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Tag: Buhari’s visit

  • Borno declares holiday for Buhari’s visit

    AHEAD of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Borno State as part of the nationwide All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, the state government has declared a one-day public holiday in the state.

    In a statement signed by Home Affairs, Information & Culture Commissioner Mohammed Bulama said: “This is to notify the general public that due to  the one day visit of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to Maiduguri, the state capital, tomorrow Monday, 21st January 2019, is hereby declared a public holiday in the entire state.

    “This is to enable all the good people of Borno State, including workers in the public and private sectors as well as students to, as usual, troop out in large numbers to welcome Mr. President to the state.

    “Work resumes on Tuesday, 22nd January, 2019.”

    The President billed for Borno today for the APC presidential campaign after which he will proceed to Damaturu in Yobe State for a similar event.

  • Presidency unveils six benefits of Buhari’s visit to Morocco

    The Presidency yesterday highlighted six benefits coming to Nigeria from President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Morocco.

    The president had visited the Kingdom of Morocco from June 10 to June 11, 2018 where he signed some memoranda of understanding and agreements.

    An article written by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, entitled ‘President Buhari’s visit to Morocco: Six Quick Takeaways’ said great benefits are coming to Nigeria from the agreements signed.

    He said “FACT: The Federal Government’s programme of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of former agitators in the Niger Delta region of the country, as part of the Amnesty Programme, brought calmness to the country at its commencement. It floundered and wobbled due to irregularities until the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari put it back on track. Now there is peace once again.

    “Question: If the disarmament and rehabilitation of 30,000 ex-agitators could do so much for nation, how far would 18,000 skilled and unskilled new jobs go towards cementing that peace?

    “The jobs in view are calculated to come from the commitment to the Regional Gas Pipeline, which will connect Nigeria’s gas resources, those of some West African countries and Morocco, thereby fostering integration and development of countries in the West African region.”

    “Yet another important takeaway is the decision by the two countries to strengthen cooperation in the efforts to combat radicalisation and violent extremism in Africa and beyond.”

    “On the basis of their exemplary cooperation, the two Heads of State agreed to develop partnership in the field of agriculture, particularly through the signing of Cooperation Agreement on vocational training and technical supervision. This will involve about 80 Nigerians in varied fields of agriculture and the setting up of 20 farmers’ schools.

    ‘Broken down to specifics, the agreement promised that Morocco will support university education with scholarships of eight agricultural engineers per year,” he said.

    He went on: “In the same breath, the Kingdom of Morocco will support and provide technical assistance in setting up 20 farmer-field schools (FFS) for the training of Nigerian farmers.

    “The agreement concerning this sector is for a period of three years and may be renewed for a further period.

    “For Morocco, which has lately been making strong efforts to improve relations with neighbouring states and the rest of the continent since their return to the African Union, it is important that our two states have agreed to consult and coordinate on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern, and to coordinate the positions of the two countries in regional and international organisations, including the African Union.

    “His Majesty King Mohammed VI congratulated President Buhari for his leadership in the regional initiative against terrorism in the Lake Chad region and commended his efforts in the fight against corruption and his role as the African Union anti-corruption champion.

    “Morocco has many economic strengths; including the world’s largest phosphate reserves and a diverse agricultural sector. On the basis of an agreement between Moroccan state firm, OCP, and the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Nigeria has been receiving the needed phosphate for the local blending of fertilizer. So far, 14 of the county’s moribund fertilizer plants have resumed production.

    “Activities have been generated in the value chain in terms of transportation, labour engagements at the plants, including loading and offloading with more than 250,000 jobs created directly and indirectly.

    “The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative plans to make available one million metric tons of fertilizers, amounting to 20 million bags to farmers this year.” he stated

     

     

  • NSCDC deploys 2,000 men for Buhari’s visit to Jigawa

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed about 2,000 personnel in Jigawa State ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-day visit, it was learnt yesterday.

    Spokesman Adamu Shehu, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, said: “The Jigawa State Command of NSCDC is prepared for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-day visit. The command is deploying about 2,000 Special Tactical Operational Squad and Intelligence officers, from the state command and neighbouring formations in Kano and Bauchi states, to assist in providing security.”

