President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, voted in Daura, Katsina State in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
The wife, Aisha, voted before the president at 8.06 a.m., while the president voted at 8.10 a.m.
at the Kofar Baru, Sarkin Yara “A” ward in Daura.
After voting, the president expressed satisfaction with the state of affairs and said he was optismistic of winning.
*To immediately return to Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Daura, Katsina State expressed his disappointment over the postponement of the 2019 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari was in his home state since Thursday for the All Progressives Congress Presidential campaign rally and to vote for the presidential election earlier scheduled for Saturday.
But INEC, in the early hours of Saturday had announced postponement of the elections by another one week due to some challenges.
The President in a statement on Saturday said “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.
“Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.
“INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections. We and all our citizens believed them.
“This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.”
He urged INEC to ensure that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands.
He also charged the electoral umpire to do everything to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement.
Buhari tasked INEC to ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.
He added “While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.
“I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development.
“I have decided to move back to Abuja to ensure that the 14.00 hrs meeting called by INEC with all stakeholders is successful.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Daura, Katsina State, says it has concluded arrangements for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Hajiya Aisha are expected to cast their votes at Sarkin Yara A Electoral Ward in Polling Unit 003, in his hometown Daura.
NAN also reports that Sarkin Yara A has 9,242 registered voters with polling unit 003 comprising only 898 voters.
INEC said that 187 was Buhari’s serial number on the permanent voter card with which he would be identified by the relevant officers before he would be allowed to cast his vote.
He will be participating in the exercise for the fifth time as a presidential candidate under different political platforms since he ventured into politics in 2003.
He lost three times and subsequently won in 2015, defeating the incumbent president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who was seeking re-election after the completion of the first four years in office.
The former president conceded defeat even before the then Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, formally declared the winner of the presidential race .
NAN reports that the ancient city of Daura is peaceful and normal business activities are going on and enthusiastic feelings among the people who are anxiously waiting for D-day .
NAN
Thousands of APC supporters have taken over Katsina, the Katsina State capital, awaiting the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari for his campaign rally in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the supporters who arrived the city on Wednesday slept on the streets in spite of the cold weather.
There are reports that the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, venue of the rally, was already filled to capacity.
Already vehicle owners have to park five to ten kilometres away to trek to the campaign ground due to congestion as a result of massive human and vehicular movement.
Buhari is expected to wind up his campaign this Thursday in Katsina from where he will proceed to Daura to cast his vote in the presidential election on Saturday in which he is a candidate.
There are also reports of massive hold up on roads leading to the state capital through Jibia, Batsari, Kaita, Daura, Mani, Dutsinma and Kankia, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters come in from across the 34 local government areas in the state.
So far, there has been no report of any security breach, as police, military and para military personnel keep vigil in strategic locations.
NAN observed that traders were making brisk business, even as hundreds of APC supporters move round the city chanting praises of the president.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday cancelled his planned private visit to Daura, Katsina State. The cancellation is a mark of respect for victims of Boko Haram attacks across the battlefields in the Northeast zone.
Instead, he will be heading to Maiduguri tomorrow to attend the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference.
The President had planned a five-day trip to his Daura country home in Katsina State from yesterday.
He had earlier cancelled his official trip to Benin City, Edo, where he was billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and attend the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, initially billed to take place in the ancient city.
It was learnt yesterday that the advanced teams of the president, who left Abuja for Katsina and Benin on Sunday, had been asked to return.
The trips cancellation would allow the President to continue his ongoing meetings and consultations with relevant security and intelligent community officials aimed at addressing the nation’s security challenges.
He is expected to open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, which was moved from Benin to Maiduguri at the Government House Conference Hall in Maiduguri.
President Buhari’s aide on New Media Bashir Ahmad, had on Sunday confirmed this development on his tweeter handle.
He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on November 28, at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno state.
“The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo State.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has met with former Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Lawal Daura.
Last weekend’s Aso Villa meeting is said to be in connection with a report on the August 7, 2018 invasion of the National Assembly by hooded DSS operatives.
It was also gathered that the meeting centered on the resurgence of the Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the Northeast.
The options before the President are either to close Daura’s chapter on the invasion or re-engage him in the light of what some have considered an intelligence deficit in the fight against Boko Haram and the seeming ethno-religious tension in some states in the last three months.
The plight of Leah Sharibu and Boko Haram’s execution of Hauwa Amina Liman, one of the two kidnapped International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers were said to have created some intelligence gaps, which Daura was believed to have filled in the past.
A Presidency source confirmed that the President “had audience” with the former DG of DSS. This is the first time Buhari has met the former spymaster since he left office.
