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Tag: Muhammad Buhari

  • Labour, Afenifere, Catholic bishop: Fed. Govt must protect our people

    ORGANISED Labour and the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere have called on President Muhammad Buhari to take protect lives and property of Nigerians in South Africa.

    Afenifere condemned the dastard attack on Nigerians by South Africans, alleging the federal government of docility on the incidence.

    The group spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, described the attacks on Nigerians as unfortunate and disheartening, saying the actions of the Federal Government have not been impressive.

    Odumakin noted that for the ongoing mob attacks on South African investment in Nigeria to stop, President Buhari must against all odds take domestic measures that would send strong signals to the country that Nigerians were in pains.

    He said: “The actions are so regretful but the reaction of the Nigerian government has not been impressive. It is quite tardy and lethargic. Even the kind of reactions we see during cattle rustling, we have not seen that in the killing of Nigerians in South Africa. Until this afternoon that the government said they are boycotting World Economic Forum.”

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) said the constant and frequent attack and killing of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa were unacceptable. It appealed for restraint and against any form of retaliation by Nigerians.

    In its statement by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said attacking South African businesses in Nigeria would amount to attacking businesses owned by Nigerians as the majority of the businesses associated with South Africa in Nigeria are owned by Nigerians.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Nigeria to recall ambassador to South Africa

    The NLC said: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress condemn in strongest terms, the attacks on businesses and killings of Nigerians by South Africans in South Africa. These attacks and killings are beastly and unacceptable.

    “The frequency and escalation of these attacks are not only reprehensible but are capable of undermining the illustrious bilateral relations between the government and people of Nigeria and the government and people of South Africa.”

    A statement by TUC President, Comrade Quadri A. Olaleye and General Secretary, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, said: “Nigerian government must adopt stringent diplomatic measures and also urge other African countries to follow suit. For us, the Congress believes strongly that the South African government is guilty of the dastardly act by association. The question is, what do they hope to achieve? How can killings go on for years without the government bringing culprits to book? This is very unfortunate.

    “Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry. South African companies own several multi-billion dollar investments on our soils yet, we co-exist despite all the aggression against our people in their home country. To make issues worse, these same companies are involved in anti-labour practices.”

    The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has condemned in strong terms the continuous attacks on Nigerians in particular and other Africans in South Africa.

    Martins said on Wednesday in Lagos that the attacks were barbaric, reprehensible and an attack on the very core of African brotherhood.

    He urged the Federal Government to deal decisively with the issue using very strong diplomatic means to stem the tide of the attacks.

    “The South African Police officials seen publicly rousing the peoples’ anger against foreigners in their country without any visible repercussion gives an impression of some official endorsement of the mob action.

    “Our government needs to pursue this to its logical conclusion.

    “It is the responsibility of every government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens within and outside the country,” he said in a statement.

    “Any attack on Nigerian citizens should elicit a swift response from the government not to talk of them being killed with impunity.

    “The insufficient response of our government in confronting the matter with the seriousness it deserves does not project us in a good light as a country that cares enough for the welfare of its citizens.

    “My fear is that if decisive diplomatic measures are not taken now, this matter may go out of hand with enormous consequences for all.”

    Martins wondered why fellow blacks who had and are still benefiting from their relationship with the nation had chosen to pay us back by unleashing so much violence against Nigerian citizens.

    “This is not the kind of South Africa that Nelson Mandela laboured for.”

    According to him, this marks another wake-up call for Nigerian leaders to work even more assiduously so that the social and economic situation of the nation can be better.”

     

  • Court rejects pro-Buhari group’s name in N40b suit against Atiku

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo has struck out the name of a group – the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) from a N40 million libel suit filed in the name of BCO and President Muhammadu Buhari against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

    In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Binta Mohammed said the BCO, listed as the 2nd plaintiff, “is not known to law.”

    Justice Mohammed agreed with lawyer to Atiku, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN) to the effect that, not being a juristic person, BCO cannot sue or be sued.