    Shehu explained that the officers would be stationed at strategic places in areas the President would visit.

    He added that intelligence officers will also be deployed for intelligence gathering and reporting, to complement other security agencies.

    “This will give the command an edge in understanding and combating threats where possible. It is on this note that the command enjoins the public to cooperate with the officers to ensure the  smooth and safe stay of Mr President,” he added.

    Buhari is expected to inaugurate five regional roads and five township roads, among other activities, during the visit.

  • Presidency hits Obasanjo over Buhari’s visit to U.S.

    CONTRARY to the views in some quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the United States (US) was beneficial to the country, the Presidency said yesterday.

    The Presidency scored the visit high, saying the President was satisfied with its outcome.

    In a statement, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) Mallam Garba Shehu said the President got all he wanted from the U.S. government.

    Although it did not say so, the statement was in response to criticisms of the trip by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some individuals are among those that condemned the visit.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Obasanjo dismissed the trip, saying: “For whatever the meeting (between President Buhari and U.S. President Donald Trump) was worth, President Buhari again bungled another opportunity to self-redeem.”

    But in the statement titled: “Takeaways from the auspicious meeting between Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Donald Trump,” Shehu said the visit would strengthen ties between both countries.

    Shehu said his write up was informed by the position of “the opponents of this administration, who have prayed and prayed very hard that our President in the course of his historic visit to the White House on Monday, April 30, 2018, would stumble badly or come back with nothing.”

    He added: “President Buhari, to the disappointment of this group, delivered a calm, brilliant performance. He refused to be provoked and did not get angry at the taunting. He instead turned his attention to the task at hand and at the end, came home satisfied that he got everything he wanted from the US administration.

    “The Rose Garden worked out very much for him as a routine engagement, certainly not like the make-or-break meeting as some wanted it to be.”

    Shehu went on: “It is also important that records be set straight to counter the mischief of opponents, some of whom have started rendering false narratives of a meeting to which they were neither invited nor in any way aware of its details.

    “The meeting of the two leaders happened in three phases. First, the one-on-one in which only the two of them were present. Then they had a working lunch, each leader accompanied by 10 top officials. President Buhari had with him the governors of Ogun and Plateau; the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Industry, Trade and Investment; the chairpersons of Senate and House of Representatives committees on international relations; the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA; the Chief of Defence Staff and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States.

    “The US President had more-or-less the same representation, except that the Secretary of State who just got cleared for the job by the Senate hadn’t assumed office, so he was represented by the Deputy Secretary of State.

    “President Trump also brought with him the Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which I must emphasise, is significant to Nigeria given the fact that the U.S. remains the largest contributor to the on-going effort to reconstruct the Northeast and resettle its millions of displaced persons.

    “The third engagement involving the two leaders was the joint press conference by the leaders, aired live by some major television networks across the world.”

    According to Shehu, the two leaders got on very well with each other. They also shared a common respect for each other. Some key remarks made by President Trump on our President sum this up. He said President Buhari ‘is a rare leader’; he said ‘I respect him a lot’ and said our leader had ‘succeeded in cutting down corruption’. He called President Buhari a ‘valued partner’ and a ‘strong democrat’.

    On the gains of the meeting, Shehu wrote: “The two parties had agreed before the meeting that discussions will be on three key issues, namely security/counter terrorism, trade, and development of democracy in Nigeria.

    “On security, the Nigerian delegation was pleased from the onset that the Trump administration had agreed to the major sale of military equipment to Nigeria. Team Nigeria was equally pleased about the much-increased role of the US in assisting the efforts to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region in general.

    “The President expressed appreciation for these and requested additional support to counter insurgency.

    “On the specific issue of the sale of the 12 Super Tucano A-29 warplanes and weapons to Nigeria to effectively fight terrorism, President Buhari told his American counterpart that we are pleased with this, but want delivery to be fast-tracked, given the security situation in the country.

