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Tag: Gen Muhammadu Buhari

  • Huge crowds receive Buhari in Maiduguri

    •Shehu seeks action against Boko Haram

    Thousands of residents poured onto the streets of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday to receive Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate accompanied by his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was in the city, which houses almost one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from parts of the state under the control of Boko Haram, to launch his campaign for the March 28 presidential poll.

    The crowd was so huge and affectionate that the APC team, which also included National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Campaign Director-General Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Mr. Audu Ogbe, Senator Lawal Sha’aibu, Alhaji Umar Faruk Aliyu, Senator Hadi Sirika, APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni,  Gen. Lawan Dambazau  and Hadiza Bala Usman, could not speak at the rally.

    At the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Ibn Umar El- Kanemi, the traditional ruler urged Gen. Buhari to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, if elected.

    The Shehu said the destroyed communities by Boko Haram in the Northeast should be built to give a new lease of life to the victims of insurgents and their families.

    He said the federal projects that have been abandoned, such as the Biu Dam Water Project, the Lake Chad Basin oil exploration and the connection of Borno State to the National Power grid should be revived.

    He advised the presidential candidate to ensure violence-free campaigns and elections.

    Gen. Buhari assured the Shehu of his unflinching support and assistance in returning the state to peace and the resuscitation of the federal projects and establishments.

    He pledged to tackle insecurity and improve on agricultural production, revive the oil industry and create job opportunities for unemployed youths, who have graduated and cannot find jobs, if elected.

    “I was here in 1975 as governor of the defunct North-East State. I’m happy that I received a befitting welcome.  If elected, I will focus on tackling the persistent insecurity affecting Northeast. The damage has been done, but if the APC government is elected, all towns under Boko Haram control will be liberated and rebuilt. It is unfortunate that commercial activities were paralysed.

    “In the past, hundreds of trailers loaded with goods took off from Maiduguri to various neighbouring countries, but now the reverse is the situation. Boko Haram’s ideology contradicts Islamic principle. Islam does not allow senseless killings of innocent people. It is unfortunate that innocent persons are being killed in mosques, churches and their houses.  God willing, if the APC is elected, we will restore confidence in governance and stamp out corruption,” Buhari said.

    At the Ramat Square, venue of the grand rally, the crowd overwhelmed security operatives and brought the rally to an abrupt end.

    It took the convoy of the candidate more than an hour from the Maiduguri International Airport to arrive at the Ramat Square.

    The APC candidate had to abort all efforts at addressing the crowd, who kept shouting “Sai Buhari”.

    Thousands of party supporters, mostly youths, lined major roads as early as 7a.m. to catch a glimpse of the APC standard-bearer.

    Vehicles were forced to move at snail’s speed after Buhari arrived at the state capital, as supporters occupied the roads in celebration.

    The equipment of a television station transmitting the event live were vandalised.

    One of the crew members said: “Our transmission wires were cut. We lost some of our equipment, but I thank God that we came out of that place in one piece.”

    In an attempt to control the surging crowd of supporters, the military resorted to brutality, beating up supporters attempting to invade the VIP stand.

    In a show of anger, some supporters threw  footwears at security operatives.

    There was stampede in and outside the Ramat   Square. There was heavy shelling of RPG in front of the square, as a measure to control the crowd. Two people were taken out, gasping for breath.

  • Buhari: we’ll end impunity

    Buhari: we’ll end impunity

    •APC inaugurates presidential campaign council

    All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to end the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration’s ‘impunity”.

    Besides, he asked his supporters not to engage in any illegal act during the campaign leading to the February 14 election.

    Inaugurating an 89-man Presidential Campaign Council and his campaign office in Abuja, Gen. Buhari said the PDP had failed to address any of the people’s concerns.

    Two new directorates were created to strenghten the campagn. They are: Strategic Communications, headed by former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Dele Alake and Operations, headed by Chief Ikechi Emenike, a publisher and former governorship hopeful in Abia State.

    The former Nigerian leader said: “We intend to prosecute this campaign to win and we shall win. We undertake to end the impunity of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a party that has proved clueless in every material particular. It has failed to address any of the important concerns of the people of this country.

    “It has failed to deal squarely with the great security challenge that has faced this nation within these last five years. And it has remained touchy and impervious to all constructive criticism, and without concern for human life and for the suffering going on in the land.”

    He told members of the party and other Nigerians to be vigilant before, during and after the election “so that sponsored hoodlums do not commit illegalities that are in the end blamed on you.” “Not only must you not take the law into your hands, no matter the level of provocation, you must be able to expose those planning to do so before they act.”