    The ruling was on a motion by Atiku, marked M/3117/19, in which he sought for an order striking out BCO (the 2nd plaintiff / respondents) as a party in the suit on the grounds that it is not a juristic person that can sue or be sued in his name.

    Chukwuma-Ume, while moving the motion on Wednesday, urged the court to hold that the 2nd Paintiff (BCO) is improperly joined as a party in the case.

    READ ALSO: Pro-Buhari group cautions INEC over Okorocha’s Certificate of Return

    He argued that for the suit to be properly constituted, so as to vest jurisdiction on the court, parties must be juristic persons known to law and competent.

    In the substantive suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/ 804/2019, the plaintiffs   accused Atiku and his aide, Phrank Shaibu of making several defamatory statement in the media, to the effect that Buhari used his position as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and head of the government, to fraudulently acquire two private companies, Keystone Bank Plc and 9Mobile Communication Ltd for himself, his family members, and friends.

    The plaintiffs also stated that Atiku and his aide falsely claimed to the effect that President Buhari acquired the said companies using his influence and the control he has over the head of parastatals or organisations that are connected with activities of the companies.

    They maintained that the unverified and false allegations it said was sponsored by Atiku, “caused grave pain, embarrassment”, to President Buhari, and thereby calling his (Buhari’s) integrity to question.

  • Delta APC ecstatic as Buhari visits Thursday

    As the All Progressives Congress (APC) flags its Presidential Campaign/rally off in Warri on Thursday, the Mainstream Delta APC has described the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari as a necessity.

    The group, in a statement by its leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, said the state had been in an ecstatic mood in anticipation of President Buhari’s visit to the state.

    It added people were anxiously waiting to receive a man that has brought so much transformation to the state and the entire Niger Delta region.

    The APC leader described the Buhari-led administration as a model of good governance.

    He urged Deltans from all walks of life to throng the Warri stadium to give the President a resounding welcome.

    According to him: “President Muhammad Buhari has delivered on his major campaign promises, he made to Nigerians in 2015, and it’s only ideal to return such a visionary leader to consolidate on the developmental strides recorded under his watch  as commander in chief.”

    Emerhor noted the Niger Delta has been fairly treated by this APC led government and as such should be voted for massively in the coming election in appreciation of the government’s efforts in changing the region.

    Read Also: Why CJN must face trial, by APC

    “We in the Niger Delta have not had it so good, even when our son was the President we didn’t, look at the Maritime University, Itakpe to Udu railway line, the dredging of Warri sea port and wonder of the NDDC which is made possible by the President.

    He therefore, called on Deltans to be decisive for this is not the time to play the ostrich.

    According to him, “Deltans must now look far beyond sentiment and petty politics and massively cast their votes for President Buhari, because a vote for Mr President is a vote for growth and development of the Niger Delta.”

    He assured Buhari and members of the Presidential campaign Team, that, Deltans are intelligent and smart people who have chosen the “Next level” over going back to Egypt.

  • Finally Buhari

    Our President is Muhammadu Buhari, and let no more rumour prevail

    It is a story that should not have been. But it kindled a firestorm. From beer parlour to the pulpit, the story has been all over the discussion circuit in Nigeria. It alleges that President Muhammadu Buhari has long died, and a new Buhari, an impostor and double, has been parading himself as the authentic president that Nigerians voted into office in 2015.

    The story began from the lips of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who installed the idea in the minds of his followers and it ignited a rumour that has even captured the imagination of some regarded as discerning.

    So fiery was the belief that a section of the social media became hot with the topic. Some have wondered whether the president and his so-called cabal had not conned Nigerians into accepting a lie as their leader.

    The narrative with all its fables was digested as logical. They claimed his wife, Aisha, had been blackmailed to accept him as husband, in spite of the narrative that the woman had been at loggerheads with the same cabal. The story laced its evidence with a blackmail that the woman had to accept. She would rather accept the ignominy of a false spouse and enjoy the trappings of a first lady rather than fall into scandal, face the disgrace of public scrutiny and prosecution and lose all the juicy perks and glamour of office.

