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Tag: Femi Adesina

  • FG won’t oppose Boko Haram initiated negotiation – Presidency

    FG won’t oppose Boko Haram initiated negotiation – Presidency

    The Presidency on Saturday said the Federal Government will not shy away from any negotiation initiated by the Boko Haram sect.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, in a statement titled “Amplification of comments on negotiations with Boko Haram,” pointed out that United States also negotiated with the Talibans in Afghanistan at some point in time.

    But he said if the government will go into such negotiation, it will be from a point of strength and not weakness.

    Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari , who has won such insurgency before, is now poised to win the fight against Boko Haram.

    He said: “Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end on the negotiation table. So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it.

    “Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength. The machinery put in place, and which will be set in motion soon, can only devastate and decapitate insurgency.

    “It is multinational in nature, and relief is on the way for Nigeria and her neighbours. President Muhammadu Buhari is resolute. He has battled and won insurgency before. He is poised to win again. It is a promise he made to Nigerians, and he is a promise keeper.

    “But I say again, if the insurgents want to negotiate, no decent government will be averse to such. Didn’t the Taliban and Americans also negotiate in Afghanistan?”

     

     

  • Buhari: Presidency tackles PDP over 30 days appraisal

    Buhari: Presidency tackles PDP over 30 days appraisal

    The Presidency on Sunday faulted the call for prayers for the Buhari government by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which alleged inaction by the new administration in its first 30 days in office.
    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement, said that Nigerians are already on the side of the administration and that the Buhari administration is on course.
    National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh in an earlier statement said that the enormity of the confusion surrounding the government and the ruling party in the last one month has made it imperative for Nigerians to pray.
    He said the success or failure of the Buhari administration would not only affect the President and his party but also the entire nation.
    Metuh made the call while giving a 30 day appraisal of the administration.
    Adesina said it requires scrupulous and painstaking planning to clean the PDP’s Augean Stable.
    “It is amusing to read what the National Publicity Secretary of the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, considers a 30 days appraisal of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
    “He wants Nigerians to join hands in prayers for the government, so that things would begin to move. What he does not know is that Nigerians had long formed such coalition. They are hands in hands, and that was what gave victory to President Buhari in the March 28, 2015 poll.
    Stressing that the national life was devalued across all sectors under PDP, Adesina said: “it takes meticulousness and sure-footedness to repair all the breaches. This, the Buhari administration will deliver.”
    “Metuh talks of people round the President conniving with bureaucrats to syphon money from the treasury. This must be deja vu, as it was the pastime of the immediate past administration, and the enormity of the sleaze will be evident when stolen money, to the tune of billions of dollars, is recovered, and returned to the national treasury soon.”
    In his statement Metuh said PDP was deeply worried that the ” President who promised to unveil his cabinet two weeks after his inauguration, has not been able to decide on key appointments such as ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief of Staff and advisers in key sectors of the economy.”
    “This is more so as the delay has brought government business in ministries, departments and agencies to a dangerous standstill with coordination of important policies vested on ministers and the SGF now in tatters while the system drifts.”

  • Buhari greets Ibilola Williams at 100

    Buhari greets Ibilola Williams at 100

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Mama Eunice Ibilola Williams as she celebrates her 100th birthday on Saturday, June 20, 2015.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined Mama Williams’ family and friends in rejoicing with her on the occasion of her attainment of age of 100 years.

    As they celebrate with Mama Williams, popularly known as“Mama Palm Church”, the President urged them to give thanks to God for her very fulfilled life of commendable service to her family and society in various capacities, and for blessing her with the great privilege of living gracefully on earth for 100 years.

    He wished Mama Williams, an aunt to Mrs. Bunmi Anyaoku, wife of the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, many more years of good health and life in the midst of her beloved family and friends.

    He prayed that God will further bless Mama Palm Church, whose devoutness and good deeds are celebrated, with more years of inspirational living for the benefit of present and coming generations.   
     