”Their meeting had to do with a pending report on the invasion of the National Assembly before the President and the nation’s security apparatchik,” the source said, pleading not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter.
“Apart from reading the report, the President used the opportunity to hear Daura’s side of the security siege to the National Assembly by DSS operatives,” he added.
The meeting followed what the source described as pressure from Dasuki’s associate including members of the President’s kitchen cabinet.
”While some want the President to foreclose Daura’s case, others have insisted that the President should re-engage the former DG of DSS.
”Forces opposed to Daura have defended his sack by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a timely decision to save the nation’s democracy. They also see Daura’s return under any guise as a slight on the VP and a signal that the Presidency is disunited,” said the source, adding:
”They also claim that Daura did more damage to the security system and brought much strain to the principle of separation of powers by the three arms of government, including the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. They pointed at the arbitrary invasion, arrest and detention of judges by DSS.”
But, to Daura’s associate what is more important is “the larger picture of the nation’s security”. They claim that Daura’s contributions far outweigh the infraction of August 7, 2018 more so when the ex-DG of DSS has insisted that he did not act alone.
Said the source: ”The pro-Daura elements attributed the recent intelligence setback in managing Boko Haram crisis in the Northeast to the absence of the ex-DG of DSS. The Army and the Air Force have lived up to expectations but the intelligence back up has suffered in the last three months, leading to the incessant ambush of troops.
”They claimed that Daura was a key link to Boko Haram contacts and negotiation with the insurgents which led to the release of Chibok and 105 girls of Government Girls’ Technical College, Dapchi in Yobe State even without the knowledge of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.
”They pointed to the dilemma of a Dapchi school girl, Leah Sharibu, and felt only Daura ( as a member of the nation’s security set-up) can address it.
Investigation revealed that there is a plot by some forces to mount pressure on the President to appoint Daura to another top security office .
Another source added: “No doubt, there are plans to re-draw the nation’s security apparatchik to respond to recent challenges in the Northeast and other parts of the country. What is on the card is for the President to re-engage Daura and give him a higher responsibility. But the President is also mindful of the possible backlash such a measure will attract.”
“A major challenge is the moral burden the return of Daura might create for President Muhammadu Buhari because Nigerians will see him as indulging Daura and making the former DG of DSS indispensable.”
While sacking Daura, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Acting President, told the nation that the disciplinary measure was necessary to end impunity in the country.
He described the DSS operatives’ invasion of the National Assembly as ‘a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and accepted notions of law and order.’
Inspector -General of Police Ibrahim Idris, in his report on the invasion of the National Assembly, claimed that Daura ‘acted unilaterally, without informing the Presidency. He did not share or intimate other Security Agencies on the unlawful operations’.
All Progressives Congress (APC), members in Daura, Kasina State, have turned out in large numbers to vote in the ongoing presidential primary election.
Daura is the home town of President Muhammadu Buhari, the sole candidate of the APC for the presidential polls scheduled to hold in February 2019.
Party members trooped to their respective ward polling units as early as 7 a.m., with some of them declaring that they were “very eager” o participate in the open ballot system of voting.
A correspondent, who visited some of the polling units, observed that the voters were orderly, while security was very tight.
Alhaji Abdulmanaf Daura, Organizing Secretary of the APC in the Northwest zone, who spoke with newsmen, commended the APC members for the large turnout, in spite of the ongoing industrial action declared by labour on Thursday.
“The massive turnout is an indication that the people believe in the ideals of the ruling party; it shows that our mass appeal is intact,” he said.
Alhaji Ahmed Elmourzouq, Katsina State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, told newsmen that the election was a direct one involving all members of the party.
The commissioner said that he was particularly impressed with the high turn out of women, saying that the APC-led administration at the state and federal levels would continue to execute projects that would benefit less privilege Nigerians.
Alhaji Ali Mani, APC chairman in President Buhari’s Sarkin-Yara Ward, who also praised the large and early turn out of voters, expressed optimism that the ruling party would win all levels of the 2019 general elections.
Voting and accreditation of voters commenced simultaneously across the 11 electoral wards in Daura Local Government Area.
The North West zone of National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) on Friday said 53 lives were lost to flood in both Katsina and Kaduna States, while 30 others were missing in the last four months.
Mr Ishaya Chonoko, North West Zonal, Coordinator of the agency, gave the figures in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
According to him, the agency recorded 51 deaths in Katsina State, two in Kaduna State, while 30 persons were confirmed missing in Jibiya, a border town in Katsina State.
NAN reports that the floods occurred between May 3 and Sept. 8, affecting 29 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the two states.