    The vice president, Prof.YemiOsinbajo, was also said to have fallen into blackmail because of some sort of financial scandal that could not be proved. They did not bear the fact that if a vice president saw a president that was fake, he would know, he would understand private discussions that he had with the ‘former’ or ‘dead’ president and distinguish between the phony and the real.

    He would know, too, as a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria the legal opportunity for a vice president and that no legal jeopardy could stop a vice president from becoming president even if he were under some potential scandal. No scandal could blackmail a vice president from becoming a president if his boss passes.

    The death could have been leaked by the western media, if he died in a London hospital. The West does not hallow a president or prime minister and the hospital would be scolded if it failed to disclose that such a personage died in its hospital. The West does shy from reports of deaths even if they do not convey the details of the medical condition.

    So feverish has this been that it began to take the toga of political opportunism. Opposition politicians have exploited it to denigrate the president and the ruling party, characterising the president as insensitive.

    It moved from the profane to the ecclesiastical when a prominent cleric turned it to a sermon on Sunday. Bishop David Oyedepo misread an article from The Nation columnist Olatunji Dare. Dare had written the article to mock the speculation of a Buhari double and derived his premise from the assertions of the IPOB leader. Bishop Oyedepo read it literally and wondered why the president had not responded.

    The president’s aide Femi Adesina had actually responded as well as Information Minister Lai Mohammed. But an opportunity presented itself during the president’s sojourn in Poland when a reporter propounded a question on the matter.

    “It’s real me, I assure you,” President Buhari, assuring that he did not died in London. “A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health, dismissing the peddlers of his story as “ignorant and irreligious.”

    Perhaps the reason the rumour gained such bizarre momentum was because we have witnessed a presidential death in this generation. When the late UmaruYar’adua was president, his ill health concentrated the nation for most of his stewardship. His health status was couched in mysteries. No updates and facts of his prognosis were known to the media or average Nigerians. So, a lot of room was left to speculations.

    The same story went to a raft of governors who took ill, and presented an opaque picture about their health. In Buhari’s case, did anyone take the time to find out whether he was sneaked through international borders as a corpse and buried in stealth?

    It all shows that Nigerians who doubted his authenticity were also fuelled not only by some mischief but also by a memory of subterfuge by the state as to the health of their leaders.

    Let the matter be laid to rest now. Buhari has spoken, and we ought to believe him.

  • My father’s pedigree will work for me, says Idiagbon’s son

    House of Representatives in Kwara state Abdulwaheed Idiagbon has hailed President Muhammad Buhari’s administration for the passage of the ‘Not too young to run,’ in the country.

    Abdulwaheed, who is the son of the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon said his father’s goodwill would stand him in good stead in the 2019 National Assembly elections.

    Mr. Idiagbon told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital shortly after declaring his intention to contest the National Assembly election.

    He added that the youths have the potential, the experience and exposure to take the country to the promised land.

    He promised to up the beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme from 1,000 to 15,000 if voted into power.
    Said: “Let me first of all appreciate the current administration for passing the bill of ‘Not too Young to Run.’ The honest truth is that there is power with the youths. We have so much to offer. We are very innovative, exposure and sense of humor to support one another. We believe if we vote ourselves into office there will be massive and aggressive development in our various communities.

    “Let me commend you for saying we are aspiring elective office on the goodwill of our father.
    Good name is better than riches. Good pedigree will be a leverage point to get into where you want to get into. My motivation is that I have seen what the dormant development is within my constituency. There is the need for an aggressive change and development. There so many unemployed indigenes of Kwara state, there so many uneducated people in the state.

    “By the special grace of God I have over 1000 students under my scholarship scheme. I want to do more. My desire is to offer free education to over 15,000 people of not only my constituency but the whole of the state.