    “Expectedly, President Trump said yes to this, and, additionally promised the sale of helicopters and about just everything President Buhari wanted.

    “Still on President Buhari’s meeting with Trump, it is important to explain the context of the remarks by President Trump where he was quoted as saying the U.S is concerned about the murder or killing, as he put it, of Christians. At the press conference, President Trump, towards the end of his remarks, mentioned the protection of ‘innocent civilians of all faiths, including Muslims and Christians’, which reporters left out.”

    Shehu said: “In his remarks, the US President neither chided nor talked down on President Buhari. Saying that ‘we will do something about that,’ is a clear expression of willingness to support Nigeria to bring to an end the unwanted killings. This is contrary to the press reporting which jumped on the issue, conveying a wrong impression that President Trump was only concerned about the lives of Christians. He mentioned Muslim lives as well.

    ”Equally wrong was the hasty condemnation of the U.S. President by some Muslim groups in the country without the benefit of a full view and understanding of what was said and the context in which it was said.

    “The President also conveyed the country’s appreciation for the U.S. support for the humanitarian situation in the Northeast, with a contribution of 500 million US Dollars in cash and in-kind contributions, the highest by anyone, through the United Nations and other inter-governmental organisations.

    ”But the scope of work to be done is larger than anyone had envisaged and Nigeria wanted the US to do more. President Trump didn’t say no, only that he wanted more access to the Nigerian market for their agricultural goods.

    “For a country which we assist with USD 1 billion dollars every year, you must do more to open the market to us,” Trump said. These are matters to be debated and resolved.

    “This leads us to the next important issue- Trade. Pointedly, President Trump did not mince words when he said: ‘‘President Buhari has also taken several steps to fight corruption and improve the Nigerian business climate.  And most of all to me — and again — is ripping down those trade barriers.  These measures will make it easier for Nigeria and the United States companies to invest.  And we will be investing substantially in Nigeria if they can create that level playing field that we have to very much ask for, and maybe demand.

    “With the blessing of the two leaders, assets recovery is also getting a major boost. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was directed to sit down with Jeff Sessions, his US counterpart, to have a roadmap for the recovery of USD 500 million of Nigerian stolen assets hidden in the US. They will also finalise on the return of USD 1 million of the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha loot.

    “Immediately after the bilateral engagement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and Minister of Justice, Malami, met with their U.S. counterparts. In the months ahead, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, will also meet with his U.S. counterpart, Wilbur Ross.

    “When he was asked if Nigeria had succeeded in getting America to buy more of our oil, President Buhari said he did not. We have others buying our oil. Must we sell to a particular buyer?

    “This government will smartly work with the current American government, knowing that American interests are not always ours, as a strategic partner on security, anti-corruption economic growth and job creation.”

  • Lagos declares tomorrow work-free day for Buhari’s visit

    The Lagos State Government yesterday declared Thursday as work free day in the state.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said it will enable Lagosians come out en masse to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a two-day visit.

    The statement urged residents to adhere to the security guidance earlier announced to make the visit as peaceful and orderly.

    Announcing traffic diversions and alternative routes ahead of the visit, Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal, at a briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, said adequate preparations have been made to mitigate the impact of the road diversions on residents, while access would be given to any emergency situation.

    Edgal, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of security and emergency agencies in the state, said while in Lagos, the President would commission the new Ikeja Bus Terminal, attend a colloquium in honour of national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as well as embark on tour of the Eko Atlantic City, among others.

    He said: “To ensure smooth, security-free visit of the President, we would need to do some diversions. Some certain roads will be closed at certain times; some diversions will be made but I want to use this opportunity to appeal for the support and understanding of Lagosians that this temporary road closures and diversions might cause a little inconvenience.”

    He listed the areas to be affected to include Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, Agege Motor Road, a section of Eko Hotel Road in Victoria Island and Old Marina in Ikoyi axis.

    Buhari will inaugurate the world-class Ikeja Bus Terminal built by the Lagos State Government.

    The terminal, which is behind the Ikeja rail line and about 1km from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, will connect 22 routes and transport a projected 70,000 commuters daily.

