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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • I am seeking re-election to correct Nigeria’s ills – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said in Kano on Thursday that his decision to seek re-election was informed by his desire and commitment to correct the ills bedevilling the country.

    Buhari made the remark at his presidential campaign rally held at the Sani Abacha stadium, Kofar Mata, in Kano metropolis.

    “There is nothing that prompted me to seek re-election beside my desire and commitment to correct the ills of the country.

    “I was a Governor, Minister and Head of State and now a President. So, I need nothing less than to ensure that Nigeria attains greatness,” he said.

    The president called on all supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  to vote massively for the party to ensure its victory at the polls.

    “There is nothing new I will tell you but I am here to thank you for taking the pains to wait patiently to see me,” he said.

    He expressed satisfaction with the success recorded in the fight against insurgency in the North-East as most of the people displaced by the mayhem had returned to their respective towns and villages following the improvement of peace in the affected areas.

    “We promised to fight corruption, insecurity and improve the nation’s economy. We have been able to achieve a lot in these three critical areas,” he said.

    Buhari said that the decision by the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice had yielded good results as it had boosted rice production in the country and improved the socio-economic status of Nigerians.

    Read Also: Video: Buhari arrives Kano to flag off campaign

    The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, said President Muhammadu Buhari had achieved a lot within the last three and a half years.

    Oshiomhole said there was no need for APC to rig the elections in view of the tremendous projects it had executed and the massive support the party had across the country.

    He urged the party’s supporters to give it all the necessary support to ensure its success in the forthcoming general elections.

    He commended Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje for the various development projects he had executed in the state which he said were there for all to see.

    Governor Ganduje thanked the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for the various projects it was executing in the state and Nigeria.

    He called on the people of the state to vote for the APC to ensure the success of all its candidates in the upcoming elections.

    Eight prominent PDP members in the state including former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, who defected to the APC were received at the occasion.

    NAN

  • Call Yahaya Bello to order, senatorial candidate tells Buhari

    A Senatorial Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Kogi Central, Barrister Natasha Akpoti has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to call the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello to order and ask him to stop unleashing terror on the people of the state.

    Barrister Akpoti told newsmen in Abuja that the Governor was breeding thugs and using them to intimidate perceived opponents ahead of the general elections and has not hidden his disdain for opponents whom he has vowed to crush.

    She expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari would not want be party to the shedding of anyone’s blood in an attempt to deliver Kogi to him in the forth coming Presidential election.

    She claimed that the governor was arming youths in the state and has openly challenged her to drop out of the race for the senate, vowing to “crush” her with the “last drop of his blood”.

    She said “Governor Yahaya Bello openly told me that I cannot disgrace him before his father, the President. He threatened to deal with me with the last drop of her ambition to go the Senate.

    “I have told those who care to listen that backing out of the Senatorial race because of his threat is not an option. We have evidence of the activities of the governor in the state and the fact that security agents in the state have been compromised.

    “We want the Inspector General of Police to take immediate step to bring all those who have confessed to have carried out killing and maiming of the people of Kogi, but are walking free for alleged lack of evidence to book”.

    Read Also: Kogi bleeding under Yahaya Bello

    Acting Chairman of the SDP in Kogi State, Alh. Mouktar Atimah outlined several members of the party that has been killed by agents of the state government and asked “the Inspector General of Police to transfer all our cases to Abuja and prosecute all those involved in the killing of Ojo Enesi including all those responsible for other attacks launched on our party and her candidate.

    “We call on INEC and relevant security agencies to monitor Kogi Central election as its recent political harassment and attack are a red flag. We must prevent a reoccurrence of Kogi APC undemocratic practices during election.

    “We also call on the International Organizations and Civil Society Groups to consider Kogi State by monitoring the February 16th election. Under section 40 of 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended, every citizen enjoys freedom of association, assembly, speech and of course campaign.”

    Alh Atimah accused the APC i. Kogi and the state government of frustrating the Peace pact organized by the Kogi state Commissioner of Police to broker Peace in the land, when they stayed away from the exercise on three occasions.