    “Education is important, human support is also very important. We want to help the market women, the jobless by giving petty fund to start a trade. We also want to do aggressive empowerment.”

    Speaking on the number of aspirants, Mr. Idiagbon said “politics is like a football match with different people coming into the field to display their talents and agenda, but the truth of the matter is that vote belongs to the people. The people should make the right choice. They know it already and I will advise they don’t make another mistake this time around.”

  • Lalong woo investors to Plateau

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has called on international investors in the United States that there are vast opportunities in the agricultural sector of in Plateau state awaiting willing investors.

    Governor Lalong who is part of President Muhammad Buhari’s engagement with US President Donald Trump and the business community was said to have told a gathering of agricultural investors that Plateau’s temperate weather gives it advantage in all year agricultural production.

    In a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information and Communication Yakubu Dati reads, “Governor Lalong took advantage of his trip to US to woo investors who has interest in agriculture, the governor told them the fact that Plateau state is suitable for the production of exotic crops, assorted grains, livestock & Irish potatoes among others.

    “The Governor explain areas of investment in agriculture include dairy products, juice making, storage and processing of farm produce.

    He said his administration has created the enabling environment for business to thrive through the establishment of a one – stop shop and easy access to land.

    “Governor Lalong added that the Federal Government has  designated the Yakubu Gowon Airport Jos, as a Cargo Airport, to facilitate the exports of perisheable produce abundant in the State. He added that the Inland container depot is being constructed near the airport to support the transportation of agricultural produce and other goods and services”

  • Kano Assembly backs Buhari on Electoral Act

    The Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly,  Alhaji Abdullahi Ata, says the house is in  support of  President Muhammad Buhari on  his refusal to assent to  the bill on  amendment of  the Electoral Act.

    Ata spoke  on Monday while answering questions during a live phone-in programme on a local radio station in Kano, Express Radio.

    The News men reports that one of the major amendments  by the National Assembly  changed  the sequence of elections, with the National Assembly poll coming first and the  presidential  last,  contrary to INEC’s proposal.

    Ata, however, said there was  no need for the change now,  adding that those seeking  the amendment of the Electoral Act,  especially the change in election sequence, were  doing it in the pursuit of  personal interests.

    The Speaker added that even if the election time table was changed with the presidential election coming last, the president would still win.

    Read Also: Student remanded for ‘impersonating Emir of Kano’

    “Therefore, we are not in support of the change in  the sequence because it can only cause unnecessary spending by the electoral body, despite the economic issues in the country.

    “With the efforts of the president, we are gradually getting out of the economic challenges.

    “Therefore we should exercise more patience  and continue to support the state and the Federal Government toward  moving the country forward,’’ he said.

    Ata also  said the assembly was not dancing to the tune of the executive, maintaining that it was committed to the discharge of its  responsibilities.

    He said  maturity on  both sides and  mutual understanding had been responsible for the prevailing peace in the polity.

    “We always make sure that we discharge our duties as legislators  effectively and accordingly.

    “ We always make sure that we initiate and pass bills  on issues that concern the electorate   and also reject bills presented before us by the executive whenever we think there is the need for that  and the executive agrees  with our decision in the interest of the general public,’’ Ata said.

    Ata, however, pledged to continue to render the necessary support to the executive in order to provide the electorate with the dividends  of democracy through execution of  meaningful projects in the state.

    NAN

  • Former Speaker commends FG for promoting local content

    Former Speaker commends FG for promoting local content

    Nwoha Amaechi, former speaker of Imo House of Assembly, has commended the administration of President Muhammad Buhari for genuinely promoting local content.

    Amaechi, who is also a board member of National Board for Technology Innovations ( NBTI ) said on Tuesday that only encouragement of local content could drive economic independence.

    He said over dependence on foreign expertise had done more harm than good to the country’s economy.