    It is one of the 13 terminals being constructed across the state in the first phase of the project.

    The one in Alapere was inaugurated yesterday.

    The one at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has also been completed.

    Buses to service the Ikeja terminal will come from the over 5,000  acquired by the  government, which have started arriving in the country.

  • Rivers APC warns Wike ahead of Buhari’s visit

    Rivers APC warns Wike ahead of Buhari’s visit

    THE Rivers State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Davies Ikanya, has insisted that Governor Nyesom Wike must be called to order to stop overheating the polity, ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed visit to Rivers. Ikanya, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media/Public Affairs Consultant, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, declared that he was not so sure of the soundness of Wike’s mind, especially for his (Rivers governor’s) uncouth words on President Buhari, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Wike, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday in Port Harcourt, while kicking off the reconstruction of Egbelu Street and construction of link roads in East-West in Rumuodara, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers, stated that the Federal Government had not informed him of President Buhari’s visit and the reason behind the planned visit. He alleged that the proposed visit might be aimed at reviving the fortunes of the APC that he claimed to be dead in the state.

    The governor urged people of the state not to be bothered about the politics or otherwise of President Buhari’s visit to the state, claiming that the state is very peaceful. Wike said: “Maybe the President is coming to make sure that he will improve the fortunes of the APC that is dead in Rivers State. Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know of anyone who has risen a dead thing. APC is a dead party in Rivers State. No matter how you fast and pray, it will never wake up. “Let nobody bother him or herself that the President is coming for security reasons. We do not have security challenges in Rivers State. We have never had herdsmen killings or crisis in the state, except when some criminals tried to disrupt the peace and they were checked. We resolved that challenge.

    “Since the administration has abandoned Rivers State for three years, this visit may be a blessing in disguise. The President may use the visit to complete the Port Harcourt International Airport, the neglected East-West Road, the neglected sea ports and the rejected Port Harcourt-Aba Road.” Rivers APC chairman, however, stated that Wike attempted to incite the people of the state against President Buhari by insinuating that the Federal Government decided to abandon Rivers state since he assumed office in almost three years. Ikanya said: “Wike’s remarks are provoking, uncouth, inciting, unacceptable and should be withdrawn, as a matter of urgency, as members of APC in Rivers State will not for any reason risk the life of our dear President in the hands of Wike and his misguided cohorts. “Let Wike be warned that the proposed visit of President Buhari will not be like the visit of some Northern governors that visited Port Harcourt in 2014 to sympathise with their colleague, the then Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (now Transportation Minister), over the wicked humiliation he suffered in the hands of Wike and his collaborators, but the visiting governors were attacked and their vehicles damaged at the Port Harcourt International Airport by Wike’s thugs “It is difficult to forget how Wike as Minister of State for Education and the then PDP’s governorship aspirant, ordered his militia group, the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), to attack the visiting governors in 2014.

    In case Wike is planning similar attack on President Buhari, he will be disappointed this time. “Everybody knows Wike’s type of politics of violence, but no harm should be visited on President Buhari or any member of his delegation during the visit to commiserate with the people of Omoku and other parts of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, for the sad and unfortunate killing of their loved ones during the New Year’s Day massacre of 23 innocent worshippers, after the crossover service, by associates of Wike. “Wike’s claim that APC is dead in Rivers State is laughable, because a party with two Senators (Senator Magnus Abe and Senator Andrew Uchendu), compared with Wike’s dying PDP’s one sleeping Senator cannot be said to be a dead party in Rivers State.

    Wike is the chief campaign officer of APC for the 2019 general elections, based on his wicked policies against the youths, students, civil servants, pensioners and foreign investors. Although, Rivers people are sad over Wike’s lack of good policies to improve the lot of our people, but he (Wike) will unfailingly be voted out in 2019, thereby allowing the enthronement of a government that will be ready to work for the people of Rivers State. “If Rivers State is peaceful, as claimed by Wike, why is he budgeting a whopping sum of N22 billion to establish a private army unit, named Neighbourhood Watch, or is he saying that he intends to divert the fund to his private businesses? Wike should educate us on what his actual motive is, if we do not have any security challenges in Rivers State.”

