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Tag: Gov. Nasir El-Rufai

  • Godfatherism comment: Mind your business, APC chieftain tells El-Rufai

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Mr Moshood Salvador, on Sunday described a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as a gift not only to the South-West, but the entire nation.

    Salvador spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the annual Ramadan Lecture he organised at his residence in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He said Tinubu had contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State particularly, and the progress of its residents.

    Salvador, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, said there was no way anyone could divorce the exponential growth the state had recorded since 1999 from the vision of Tinubu.

    He condemned the recent comment made by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State that godfatherism was a problem in Lagos that residents needed to get rid of, for real progress.

    Salvador described the governor’s comment as unnecessary trespass, saying the people of the state never complained of the problem.

    He said Tinubu was obviously the target of El-Rufai’s comment as he (Tinubu) was the most influential figure in the state’s political firmament.

    The APC chieftain urged all well- meaning residents to condemn the governor’s comment.

    Salvador pointed out that there were many issues begging for attention in Kaduna State and urged El-Rufai to address them rather than coming to Lagos to talk about godfatherism.

    ”It is important to let the governor of Kaduna know that it is wrong for him to come to Lagos and start talking about godfatherism.

    ”We do not have any problem with leaders in Lagos and El-Rufai should mind his business rather than coming here to tell us what is not.

    ”We hear of serious issues in Kaduna; the issue of unpaid salaries, the issue of killings and attacks on innocent people. El-Rufai has not addressed all these and he is talking about a state that is working.

    ”We would not condone unnecessary attacks on our leaders. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done extremely well for the nation and the state particularly.

    ”He laid the foundation for the growth of the state’s IGR from N400million in 1999 to the billions that it is today.

    ”There is no way we can talk about a modern Lagos without mentioning Tinubu. He is a gift to the Yoruba race, second only to Awolowo. We respect him a lot and would not condone attacks on him,” he said.

    Salvador said peace was a precondition for progress and urged Nigerians to eschew acts that could breach peace in the country.

    REad Also: el Rufai’s thoughts and non-thoughts on godfatherism

    He urged leaders to use the opportunity of the holy month of Ramadan to move close to the people and address their needs.

    Salvador said it was out of the need to rejuvenate the people around him spiritually and put smiles on their faces that he organised the lecture and gave out gifts to attendees.

    He said the world would be a better place if leaders were accountable to the people and cared for them as they did for themselves.

    On the leadership crisis in the PDP in the state, Salvador said it was a clear proof that the party was finished in the state.

    He described the PDP as an unserious party peopled by those who put their interests above those of the people.

    The former chairman of the opposition party said he left the party over what he called lack of focus by some of the party’s elders.

    Also speaking, APC Chairman in the State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun,  urged leaders and the led to make peace their watchword.

    He commended Salvador for organising the Ramadan lecture, saying it would impact on the spiritual life of those who attended.

    In his sermon, Alhaji Aminulahi Seriki urged Muslims to use the holy month to move closer to God and obey His commandments.

    Seriki, Imam of the Fadeyi branch of Ansarul-deen Society of Nigeria, also said it was expected of Muslims to be of good acts during the months and beyond, and be their brothers’ keepers.

    “God expects us this month and beyond to abstain from things that are sinful and obey His commandments.

    “We are expected to do good to our fellow men and support those who are in need,” he said.

    Seriki urged leaders to use the opportunity of the month to attend to the needs of the people and commit themselves to their service.

    He commended Salvador for organising the annual lecture as it would help to raise the consciousness of Muslims the need to move closer to God .

    NAN reports that Balogun, as well as clerics at the lecture later joined Salvador to inaugurate a mosque he just built at his residence.(NAN)

  • El-Rufai under fire over anti-Southwest, Tinubu comment

    El-Rufai under fire over anti-Southwest, Tinubu comment

    KADUNA State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was under fire yesterday for denigrating the contributions of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Southwest base to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, took a swipe at El-Rufai, describing the governor’s remarks on the APC stalwart as the height of ingratitude.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, Sani, representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, said the contributions of the former Lagos State governor and the Southwest to the victory of the APC in the last general elections, was unparallel, contrary to El-Rufai’s claim.

    According to him, without Tinubu, the victory over the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have remained a mere dream.

    Describing Tinubu as the “lungs of the APC while President Buhari is the heart’, the senator said it was unfortunate that “el-Rufai, who smiles with Tinubu during the daylight, stings him at night”.

    The statement reads: “The memo written by Kaduna Governor which tends to belittle the contribution of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Southwest is sad and unfortunate. It is perfidious and the height of ingratitude.

    “We must accept the stalk truth that without Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the principled position of the south West, dislodging Goodluck Jonathan and the then ruling PDP could have still remained a pipe dream, a hollow hope or a political mirage. El-Rufai defecated on a broom that is supposed to clean the littered floor of the nation.

    “President Buhari is the heart of APC and Asiwaju is the lungs. Tinubu’s contribution to the success of the party is unequal. El-Rufai smiles with Tinubu in broad daylight and stings him at night. He hugs Tinubu with a chest of hooks and shakes him with toxic palms.

    “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man who built a castle for others to live and asked to appreciate the gift of a room in the boys’ quarters. Those who rubbished a hunter who borrowed them his arrow to disable an antelope will someday come back for same arrow to disable a lion.

    “Tinubu honoured many official invitations to Kaduna, unknowingly; he was back-stabbed with an acidic memo. Tinubu has a history of being betrayed and has a history of overcoming betrayal.

    “The future of the APC is with Buhari and the Southwest. Without Buhari and the Southwest, the change train will derail and end in smithereens like the fate of Yoguslavia or Soviet Union.