  • Hold Buhari, APC responsible for any threats to polls, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be held responsible for any threats to the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    The main opposition party said its position was informed by its review of recent developments, particularly what it termed the desperation being exhibited by the APC and agents of the Buhari Presidency.

    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP alleged plots by the APC administration to scuttle the upcoming general elections.

    The party’s position was predicated on the alarm raised by the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongunu, alleging that some individuals that are not certain of their fate in the upcoming elections were plotting to precipitate widespread violence aimed at scuttling the conduct of the elections.

    But the PDP retorted that by every evidence and material facts, the political party and candidate that are not certain of their fate in the election have proven to be the APC and its presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP said the President and his party have continued to exhibit acts of frustration over fear of imminent electoral loss.

    The statement said, “We are all witnesses to the series of warnings to the Buhari Presidency, from prominent Nigerian citizens and topmost members of the international community, including the United States, United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the European Union, against actions that are inimical to the smooth conduct of the general elections.

    Read Also: PDP: Atiku is a consummate democrat

    “It is instructive to note that instead of heeding this warning, the Buhari Presidency and the APC, in their arrogance and desperation, resorted to blackmailing and vilifying the international community, thereby further confirming that they are not ready for a peaceful, free and fair election.

    “Except the NSA is addressing facts known to Nigerians that as a result of losses already suffered by the APC on account of court judgments stopping it from participating in the elections in some states, due to its flawed primaries, some desperate leaders and members of the ruling party are making discreet arrangements to scuttle the polls.

    “This is in addition to APC’s frustration over the soaring popularity of the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, among Nigerians across the board, who have come to a consensus to elect him as the next President of our country, come February, 16, 2019.

    “For the majority of Nigerians, particularly members of the PDP and our teeming supporters, across our nation, the successful conduct of the February 16, 2019 Presidential election is a paramount desire that must be actualized.

    “Nigerians are eager to go to the polls to vote out this administration that has caused them so much anguish, pain, hunger, economic deprivation, sectional acrimony and deaths and this is the reason the APC is seeking all ways to scuttle the elections”.

  • I am not corrupt, Buhari tells Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday stated that he was never convicted of corruption in all the positions he held in the country.

    He promised Nigerians that he will continue to uphold the trust they have in him if re-elected for a second term in office.

    He made the declaration at the Park Oruta Ngele Township stadium Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, during the All Progressives Congress (APC), presidential campaign.

    Buhari was former military head of state (1983-85), governor of the defunct North Eastern State (1975–1976), and chairman Petroleum Trust Fund (1994-95).

    He said: “I can assure you that I, as the president, today have never been in a position of abusing trust. As a governor of the whole six north eastern states, as minister of petroleum for over three years and as a former head of state. I was arrested, detained, investigated but they never found anything against me.”

    The President thanked Ebonyi people for turning out in their large numbers for the rally, saying that they demonstrated that they cannot be bought; he urged them to hold him by his words.

    Buhari recalled that when he came for campaign in 2015, he promised three things: to tackle the security situation in the country that time in 17 local governments in the North East were under the control of Boko Haram but as at today, there is no local government under the control of the terrorists.

    He said: “The important thing is that, please try and hold us by our promise. When we came here the last time, we told you there are three fundamental things the country is facing. First we had to secure the country because part of the country was under threat in the North East, at least 17 local governments were in the hands of Boko Haram; second was the economy. The able-bodied unemployed persons in Nigeria are too many. The thirdly was to fight corruption.”

    The president congratulated the military and other law- enforcement agencies that today none of the local governments in the North East is under the control of Boko Haram.

    “They have resulted in indoctrinating young men and abducting young girls below the ages of 15, wrap them with explosives and send them to soft targets – churches, mosques, market places and motor parks. Even that is becoming rear now.”

    Buhari also said that with a favorable weather, Nigeria had achieved food security and no longer imports rice, adding that the money saved from importation was now being used for infrastructural development.

    He added that the money is now being channeled to building roads, rails among other infrastructural development.