  • I’m very fit to rule Nigeria – Buhari

    I’m very fit to rule Nigeria – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday insisted that he is very fit to rule Nigeria. He was reacting in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, to media reports claiming that his age will limit him from properly ruling Nigeria. The statement said Buhari like a good wine gets better with age.
    It reads: “On Monday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with the Nigerian community at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speaking extempore, because according to him, he wanted to “speak from the heart,” the President urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, a country he went to the warfront to keep together.
    “Still extolling the virtues of our country, Nigeria, the President, who had served as a military governor of the then North-Eastern State at 33 years old, declared:”I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”
    The above comments have been reported by some newspapers to mean that the President was saying he was too old to cope with the demands of his office. Far from it.
    Buhari, the statement said, is coming on board with quantum of wisdom, patience, temperance and forbearance his age brings to make a difference in Nigeria.
    It said: “As the saying goes, “old wines are tasty” and the President Buhari we have today is a man, like old wine, that has got tastier. At 72, yes, he can’t be called a youth, but he has in quantum the wisdom, the patience, temperance and forbearance that age brings. And all these virtues he has brought to the Presidency, to make a difference in our national life.
    “The President assured the Nigerian community in South Africa that his Administration will make  a positive impact on the country. And that he would do.
    “Insecurity as symbolized by insurgency will be brought to an end, corruption will be fought to a standstill, employment will be created for the teeming army of unemployed, the economy will be revived, and the quality of life of Nigerians will take an upward swing again. These will not come by a sudden flight, but they will happen in the life of this Administration.
    “At 72, the Buhari persona has not changed. He remains the simple, honest, incorruptible patriot he has always been. And because Nigerians earnestly desired change, that was why they voted for him overwhelmingly at the general elections in March, this year. All the virtues and values of the Buhari persona will be deployed into governance in the weeks and months ahead.
    “The Nigerian community in South Africa was enthralled as President Buhari spoke with them on Monday. In fact, leaving the venue was an effort, as they swarmed round the President, who shook hands with as many of them as he could.
    “They took his message well. That is the essence of good wine. It gets better with age. And it is a message for all Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora.” It added.
  • Buhari departs for AU summit

    Buhari departs for AU summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for South Africa on Saturday to attend the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    The President is scheduled to undertake his first continental assignment since resuming office by chairing a meeting of the Peace and Security Committee of the African Union during the summit.

    In a press statement signed by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President: Buhari is expected to hold bilateral talks with other African leaders on the sidelines of the summit to consolidate his ongoing drive to secure Nigeria and Neighbouring Countries from Boko Haram.

    “President Buhari is due back in Abuja on Tuesday at the conclusion of the summit which will focus mainly on continental peace and security,” Adesina noted.

  • Flashback: Jonathan’s special advisers and portfolios

    Flashback: Jonathan’s special advisers and portfolios

    As Nigerians await the official release of President Muhammadu Buhari’s list of Special Advisers, it is uncertain who the appointees will be. Only Mr. Femi Adesina, a former Managing Director of The Sun Newspaper has been be assigned the role of Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

    President Buhari had on Monday sent a letter to the National Assembly, requesting the outgoing lawmakers to approve his plan to appoint 15 aides.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan picked 18 special advisers for his administration and assigned them different portfolios.

    Here are Jonathan’s special advisers and the positions they occupied:

     

    – Eng. Mohammed Kachalla Abubakar – Deputy Chief of Staff to the President

    – Hassan Tukur – Principal Secretary to the President,

    – Dr. Tunji Olagunju – Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD,

    – Mr. Oronto Douglas – Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy

    – Hon. Kingsley Kuku – Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

    – Prof. Abubakar Sambo – Special Adviser to the President on Energy,

    – Mrs. Sarah Akuben Pane – Special Adviser to the President on Social Development

    – Mrs. Sarah Jibril – Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values

    – Senator Joy Emordi – Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters

    -Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi – Special Adviser to the President on International Relations.

    – Prof. Dan Adebiyi – Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties

    – Dr. Reuben Abati – Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity

    – Mrs. Asma’u Abdulkadir – Special Adviser to the President on Gender Issues

    – Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwakpo – Special Adviser to the President on Technical Matters

    – Yakubu Abdullahi – Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters (Office of the Vice President)

    – Barr. Bashir Sufyan – Special Adviser to the President on Legal Matters (Office of the Vice President)

    – Senator Isaiah Ballat – Special Adviser to the President for Special Duties (Office of the Vice President).