    “President Buhari should be watchful of those who prey behind him and pray before him. Tinubu is an indispensable major component of change. My knowledge of Tinubu dates back to the NADECO days when we were in the trenches during the struggle against military dictatorship.

    “El-Rufai should publicly apologise to Tinubu and the Southwest for degrading their contribution to the liberation of Nigeria. To insult a man publicly and apologise to him privately is eat your cake and have it. Those heavily drinking from the liquor of power should know that they will later or lately have to drive back home.”

     

  • My govt committed to a prosperous economy – Buhari

    My govt committed to a prosperous economy – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that, he leads a government that is committed to creation of a prosperous economy for Nigeria, saying that, his administration will continue to support private sector to provide the investment to drive the economic growth.

    President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in his goodwill message sent to the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest 2.0), held at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hall, Kaduna on Wednesday.

    The Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADInvest 2.0), a brain-child of Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, is the second in series since his coming on board as Kaduna State Governor.

    President Buhari’s address said his government considers as urgent priority the creation of a prosperous economy where talents of Nigerians can thrive and sustainable jobs and opportunities for youth in the country.

    He however assured that, his administration will continue to support the private sector to provide the investment to drive the economic growth.

    According to the President’s goodwill message, “That is why we launched presidential committee on the ease of doing Business early in life of this administration”.

    He said, the mandate is to simplify the processes and procedures for starting and running a business so that the cobwebs of archaic bureaucratic and administrative tradition do not stifle initiative exacerbate the cost of doing business

    While commending Kaduna State government for replicating the ease of doing business committee, the President said, the action reflects the state government’s understanding of the responsibilities of the sub-national actors have in the quest for national rebirth

    “If we succeed in making our state governments adept at attracting investments, creating jobs, providing infrastructures and delivering much needed public goods like education, health and potable water, then we would have delivered a country that works for all our citizens”, he said.

    He however expressed hope that, KADinvest 2.0 with the theme making kaduna the investment destination of choice would result in a reliable partnerships can promote economic prosperity for people of Kaduna and Nigeria at large.

    In his own message to the occasion, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said, Kaduna State realised highest ever Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of over N18bn in 2016 due to its investment promotion moves.

    He said, his government is overwhelmed that, major investments resulted from Kaduna Investment Summit 2016, especially the Olam $150m poultry and livestock feed project, while exploration work has continued for gold, nickel and other minerals.

    According to him, “last year, we unveiled the first Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit as a practical statement that, Kaduna is open for business; that we view investment by private sector as the surest platform for job creation, improved revenues and development in our state.

    “Our credentials as an investment destination are anchored on the human and natural resources in our state, as well as the policy and legal environment our government has created.

    “At the inaugural edition of Kaduna Investment Summit, we presented the state development plan, explained our new, transparent tax code and demonstrated how digital land registry we are developing is critical to supporting investments. In 2016, these efforts earned us over N18bn in IGR, the highest ever in the state.

    “As a sub-national actor, we established the link between our state development plan and the decision to prioritise agriculture and minerals as main investment sectors. And we are glad that, major investments resulted from Kaduna Investment Summit 2016, especially the Olam $150m poultry and livestock feed project. In mining, exploration work continues for gold, nickel and other minerals.

    “Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit 2.0 seek to consolidate on the gains so far made. We shall be presenting our new Ease of Doing Business Charter, reflecting the hard work of our MDAs have put into simplifying the process of obtaining licenses and shortening the time it takes to get a business running in Kaduna State”, he said.

    The Governor however took time to give highlights of major achievements his administration has so far achieved across all sectors of the economy as well as the social sector and unveiled the plan of the government between 2017 and 2019.

     

  • Army establishes Operation Base in Southern Kaduna

    Army establishes Operation Base in Southern Kaduna

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has laid the foundation stone for the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of 2 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

    The Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia Local Government Area of the state had been the military formation in Southern Kaduna.

    Speaking at the occasion, Buratai said the army was committed to peace and security in all parts of Nigeria.

    He said the need to find a lasting solution to incessant herdsmen/farmers crises rocking Southern Kaduna in recent times necessitated the setting up of the base.

    Buratai urged Nigerians to learn to co-exist peacefully, adding “we need each other”.

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state in a remark noted that 11 similar clashes had been recorded in the state, but vowed to put an end to it.

    He said all those behind the recent farmers/herdsmen crisis will be brought to book no matter how highly placed.untitledburutai-2

    “Whether they are my son or daughter or relations, whether they are Muslim or Christian, someone will be jailed to put an end to the crisis. And this will be the end of the crisis in the state,” El-Rufai said.

    Earlier during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu, the chief of staff directed troops stationed in Southern Kaduna to move deep into the forest to fish out perpetrators of violence in the state.

    ”The troops have been working seriously to ensure that attacks and counter attacks are brought to an end.”

    Buratai also visited the Chief of Kagoro, Dr Ufuwoi Bonet, and appealed to the traditional ruler to assist in finding a solution to the crisis in the area.

    He also visited Ninte village, the scene of the most recent herdsmen/farmers clash, where he addressed troops of 101 Special Force battalion stationed in the community.

    He noted that the Hausa and Fulani had been living together in the community for centuries, but wonder why they resorted to killing themselves.

    “There is a need for understanding. It is a family issue that can be resolved amicably,” warning, however, that those responsible for killings and violence would not go unpunished.

    “We will deal with anyone that foments trouble,” he further warned and called on traditional rulers and other leaders to join the effort to bring peace to the area.

    The army chief charged the troops to be professional and respect human rights in the discharge of the duties.