    Gen. Buhari went on: “I know it is all too painful for you to see votes you cast being disregarded and votes illegally thumb printed being counted to rig out the choice that you have legitimately and conclusively made. And it is even more painful when you know that the road to remedy has been firmly shut in your face; for, you are always called on to accept a judgment whose justice you cannot see, whose logic is flawed and whose facts speak against itself.

    “All the same, I urge you to take to patience. I wish to assure you that the leadership of the opposition is not unmindful of this sad and frustrating situation, and has accordingly put in place a mechanism that will permanently put an end to rigging in this country.”

    While lamenting the security situation in the country, Buhari said “As we campaigned, Boko Haram attacked Baga town in Borno State, reportedly killing 2,000 people; but to this clueless government, this toll is just a number, a statistic that adds up to the litany that has gone before it.

    “And worst of all, this PDP government has split the country along all known fault lines. It is time to send them into deserved retirement; which, in the normal cause of events, it will have done nothing to deserve.

    “On our part, we have solemnly promised this nation that we are going to secure it against all threats, manage its resources efficiently and with demonstrable transparency, and then fix whatever is amiss in it.

    “Under an APC government, no one will go to bed hungry, angry with the government or with the fear of insurgents or nocturnal visitors. We shall secure the government for the people and fix it. And, verily, we shall deliver on every of our promises.”

    While paying tribute to founders of the party, he said: “Let me seize this opportunity to first pay special tribute to the leadership given by Chief Bisi Akande to the entire enterprise. It is no exaggeration to say that APC owes everything to the leadership given, the tact, wisdom and fairness displayed by Chief Akande.

    “Next, I would like to recognise Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose sacrifices, organisational skills and extensive political network did much to straighten and cement the blocks of the merger and then take APC to unprecedented heights of acceptance in important areas of the country.

    “I would also like to express my gratitude to all of you for the confidence you have decided to repose in me to be the presidential flag bearer of our great party. I feel honoured and thoroughly humbled.”

    Gen. Buhari thanked members of the Campaign Council for accepting to serve. He thanked also all those who contested the ticket with him.

    He thanked former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi for conducting the most transparent primary election in Nigeria.

    “Finally, I would like to thank Professor Yemi Osinbanjo for accepting to bring his rich repertoire of experience and expertise to enrich a ticket that will be leading this country in the next few months,” Gen. Buhari said.

    He warned his “supporters, volunteers and other well-wishers within the party or even out of it not to insult or be rude to any other aspirant or party leader on my behalf”.

    The Campaign Council is expected to:

    •give a sense of participation and belonging to major stakeholders and engender widespread support for the project;

    •act as a buffer between the campaign organisation and the candidate and vice presidential candidate; and

    •identify and resolve conflicts arising from the operation of the campaign organisation.

    “They are also charged with enunciating and monitoring broad strategic objectives of the campaign; serve as mechanism for checks and balances in the overall efforts towards achieving set objectives of winning the general elections of 2015 and shall oversee the campaigns votersregistration and anti-voter suppression efforts.

    “They are also to ensure that the campaign’s messaging is consistent with and incorporates the key planks of the party manifesto and ensure that resources will be made available and appropriately allocated to assist the campaign.

    The council’s Director-General, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi called on members of the party to participate in the campaign because no one person can deliver the APC.

    He said: “Only three persons can deliver APC. They are God, the people and you. This is the best chance for the opposition. We can never have this kind of opportunity again and so, we can not afford to make mistakes or afford to disagree on any issue.

    “The only issue we can afford to disagree on is that we must not make mistakes. We must agree that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP have had their cup filled by themselves and the society wants them out. Fortunately for us, we have a wonderful candidate.

    “As we say in Ikwerre, when a woman is too fine, you say see how ugly she is because you don’t have anything else to abuse her with. We have a wonderful candidate to sell. Please join us to sell the candidate”

    To APC Deputy Chairman (North) Senator Lawal Shuaibu, “this is a turning point in the political history of this country, the first time a ruling party is jittery about the activities of the opposition”.

    “They are jittery because we have made the right choice of a candidate. A gentleman, a honest Nigerian, one who has paid his dues and a man who enjoys an infectious support from the common people of this country,” he said.

    A minute silence was observed for victims of the Boko Haram massacre in Baga and other communities in the Northeast.

    At the inauguration were Prof. Osinbajo, Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), Tanko AlMakura (Nasarawa), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), former governors, Abdullah, Adamu, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Bukola Saraki, Segun Oni, Kayode Fayemi, Danjuma Goje, Timipriye Sylva and Lawal Ja’afaru Isa.