    Read Also: Presidential rally: Buhari arrives Abakaliki

    According to him, “we thank God that Nigeria prayed very hard and the three previous rainy seasons were good. The government realised it and asked the Central Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture to give soft loans and make fertiliser available to farmers at half the price it used to be. And every able-bodied person who does not feel too big to earn a living went back to the farm and nobody regretted it. We have now virtually achieved food security; we no longer import rice as we used to and the money we have saved are for infrastructure. We are doing the roads, the rails and we are doing the new standard gauge and we are improving on power.”

    He added that “the last thing is about fighting corruption and bribery. Fighting corruption is a very difficult process, but we are doing our best by trying to reorganise the Nigeria police and the judiciary itself. Because, we appointed people that went into public office without their own houses, without even maybe good cars, but within three years they build houses in Abuja, opened accounts in Europe or America and we cannot touch them. But when we discover what they have, we take them to court and when we take them to the court, we hope they will be prosecuted and then we will punish them.

    “I can assure you that I, as the president today, have never been in a position of abusing trust. As a governor of the whole six north eastern states, as Minister of Petroleum for over three years and as a former head of state. I was arrested, detained, investigated but they never found anything against me. So I went through all the rigmarole that is against our development as a nation. God has given us people; he has given us resources.

    President Buhari, therefore, urged the people to vote for him to continue with the good work his administration had started.

    According to him, “what this administration is doing and what it will continue to do, if you vote me is to make sure we realise the potential of our people and the resources God has given us to make life better for this country, for our future generations.”

    Also speaking, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, who received 25 leaders from other parties, who have resolved to work for the APC, accused the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar of working for foreign interest.

    According to him, Atiku who wrote letters to United Kingdom (UK), Unites States (US) and European Union (EU), was appealing to western sentiments angling to take over Nigeria’s economy.

    “The right to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty is not negotiable,” the APC party chairman said.

    Oshiomhole maintained that Atiku referring to western interest would only injure Nigerian economy and pauperised the people, calling on the voters never to vote for him.

    He described the forthcoming election as a class war between the elite and the poor, just as he insisted that Buhari’s policies including TraderMoni were pro-poor despite the complains of the likes of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He asserted that no external force can impose leaders on Nigeria. ENDS

     

     

  • Vote Buhari in appreciation, says APC chieftain

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Lucy Ajayi has urged  traders to vote President Muhammadu Buhari in appreciation of the efforts to better their lives.

    Ajayi, who spoke during a rally at Mile 12 market, Lagos, said the President was concerned about the future of the ordinary people.

    She added that voting Buhari and other APC candidates was an assurance for a secured country, noting the commonwealth was safe under him.

    She said the choice of Mile 12 market for the rally was because Lagosians depend on it for food coming from different parts of the country, stressing the rally would enable Nigerians to know about the impact of government’ Trader Moni.

    She said: “We are here to tell the people of Kosofe Federal Constituency to ensure they vote the APC across board. Since APC took over the presidency the people welfare dominate the agenda.

    “We must prevent a situation where we return back to the era when government took the ordinary people for granted. We are urging you to get your PVC to prevent them. Kosofe people will come out enmass to vote the APC.”

    The APC chieftain added that the turnout of people during rallies indicates that the party would defeat the opposition with wide margin.

    “We don’t need to tell anybody how the election will go. This is not a rented crowd, besides we don’t have the money to rent any crowd. They are simply volunteers who believe in the APC.

    “A good number of them have their PVC because we devoted the time to move from house to house on the importance of PVC and I can assure that they will vote our party.”

  • 2019: Afenifere faction endorses Buhari

    A faction of Afenifere, a pan Yoruba social-cultural group, on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the February 16th election.

    The Senator Ayo Fasanmi-led faction said it took the decision because of Buhari’s sterling performances.

    At the endorsement which took place at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Deputy Governor of Lagos and Ogun States, Mrs. Idiat Adebule and Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and former Minister, Demola Seriki who represented Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Traditional rulers at the event included the Ewi of Ado Ekiti Oba Rufus Adedejuyigbe; Akirun of Ikirun Oba Abioye Oyebode and Oniye of Iye Ekiti, Oba Adeleye Oni among others.

    The gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu was also at the event.

