsing the people-centred programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under your guidance.”

    He explained that another four years of president 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.”

  • Wild jubilation in Kaduna over Buhari’s victory

    There were wild jubilation in Zaria, Kaduna State on Wednesday over President Muhammadu Buhari’s triumph at Saturday’s Presidential Elections as celebrating youths became uncontrollable, posing threat to lives and property.

    The threat was to the extent that security agents were drafted to the streets to stem possible loses of lives and property.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration came with a difference as police intervened to save lives of innocent Nigerians.

    The incident, however, took another dimension when youths recklessly rode on motorcycles, displaying various dangerous actions in the name of happiness.

    In the course of the exercise, a bus lost control and crossed over a drainage system at Tudun Wada area while some motorcyclists rammed into a crowd.

    The situation inflicted injuries on people, hence the decision of the Nigeria Police to come in with a view to maintaining law and order and ensure protection of lives and property.

    In other parts of the town, the youth, mostly women and children, took over major streets carrying placards and posters of President Buhari chanting “Sai Baba-Sai Baba (Buhari is our choice) .

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said the essence of the intervention was to give protection to people.

    He advised both winners and losers to understand that there were laws governing every situation, adding that the police would not hesitate to arrest anybody that tampered with the laws of the land.

    Sabo advised those who lost the election not to take the laws into their hands, instead they should endeavour to seek redress through legal means.

    “As an agency saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens, we will not allow things to go astray.

    “We will not prevent anybody from celebration but let it be according to the stipulated laws and remember, we have traffic rules and regulations in Nigeria.

    “Anybody that abuses such rules will not be spared by the security agencies; therefore, celebrate with caution without inflicting injury on anybody and without harming yourself,” he advised.

    NAN reports that the police in Zaria intensified surveillance and positioned their men on strategic areas of celebration to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

    Similar jubilation took place in some parts of Oyo state where some residents of Saki in Saki West Council area of Oyo State expressed happiness as the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) declared President Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Feb. 23 elections

    INEC had on Wednesday announced Buhari as the winner, beating his closest rival, Abubakar Atiku of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the keenly contested election.

    Residents of the Saki, who expressed happiness over the elections outcome were seen in joyous mood, dancing across major roads and singing appreciation songs while praising the electorate.

    Some party loyalists, who spoke in different interviews with NAN, said they were happy over the party’s victory at the polls.

    A-middle-aged teacher, Mr Sarafadeen Onijo, thanked people of Saki for voting for his party at all levels of the elections.

    “I am a follower of the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and in spite of all that transpired between him and the party, he instructed all of us in our thousands that we should vote APC at all levels.

    “I am so happy today that the honourable minister delivered his polling unit, ward and local government to PMB and other APC candidates, I’m happy,” he said.

    A community leader and a businessman, Mr Gafar Ismail, said he was also happy that the party won in the council area.

    “I just want to appeal to people to please vote our governorship and House of Assembly candidates across the state.

    “This is the last lap of our project Next Level; please let’s complete the good work we have started,” he appealed.

  • Buhari’s victory is insurance for Ondo’s economic projects

    Tunji Ariyomo is the Coordinator of the Ondo Central Campaign Network and frontline promoter of the Buhari-Osinbajo’s re-election bid in Ondo State. In this interview with reporters in Akure, he spoke on why the people should vote for President Buhari.

    Your campaign train is seen everywhere in the state, especially in the Central Senatorial District. What are your candidate’s chances of winning?

    I have stated this times without number that the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket is a winning one. The president’s chance of success at the coming presidential poll is very high. On a daily basis, more and more individuals are flocking to support Mr. President. People are volunteering. People are taking up the roles of canvassers on the streets. I am leading the campaign at the heart of Ondo Central, the state capital; it is heartening to see young men and women daily reaching out to be part of the efforts. This is encouraging.

    Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the last four years have been economically tough for Nigerians. Don’t you think that can threaten the chances of your candidate?

    Thank you. There is no doubt that the entire world, not just Nigeria, is just emerging from the impact of the global financial recession. The wanton profligacy of previous governments in Nigeria masked the true state of the Nigerian economy pre-2015. That said, the Buhari-Osinbajo administration has launched high impact micro-economic initiatives that target the most vulnerable among our people. People today in their thousands and millions can readily identify with social impact programmes like N-power, like the trader-moni scheme and other social impact initiatives which can be accessed without requiring the traditional ‘long legs’ or being filial relations of those in charge as it used to be under previous leaders.

    How can the President win under such a circumstance?

    First let me say that there is no human organisation where you have more than one person that would not be exposed to typical internal wrangling and disagreement. It is a normal part of life. But I can state emphatically that Ondo State APC is united on the matter of the re-election of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo. That is a fact – regardless of any so called faction.

    That said, I must also state here that there are no factions in Ondo APC. Yes, people may have contending or even conflicting aspirations but we will continue to work to resolve such in the spirit of give and take. Recently, our members were happy and excited when they saw Mr. Governor and Senator Ajayi Boroffice embrace at a function. So, the party is united behind the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket.

    But some people in Ondo State claim that the state has not been fairly treated by the Buhari led administration in terms of federal projects

    I keep hearing this. But we need to be educated with facts. I concede that our people have the right to agitate for far more than we are getting, but what we have on-going and in the pipeline under Buhari are substantial enough to excite our people.