    Others are: Mr. Audu Ogbeh, Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Akande, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu,  Femi Gbajabiamila, High Chief Emenike, Dele Alake,  Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Dino Melaye, among others.

  • APC, running mate and options for 2015

    APC, running mate and options for 2015

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is about to discover that deciding on Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate is much tougher than electing their standard-bearer. It is not simply because that choice, once it is made, has the potential to make or mar the ticket, it is because navigating the treacherous courses of Nigeria’s competing groups and issues has become almost an impossible task. Asked a few days before the primary whether he countenanced picking a Muslim as his running mate, Gen Buhari prevaricated. He said he preferred to defer to his party, and then went on to anchor his hesitations on historical facts confirming that Nigerians previously voted for same faith candidates and running mates. He was, however, indicating that his party was battling to make up its mind, and that one or two of the leading contenders for the running mate position are Muslims.

    The incredibly successful conduct of the APC presidential primary, and in particular the election of Gen Buhari, places a huge burden on the party to make the right choice, one that would add value to the principles and philosophy of the party, and one that would inspire and fire the country to put a definitive end to PDP’s reign in 2015. That choice must not diminish the ticket or vitiate its battle preparedness. Two hard choices stare the APC in the face. First is whether to produce a running mate from the Southwest or elsewhere. And the second is whether to gamble on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    The choice the party makes, in its daringness and appropriateness, will be a reflection of how desperate it wants to dethrone the PDP. Once that choice is made, it will be irreversible. If it is the right choice the dynamics of electioneering will trigger a momentum that will ferry the party into the presidency. But if it is the wrong choice, the same cruel dynamics will put the party on the defensive and wreck its chances, perhaps for a long time. No person, indeed no analyst, can claim to have the answer or see into the future. However, propelled by a primary election high, it seems much more sensible for the APC to avoid rashness and overconfidence in order to sustain the momentum, and also to ensure that the issues that will shape the February poll will not be polluted by Dr Jonathan’s desperate government.

    First, the Southwest and its leaders may reason that having inspired the formation of APC, and having as it were led it so creatively, though under the weight of accusation by anachronistic members of the Yoruba political elite that the region was being sold cheaply to the Hausa/Fulani oligarchy, they may want to ensure a south-westerner on the ticket. Given the nature of Nigerian politics, especially the enormous powers wielded by the presidency over the ruling party, it is understandable why APC leaders from the Southwest would want someone from the zone on the ticket. The problem with that reasoning however is that the impression will be created that their exertions were induced by considerations other than philosophical, and that other powerful concessions bigger and more potent than a running mate cannot be secured. They will be saying that they were not inspired by great democratic principles and nobler motives required to redirect and nurture Nigerian politics and democracy along the civilising lines which contentious Yoruba leaders led by Ayo Adebanjo and others in Afenifere have failed to understand. Unknown to many, Nigerian politics is being restructured fundamentally away from the bigotries and antagonisms of the past. That process, masterminded by the APC, must not be aborted.

    Second, because Dr Jonathan is at his most vulnerable does not mean he is already dead meat. The APC must therefore weigh the risk of presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Given how badly Dr Jonathan and his supporters have muddied Nigeria’s political waters and fouled it with ethnic and religious prejudices, the APC will find it difficult convincing itself it is prepared to sail near the wind with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It is of course nonsensical to religionise party tickets, as if same faith tickets would ineluctably promote one religion over the other. But the APC must be capable of reading the signs of the times, and of making choices that show its perceptiveness and acuity of mind. It must be able to anticipate Dr Jonathan’s campaign tactics and not hand it ready ammunition.

    In 2011, Gen Buhari had his best chance of winning the presidency, if only he would reach accommodation with the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He incredulously made the wrong call. Now, it is not just Gen Buhari’s best chance to win, it is in fact the best chance for his party to win. They must not make the wrong choice. Apart from choosing the right running mate, the party must take over the general’s campaign, steer it away from the insularity that hallmarked his 2011 campaign, mould him as much as they can into a modern leader with believable democratic credentials and founder’s mentality, and into a politician who envisions great things, has the capacity to relate creatively with the National Assembly, and is capable of taking the people to a height that exists only in their constructive imagination. Whatever they do, APC leaders must recognise that their first task is to win and save Nigeria from apocalypse. Nothing must interfere with those noble goals of saving democracy and rebuilding this shattered and dispirited country.