    Rivers APC chairman also maintained that President Buhari’s visit to Rivers would not be for the Commander- in-Chief to inaugurate Wike’s motor parks and markets, his major projects since he assumed office. He insisted that President Buhari had not and would not abandon Rivers state, considering the risks that APC members and other lovers of democracy took to get him elected, at the risk of their lives, in the hands of Wike, his collaborators and thugs. Ikanya said: “President Buhari has visited Rivers State on four remarkable occasions, through the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, SAN, to establish a peace pact in the Niger Delta region, inaugurate or kick off key projects. For Rivers governor, because of politics, to turn around to accuse President Buhari of abandoning Rivers State is unacceptable, wicked, evil, divisive and exhibition of ingratitude to a man who has done so much to develop Rivers State and the Niger Delta region.

    “Prof Osinbajo, with the express approval of President Buhari, visited Rivers State to kick-start the Ogoni clean-up, abandoned by the PDP government of the then President Goodluck Jonathan, with the connivance of Wike. The Vice President also visited Rivers State to kick-start the construction of the strategic Bonny-Bodo Road. Prof. Os- Inbajo was also in Rivers State on another occasion to inaugurate the world-class fertilizer plant, built by Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited in Port Harcourt, among other visits by the Presidency. “Wike forgot so soon that Dr. Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta region, in his six years as the President of Nigeria, acknowledged that he failed Rivers State and the Niger Delta by not embarking on any meaningful project in the region, apart from imposing Wike as the governor of Rivers to promote insecurity in the state and other parts of the Niger Delta region.

    “The APC-led administration of President Buhari has proved within less than three years that the party has the best interest of Rivers State and Niger Delta region at heart, by the various interventions the Federal Government has embarked upon in the region within the last three years.” Rivers APC chairman also stated that Rivers state would benefit from the Calabar– Lagos Rail Line, the renovation/reconstruction of both Enugu–Port Harcourt and the West-East Roads, the renovation of the Afam power plant in Rivers State, resumption of work on the Port Harcourt International Airport, renovation and reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Rail Line, among other projects that were abandoned by the previous PDP’s governments. Ikanya lauded President Buhari on the proposed visit to Rivers at this time, based on his love and commitment towards the development of the state.

  • Buhari’s visit to Southeast begins today

    Buhari’s visit to Southeast begins today

    President Muhammadu Buhari will be in the South East today It is his first trip to the region since he took office in 2015.

    The renewed attempt by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to renew the Igbo’s agitation for secession was stopped by troops, forcing Kanu to flee.

    He has not been seen and there have be conflicting reports on his whereabouts.

    “Mr President will be visiting two southeast states of Ebonyi and Anambra,” Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu confirmed in statement yesterday.

    President Buhari wil leave Abuja today (Tuesday) and return tomorrow.

    In Ebonyi, he will inaugurate many projects undertaken by the Governor Dave Umahi administration while in Anambra, he will campaign for the candidate of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – in Saturday’s governorship election Tony Nwoye .

    Imo State Governor Rocha Okorocha had spoken of the need for Mr President “to come to the South East as quickly as possible, to begin to show his presence.”

    Okorocha said: “Luckily, the President will be coming to Ebonyi state, very soon and he will pass through Imo state to Anambra state.

    “So, covering three states within this short time will be a right step in the right direction, because we have come to realise in the Southeast that we are better of in APC than any other party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said

    Governor Umahi said last week: “We are fully prepared for the visit. We pleaded with Mr President for the visit and before then, we have been preparing, we are fully prepared.”

    The Ebonyi State Police Command yesterday warned the proscribed IPOB and political parties’ supporters against disruptive acts during visit.

    The state Police Commissioner  Titus Lamorde, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

    He assured that the command was well equipped to deal with all forms of security challenges before, during and after the President’s visit.

    According to Lamorde, any individual or group of persons that foment trouble before, during and after the visit would be severely dealt with, as people are advised to conduct themselves well.