He listed the affected areas in Kaduna State as Abubakar Kigo road, Tudun wada, Malali, and Ungwar Rimi in Kaduna North.
Others are: Barnawa in Kaduna South; Karatudu, Narayi, Rido village, Gonin gora and Sabon Tasha in Chikun; Hayin Na’iya, Rafin Guza, Hayin Dan- Mani and Kawo in Igabi LGAs.
Areas in Katsina State included Malumfashi, Kafur, Bakori, Kusada, Kankai, Rimi, Musawa, Daura, Baure, Maiaduwa, Dutse – ma, Batsari, Kaita, Zango, Sandamu, Kurfi and Faskari LGAs.
Chonoko said the agency had distributed relief materials to victims of the flood in the state.
He said blankets, corn, rice, mattresses, cement and detergents were distributed because these were the immediate needs of the victims.
The agency attributed the flood to blocked drainages, construction of structures along water channels and illegal mining along river banks.
According to Chonoko, the incident came days after the agency, SEMA and the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) had issued an alert that some Local Government Areas in the states were likely to experience flash flooding.
He said the agency had always embarked on sensitisation campaign in flood prone-areas to prepare them.
Chonoko stressed that the campaign was undertaken because of the need to remind the residents on the need to relocate from flood-prone areas to safer places, in view of the predictions of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
He, however, expressed confidence that the Kaduna State Government had made adequate arrangements to cater for potential Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the flood-prone areas.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Daura broached the issue of his opting to trek some distance after observing Eid prayers at Kofar Arewa Eid Ground and the humbling hero’s welcome from the well-wishers that lined the street.
In a meeting with representatives of the 5 local governments in Daura Emirate, the President explained that the walk was not about proving his fitness level or scoring cheap political capital.
Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “This is my constituency, the people came out in their large numbers to see me and the car in which I was being driven had tinted windows.
‘‘They were not seeing me so I came down so they could see me. I didn’t need to convince anyone about my health and the decision to contest for a second term- a decision that I made public in April this year,’’ he said.
The President used the opportunity of his meeting with his kinsmen to inform them that he has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and the CBN to review the processes on the issuance of loans to smallholder farmers.
‘‘We want to make it easier for them to assess the loans, particularly the underprivileged people in the society. It has become necessary for the government to do this because banks will insist on collaterals which majority of farmers do not have.
‘‘For our agriculture policy to succeed, we must be able to reach small farm holders with loans without collaterals. Collaterals are always a problem with smallholder farmers,’’ he said.
The President also highlighted the achievements of the administration on local rice productions which had expectedly led to the reduction of imports by over 90 percent.
He expressed delight that young people are returning to the farms and reaffirmed the Federal government’s commitment to implement policies to promote agriculture.
Speaking on behalf of the civil society groups in Daura Emirate, the spokesman of the group, Yusuf Bello Maiadua, applauded the President on his numerous achievements.
‘‘You have made us proud, the economy is back on the path of growth and you have laid a solid foundation for the development of the country.”
Maiadua who hinted the President of plans by the Daura Emirate to organise a massive rally for his 2019 campaign, as soon as the ban on political campaign is lifted, invited him to make out time to attend.
…Says APC will win 2019 elections
President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura on Friday said that the string of victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in bye-elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi States is sufficient proof that 2019 elections will be won by the party.
He spoke while receiving the representatives of the 34 Chairmen of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Katsina State.
Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “coming against the backdrop of the victory in Ekiti governorship election, the string of victory by our party, the APC, is a clear indication of the way things will go in 2019.
‘‘For those who are discerning; those who have ears and eyes they will see, hear and understand. Those who don’t understand are entitled to their mistaken assumptions.” he said
Buhari, therefore, emphasized that the victories in the recent polls are indeed “the sign of things to come.”
He thanked the leaders of the association for paying Sallah homage to him and for their message of congratulations on the performance of the party and the administration, assuring them that he would continue to do his best for the nation.
Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of ALGON in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Na’Allah, expressed their support and commitment to the success of the Buhari Administration.
At another meeting with the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Katsina State, President Buhari expressed his continued determination to respect the diversity of the country, saying that he will run a government that is fair and just to all Nigerians.
The President thanked the CAN leadership in the State for living in peace and harmony with other religious groups, and for supporting his administration in its policies and programmes
The CAN leaders who spoke during the visit, the State Chairman, Rev. Nelson Onyeakachukwu, and an elder and coordinator of the Christian Pilgrimage in the State, Haruna Danjuma expressed happiness with the President’s performance.
They described him as the State’s good ambassador who had made everyone proud.
“Christians in Katsina are happy with both Governor Masari in the State and yourself at the center. We will continue to support both of you,” the CAN leaders told the President.