  • Buhari’s letter to delegates

    Buhari’s letter to delegates

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) has urged delegates to cast their votes with best judgments and a patriotic conscience.

    The APC presidential aspirant, who pleaded for the votes of the delegates, said his presidential ambition is borne out of the desire to salvage the country from multiple crises and not for personal ambition.

    In the letter he personally signed, Buhari said: “As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.”

    He further maintained that he would not offer any delegate cash to purchase supports because ‘the fate of Nigeria is not up for sale’.

    He added: “We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC.

    “Nigeria is our home, let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be.”


  • Why military can’t crush Boko Haram- Buhari

    Why military can’t crush Boko Haram- Buhari

    Former Head of State, General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd) has said that the Nigerian military should not be blamed for not being able to crush the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging parts of the northeast of Nigeria.

    The military, he said, are ill equipped despite the abundance of wealth being wasted on trivial issues by the government in power.

    The former military leader spoke at the weekend in Enugu while addressing the states delegates of All Progressives Congress (APC) to the forthcoming presidential primaries of the party.

    Buhari , a leading presidential aspirant in APC, told the delegates that “soldiers have been complaining that they are ill equipped, in spite of the trillions spent on defence budget in the last three years.”

    Buhari who was accompanied by former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El Rufai, former Minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh, Chief Audu Ogbe, among other key officials of the party, noted that next year would be another landmark year in the history of the country.

    “If you consider the foreign revenue Nigeria has generated since 1999, you will be shocked at how inefficient and corrupt PDP has been. Soldiers have been saying they are ill equipped, yet trillions have been voted for defence in the last three years,” he said.

    He added: “If we don’t vote out PDP, it will vote out Nigerians and we will all be the losers. Cast your votes for us so that we can all fight this inefficiency and corruption.”

    Buhari enjoined the party members to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC’s), which is the only ammunition to vote out PDP and make sure their votes count in the 2015 general elections.

    He told them to be vigilant to vote and protect their votes to make sure they count.

    In a vote of thanks on behalf of the delegates, General Chris Eze (rtd) said if Nigerians elect Buhari as President, they will be sure of having a competent Commander-in- Chief once again.
    Eze recalled that under Buhari as Head of State, the violent Maitasine Sect was driven away from Nigeria into Chad while his regime initiated a serious war against indiscipline and corruption.

  • Buhari’s plane barred from landing at Makurdi airport

    Buhari’s plane barred from landing at Makurdi airport

    A Chartered plane carrying All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was refused landing at the Makurdi Airport yesterday.

    Gen. Buhari was travelling from Bayelsa State as part of his mobilisation of party members ahead of the APC presidential primary slated for next month.

    Sources at the Makurdi Airport said the plane had been cleared and the General was heading for the North Central city when 30 minutes to landing, the aircraft was told it would not be able to land at the airport.

    The prevention of his plane from landing halted the  trips of the aspirant who earlier yesterday met party faithful in Calabar, Cross River State and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    Party supporters in Makurdi led by state Chairman Abba Yaro who trooped to the airport were disappointed.

    Abba told reporters:  “We will certainly react to this ugly incident because what they have done was not only callous and wicked but also unacceptable in modern day Nigeria.”

    Aviation authorities in Lagos denied knowledge of the development.

    Spokesman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mr. Yakubu Datti, said the aviation authorities have no control of the Makurdi Airport.

    According to him, the military is in charge of the airport.

    Earlier in Calabar while addressing APC supporters, Gen. Buhari said: “We have lost so much. What has become of the Nigeria Airways, our shipping lines, railways among others. Infrastructure is going down and also the rising level of insecurity. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed badly in their 15 years of being in charge. Everything is going down in spite of all the money. What are they doing with the money.

    “We must stop PDP from destroying this country. If we don’t get rid of the PDP, PDP will get rid of Nigerians. We are fed up. Whatever your sentiments let us work together and rebuild this country.”

    He urged the people to get their permanent voter cards to enable them vote next year.

    State chairman of the APC, Pastor Usani Usani, described Buhari as “humble, discipline and intelligent.”

  • Buhari supporters inaugurate sub-committees in Ondo

    Buhari supporters inaugurate sub-committees in Ondo

    AS the various aspirants mount political hustings ahead of the 2015 polls, supporters of the Buhari Campaign Organisation at the weekend inaugurated six sub-committees in Akure, the Ondo state capital as part of plans to facilitate the emergence of the former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)as the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The committees which cuts across all sectors including Finance & Administration is headed by Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; Contact & Mobilisation by Mr Femi Idris; Strategy & Intelligence & Security being led by Prince Fioye Bajowa.