    Read also: Ajimobi, Akeredolu, Fayemi, others celebrate Ayo Afolabi at 70

    Reports say that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Executive Order No. 50 on February 5, which prevents foreigners from getting jobs that can be effectively done by Nigerians.

    Amaechi described Buhari as a visionary leader, saying, “President Buhari has proved that he meant well for Nigeria’s progress, he wants us to be proud of our own.

    “Transfer of technology is never attainable anywhere in the world, the earlier we begin to patronise our own, the better for us,” he said.

    The former speaker said that it was time to stimulate self-sufficiency through promotion and utilisation of indigenous expertise.

    Amaechi called for total support for the policy because it had long term benefits for the country.

    NAN

  • ‘Buhari should not be castigated over restructuring’

    ‘Buhari should not be castigated over restructuring’

     

    A former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Chief Orisalade Adetunji Taiwo had condemned the widespread castigation of the New Year Speech of President Muhammad Buhari, especially on the issue of restructuring.

    According to the Ex Lawmaker, Buhari’s critics ought to fully educate themselves on the issue before voicing out an Opinion.

    Restructuring, according to him is a purely constitutional issue since it touches on the alteration of the present structural paradigm of the country as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999.

    He noted that the two burning issues in the restructuring agenda; policing and control of natural resources are dealt with in the constitution.

    Taiwo said Nigerians should not and cannot expect President Buhari , singularly and by executive fiat, to alter the present structure thereby unlawfully amending the Constitution which he had sworn to uphold.

    He maintained that the President had not done anything wrong with his stance on restructuring in the speech as it amounts to his own opinion on the issue which he is entitled to.

    He therefore advised champions of restructuring to first sensitise the populace on the need for same and access the National and State Assemblies to canvass the need for restructuring.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the President for more grace and sound health to achieve his good intentions for the nation.

  • Zamfara has spent over N57bn on Federal roads – Nalado

    Zamfara has spent over N57bn on Federal roads – Nalado

    The Zamfara Government on Thursday said it had spent N57.3 billion on the reconstruction of 600 Kilometers of roads belonging to the Federal Government in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Mu’azu Nalado, told newsmen in Gusau shortly after the Senate Committee on Works, led by Sen. Kabiru Gaya, visited the state for an oversight function.

    Nalado said that the committee during the visit inspected some of the roads reconstructed by the Zamfara state government.

    He said the state government had already submitted the reports containing all the names, locations and total length of the roads and money spent on each.

    According to the commissioner, there are still areas of contention over the ownership of some of the roads reconstructed by the state.

    He told the committee that the Federal Ministry of Works had indicated that any road not gazetted and without route number would not be considered as federal government road.

    “But we at the state government level have considered all the reconstructed roads as federal government roads because they are all federal government roads.

    “We have already presented this issue to the senate committee and they promised to look into the matter and resolve it amicably,’’ the commissioner said.

    Nalado said the state government had also spent about N200 million for emergency repairs of washed away sections of Gusau-Sokoto and Kaura-Shinkafi-Sabonbirni Highways owned by the federal government.

    He said the state government had spent N20 billion for the construction of various state owned roads, saying some were completed while others were ongoing.

    “When the present administration in the state under the leadership of Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari came into power in 2011, almost all the roads in the state both federal and state government owned were dilapidated.

    “Therefore, we have no option than to embark on road construction to address one of the major problems affecting our people,” he said.

    The commissioner listed the reconstructed federal roads as Sokoto-border-Dakitakwas-Kebbi border, Dakitakwas-Mayanchi junction, Gusau-Kasuwar Daji and Kauran Namoda-Gidan Jaja roads.

    He said that the other road was the Wanke-Keta-Danjibga- Bilbis-Kucheri, inaugurated by President Muhammad Buhari in 2016.

    “We also have Talata-Mafara-Rini-Faru-Jambako-Gora-Boko-Lambar Book road which was completed in 2013 and also inaugurated by President Muhammad Buhari when he was a presidential candidate.”

    NAN