  • Military owes media apology, says NGE President

    Military owes media apology, says NGE President

    Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) president, Femi Adesina said the military owes the media unreserved for the three days clampdown on some newspapers in June.

    Adesina spoke at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI) held at the 65 Battalion, Bonny Camp, Lagos.

    Speaking on the impact of military and media relations in promoting national peace and security, Adesina said the military’s seizure of newspapers negatively impacted the cordial relationship that was being built between the parties.

    He accused the military of hiding under spurious claims that the distribution vans were being used to transport obnoxious materials that threaten security, thereby making the affected newspapers lose millions of naira.

    Adesina expressed displeasure that the military has not considered it worthy to apologise to the media despite the fact that no dangerous material was found in any of the vans for the three-days the clampdown lasted.

    “The military owes the media apology. I stand by it. I have even told the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Kenneth Minimah, that we incurred economic losses from the clampdown in June.

    “If they are not paying us back, they al least should say sorry. They accused us and did they find anything? No! so, nothing stops them from saying we were wrong, we are sorry,” said Adesina.

    On the need for a good relationship between the media and the military, Adesina said any friction between both agencies negatively affects peace and stability in the country.

    He admonished the military to stop seeing the media as unpatriotic and nosy people, reiterating the need for a synergy.

    “No one is more patriotic then the other.  The country belongs to us all.  If we continue to function like adversaries, with an attitude of ‘we’ against ‘them’, then the country loses ultimately.  When peace and security break down irretrievably, the media, the military, and the citizenry suffer.”

    According to the NGE President, the country is in the trouble she has found herself today because relationship between the federating units, different ethnic groups, has gone awry.

    “The relationship between the media and the military has gone through many phases ranging from hostility, brutality, mutual suspicion and then, to wary collaboration that currently exists…

    “It seemed an amicable relationship was being forged, till insurgency in the north east got to a height, and the military set the relationship backward in June this year, confiscating the products of newspaper houses under the spurious guise that the distribution vehicle of newspaper houses were to be used to ferry obnoxious materials round the country.

    “For the three days that the onslaught on media houses lasted, grave injury was done to the relationship between the military and the media, and old wounds were reopened. It constituted a big setback in a relationship that had got progressively better.

    “A siege was laid on the products of newspaper houses round the country and we lost money in millions of naira. Apart from economic losses, however, that development wrecked serious havoc on military and media relations. It took us far back to the time that the head of Mineri Amakiri was shaved with broken bottles by Diette-Spiff,” he said.

    If it would play the role of a veritable link well, Adesina said the media must be very professional,

    “How the media comports itself can either douse or escalate tension in the country. A partial, compromised or hostile media is bad news for peace and security in any country. It is therefore important that no matter the situation, the media remains professional, unbiased and not hostile to other institutions. When stories are treated in a way to achieve pre-conceived goals, the public also comes to wrong decisions and judgments,” said Adesina.

     

    Declaring the four-days workshop open, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Gen. Tanmi Dibi appealed to the media to remember that both agencies are working to achieve a common goal-security and stability.

    He called on the media to collaborate with the security agencies by publishing stories that foster national peace and security, noting that if the media is not fed accurate information, reporters will report what they know and observed.

    Media scholar, Prof. Ralph Ainfeleye; Army Spokesman, Gen. Olajide Olaleye; Commandant NASPRI, John Agim were among speakers at the event.

    Prof. Akinfeleye emphasized the need to redefine what constitutes national security and national interest, just as he reiterated the need for content rather than ownership pluralism in the media.

     

  • Editors to FG: Don’t play politics with security

    Editors to FG: Don’t play politics with security

    THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday advised the Federal Government not to further politicise the security challenges confronting the nation but collaborate with all Nigerians to put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The group spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital during its Standing Committee meeting.

    Its President, Femi Adesina, urged the Federal Government to step up actions to end the current security challenges in the country.

    Adesina told journalists at the Government House that “the tardiness of the Federal Government in handling the abduction of the female students in Chibok was because it was blaming the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead of talking of rescuing the girls.”