    Other committees namely: Publicity & Communication by Prince Olu Adegboro; Women Affairs by Mrs. Lola Fagbemi and Youth Affairs by Akogun Gbenga Omole.

    Committee members who are prominent APC leaders in the State were saddled with responsibility of mobilising human and material resources for the project in Ondo state.

    Speaking on behalf of Buhari, the Coordinator, Buhari Campaign Organisation, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, said, part of his plan for the country if elected is to restructure the federation and put in place disciplined fiscal federalism which would enhance devolution of powers to other tiers of government for effective governance.

    He noted that the 2015 election must be about issues that affect the well-being of the ordinary man on the streets and the performance records of the candidates as a pointer to their suitability for the role.

    Buhari promised that he would not drag religion into politics so that every man will be confident that the next president of the country will protect him even when they do not share the same religious beliefs.

    He said: “We will prove that with good management of our resources, Nigerians can once again see in their life time the naira favourably compare with the currencies of other civilized nations.”

    Buhari cautioned that nobody would be permitted to use any derogatory, abusive or insulting language against other contestants.

    He said” We must ensure that we do not allow PDP to drag us down the path of mudslinging nor attack on the persons of other candidates as they have attempted to do in previous elections and are starting to do even now.

    “It is my firm belief that the quest to secure the party ticket is a contest among brothers, nobody is therefore permitted to use any derogatory, abusive or insulting language against any of the other contestant.”

     

  • Jonathan’s war, from Buhari’s perspective

    Jonathan’s war, from Buhari’s perspective

    After observing the ruling party’s open and unremitting war against the opposition, Gen Muhammadu Buhari last week felt compelled to warn President Goodluck Jonathan not to take the country on the misguided path of tyranny and dictatorship. The president will be reluctant to listen to the general, for he would probably think that once he wins the 2015 presidential poll, then he would be in a position to offer concessions and make amends. But even the hypothetical offer of concessions would be a far-fetched idea should he win the poll, for Dr Jonathan naturally loathes the opposition, sees the presidency as an office to be revered rather than respected, uses the words criticism and abuse interchangeably, and is willing to bring every national institution to the service of his private political goals.

    Said Buhari: “Our country has gone through several rough patches, but never before have I seen a Nigerian President declare war on his own country as we are seeing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian President deploy federal institutions in the service of partisanship as we are witnessing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian President utilise the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, all in the name of politics.” The trigger for the Buhari warning was of course the impeachment of Murtala Nyako, until recently the Governor of Adamawa State, in circumstances that were clearly political, and also the ongoing impeachment effort against Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, again in circumstances that are evidently immature and political. Both impeachment plots, as well as a few others in the pipeline, are widely believed to be aimed at crippling the opposition APC and making the re-election of Dr Jonathan in 2015 much surer.

    The president and his aides have denied that Dr Jonathan is behind the unsavoury plots. But Gen Buhari is unimpressed by the subterfuge. He reiterates that, “Whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan is behind the gale of impeachment or the utilisation of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, what cannot be denied is that they are happening under his watch, and he cannot pretend not to know, since that will be akin to hiding behind one finger.”

    Then the general warns apocalyptically: “I, along with many other patriotic Nigerians, fought for the unity and survival of this country. Hundreds of thousands of patriotic souls perished in the battle to keep Nigeria one. The blood of many of our compatriots helped to water the birth of the democracy we are all enjoying today. Let no one, whether leader or led, high or low, a member of the ruling party or the opposition, do anything to torpedo the system. Let no one, whether on the altar of personal ambition or pretension to higher patriotic tendencies, do anything that can detonate the powder keg on which the nation is sitting. It is time for all concerned to spare a thought for the ordinary citizens who have yet to see their hopes, dreams and aspirations come to reality, within the general context of nationhood.”

    Was Gen Buhari unduly harsh, or did he overstate the problem? I doubt very much. Other former heads of state recognise the problem, but have perhaps chosen to engage in private but unproductive engagement with the president. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, even though he was partly responsible for the foisting of Dr Jonathan on Nigeria, has shouted himself hoarse over Dr Jonathan’s poor judgement and lack of wisdom. The alarming fact is that Dr Jonathan is the least sensitive to just how close Nigeria is to fracturing. If the other former presidents and heads of state will not weigh in to compel the president to a high degree of moderation and constitutional discipline, we could soon all discover that there is after all nothing inevitable or irreversible about the peace, stability and unity the country glibly confesses.