    “I will not disclose the number of personnel we have drafted for security reasons, but I assure citizens that enough personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure a hitch-free visit.

    “The President’s visit is a welcome development as the citizens should cooperate with security agencies to make it a successful one,” he said.

    He stated that his officers had been adequately trained to relate well with the citizens during the visit and advised people to conduct their activities within the confines of the law.

    “We would not meddle into political issues as security outfit, but the visit is developmentally-oriented because of the numerous projects the President would inaugurate.

    “My officers would not intimidate or harass individuals or groups as the duty of ensuring a hitch-free event is a collective one,” he said.

  • Buhari’s visit: Police warn IPOB, parties’ supporters against disruptive acts

    Buhari’s visit: Police warn IPOB, parties’ supporters against disruptive acts

    The Ebonyi Police Command on Monday warned the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and political parties’ supporters against disruptive acts during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state on Tuesday.

    Ebonyi Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Titus Lamorde, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

    He gave the assurance that the command was well equipped to deal with all forms of security challenges before, during and after the President’s visit.

    According to Lamorde, any individual or group of persons that foment trouble before, during and after the visit would be severely dealt with, as people are advised to conduct themselves well.

    “I will not disclose the number of personnel we have drafted for security reasons, but I assure citizens that enough personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure a hitch-free visit.

    “The President’s visit is a welcome development as the citizens should cooperate with security agencies to make it a successful one,” he said.

    He stated that his officers had been adequately trained to relate well with the citizens during the visit and advised people to conduct their activities within the confines of the law.

    “We would not meddle into political issues as security outfit, but the visit is developmentally-oriented because of the numerous projects the President would inaugurate.

    “My officers would not intimidate or harass individuals or groups as the duty of ensuring a hitch-free event is a collective one,” he said.

    NAN reports that some proscribed IPOB members have been making uncomplimentary remarks while the rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC)
    members, had heightened prior to the visit.

  • APC shifts Buhari’s visit to Nov 10

    APC shifts Buhari’s visit to Nov 10

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has postponed President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state to November 10.

    The visit was initially scheduled for Thursday for the launch of the campaign of its governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said this at a briefing in Akure yesterday.

    Adesanya said the postponement was due to the “tight schedule of Mr President”.

    “The President wants to be present at the campaign rally in person. This is due to the economic importance of Ondo State in the development of Nigeria,” he said.

    Adesanya urged party faithful and the people to ensure that the President receives a rousing welcome.

    A 30-man local organising committee for the campaign chaired by Agboola Ajayi, the deputy governorship candidate, was inaugurated on October 28.

  • Osun gets set for Buhari’s visit today

    OSUN State was agog  yesterday for President Muhammad Buhari’s visit.

      He is expected in Osogbo today on a one-day working visit.

    Preparation to host him was in top gear as government’s agents cleared off containers and wooden kiosks from major roads.

    Owners of cars parked on the roads were ordered to remove them before the arrival of Mr. President and his entourage.

    The security agencies, including the Police, the Department of the State Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Federal Road Safety Commission and other paramilitary agencies were yesterday seen preparing their officers and men for the visit.

    Buhari is expected to inaugurate some projects of the Rauf Aregbesola administration, including the ultra-modern Osogbo High School.

    The government has, however, urged the people to demonstrate the Omoluabi (virtuous) ethos they have been known for.

    In a statement yesterday, the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the President will during the visit inaugurate the newly built 3,000 students’ capacity Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo.

    According to the statement, Buhari’s visit to Osun will be a testimony to the landmark achievements in the almost six years of Aregbesola administration as well as the good working relationship between Osun and the Federal Government.

    Also, a socio-political society, the Oranmiyan Group, has congratulated the government over the visit, saying the Aregbesola administration had more than enough projects for inauguration.

    Its President, Niyi Aluko, said the visit would prove that Aregbesola, as a prudent manager of resources, had done his best at a critical period of economic downturn to deliver his campaign promises.

    The state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised Aregbesola to maximise the Buhari visit and table before him challenges facing the state and the citizens, rather than presenting himself as a fulfilled and a performing governor.