    In his response, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha maintained that Nigerians should come together irrespective of political or religious inclination to fight terrorism.

  • Editors to Confab delegates: prioritise security

    Editors to Confab delegates: prioritise security

    •Govt urged to partner the West for improved security

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

    NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

    Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

    He said: “I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don’t talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

    “I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up.”

    The Sun former editor urged insurgents to stop their bloodletting.

    Adesina said the Federal Government was probably doing its best to address the situation, adding that it was obvious the government could not handle the situation alone.

    “I believe the government is doing its best but the Yoruba have a saying that the water might sometimes be much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation, what can anybody do?

    “But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country. The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it,” he said.

    Also, frontline lawyer, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to partner Western powers to fight terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

    The lawyer spoke in Ikeja, Lagos, following yesterday’s bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja.

    He said: “We need to take the offer of the Western powers, like the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, even Russia, in fighting terrorism. This is because it is clear from all indications that the Federal Government cannot handle the situation alone.

    “I think the President himsef realises that we don’t have the equipment and personnel to do so. It is a global phenomenon.”

    Rotimi-Williams condemned the Nyanyan motor park blast on innocent Nigerians.

    The lawyer noted that it was glaring that the government could not handle the situation alone.

    He said Nigeria should accept a security partnership with Western powers so that acts of terrorism and Boko Haram activities could end.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the Abuja blast and others in several parts of the country did not warrant the call for the removal of the security chiefs, who were recently appointed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    According to him, the new security chiefs should be given enough time to perform their task.

    Rotimi-Williams said: “I once suggested that the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Azubuike Ihejirika, be removed, and I was justified because he was subsequently removed. Now, given the latest attack, I think we need to give the new security chiefs more time to settle down.”

    Also, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

    NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

    Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

    He said: “I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don’t talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

    “I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up.”

     

    The Sun former editor urged insurgents to stop their bloodletting.

    Adesina said the Federal Government was probably doing its best to address the situation, adding that it was obvious the government could not handle the situation alone.

    “I believe the government is doing its best but the Yoruba have a saying that the water might sometimes be much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation, what can anybody do?

    “But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country. The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it,” he said.

     

  • Highflyer reality show makes its debut

    The Deputy Managing Director, The Sun Newspapers, Mr Femi Adesina has said that if the educational sector in Nigeria is not addressed, there could be an anarchy.

    “The educational situation is desperate, so any style, format or procedure that we can go through to change what is on ground is welcomed and accepted,” he said.

    Adesina spoke at the launching of the Highflyer reality show and presentation of academic excellence awards held recently at the Welcome Centre Hotel, Lagos. He said the Highflyer intiative should be supported and encouraged.

    Mr Adesina said that there is a minimum funding requirement for education as prescribed by UNESCO and Nigeria has not met the requirement. To him, the primary step to revamping education is to meet the minimum funding requirement in the country’s budget and to make sure it gets to the sector and it is used for the purpose.

    In his lecture titled: Revamping the Educational Sector: whose responsibility, Mr Adesina said that the revamping of the educational sector must be a team work. “The federal, state, local governments and private institutions should be involved,” he added.

    Chairman/Managing Director, Global Educational Initiative, USA Inc., Dr. Bright Winner, said it is a very big task to reach out to every Nigerian child because the population of Nigeria is about 50 million, adding that ‘notwithstanding, the initiative would try as much as possible to expose as many of these young Nigerian students to other advance nations to see what is out there so that they can make a difference.’

    “Educational reality shows has to be reality and the state of Nigerian education is nothing to write home about and so we need to change that state,” he added.

    Dr. Winner said that people relate more with reality shows and it is important to catch the attention of people because one cannot solve a problem without the attention of those affected.

    Winner disclosed that Highflyer will be in three phases and the children will be taking abroad to expose them to what is out there.

    Highflyer is another initiative designed to contribute to the on-going reformation and transformation process of the ailing educational standard in Nigeria. The initiative was conceived and designed by Steward Resources Nigeria Limited and Global Educational Initiative USA Inc. in collaboration with Daar sat.