    Fasanmi said that Buhari deserved another term in the office.

    He said: “I want all of you to work and vote for Buhari who has performed very credibly and I think he deserved second term in the office.

    “He is the only candidate that is campaigning about corrupt free society.

    “I am pleased that all the South West under the APC fold are going this direction.”

    Osinbajo, who was a special guest of honour, arrived at 3.50pm and was handed a copy of the lecture titled: Restructuring for harmonious and optimal socio-economic development: Prospects and challenges delivered by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi.

    In their goodwill message, the governors of the six the South West states Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN (Ondo), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), and Mr. Akunwunmi Oyetola (Lagos) who were represented, urged the people of the zone to ensure Buhari/Osinbajo were elected in the February 16 poll .

    The motion for endorsement of Buhari and Osinbajo was moved by an octogenarian Senator Olabiyi Durojaye and supported by other five leaders of the group.

    Among whom were Prince Tajudeen Olusi (Lagos); Professor Bayonile Ademodi (Ondo); Elder Yemi Alade (Ekiti); Chief S. M. Akindele (Oyo), and Sooko Adewoyin (Osun).

  • Atiku reports Buhari to US, UK, others

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has reported President Muhammadu Buhari to word powers, citing alleged constitutional breaches against the Nigerian President.

    The letter was personally signed by him and addressed to the Ambassadors of the United States, France, Germany, the European Union (EU) and the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom.

    In the letter, Atiku accused President Buhari of serially breaching the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and undermining organs and institutions of state to advance his personal interest.

    The letter stated in part, “I am writing you as Nigeria’s international development partner working together to deepen and strengthen our democracy as well as to help in the transformation of our economies and societies for the better.

    “As a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections that will be conducted and supervised by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, I feel the urgent need to share with you some of these key violations of the provisions of our constitution and to demand that you pile pressure on the Federal Government to desist from these violations and ensure a level playing field for the general elections that are only a couple of weeks away.

    “We acknowledge with profound appreciation the positions taken by some members of the international community in Nigeria and urge Your Excellency to add your country’s very strong voice against these breaches of Nigeria’s constitution. Your Voice is very important to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy”.

    According to Atiku, some of the constitutional breaches allegedly committed by the President, president, was the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and his replacement by Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

    “For the records, Justice Walter Onnoghen is the head of one of the tripartite but mutually independent organs that form the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “To attempt to muscle out the Chief Justice of Nigeria using phony charges at a time when His Lordship was primed to play a central role in the fast approaching nationwide electoral process represents the boldest steps in the march to undermine our democracy.

    “This is undoubtedly an anti-democratic act which my political party and I reject without reservation and for which I urge Your Excellency to condemn unequivocally”, Atiku stated.

    The PDP presidential candidate expressed the fears that the alleged unlawful suspension of Justice Onnoghen might affact the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.

    Read Also:

    He also accused President Buhari of illegal purchase of Tucano Aircrafts for the Nigerian military.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze goofs by endorsing Atiku, says Kalu

    The presidential candidate said the aircraft, valued at $496 million, were bought without seeking prior approval of the National Assembly contrary to Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    He also accused the Nigerian President’s further serial disregard for court orders, citing the cases of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    The former Nigerian Vice President stated that various courts had granted Col. Dasuki bail on at least six different occasions, including the ECOWAS Court but that the Buhari led government has persistently refused to comply with the said court orders.

    “Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention without trial for over three years after his followers were massacred in broad daylight; his wife and family killed and his home burnt, in a gory and shameful show of brute force by the Nigerian Army. This particular state violence is nothing short of genocide”.

    He added that an Abuja High Court has ordered for his release since December 2, 2016, but which the President has continued to disregard.

    Atiku cited similar infractions allegedly committed by the President Buhari, including his approval of $1 billion for military expenditure without approval of the National Assembly, as well the enactment of Executive Order No. 006 (Preservation of Suspicious Assets and Related Schedules).

    He stated, “The enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006 as an executive legislation which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial or undergoing investigation without recourse to court orders.

    “This is a usurpation of legislative and judicial powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary as enshrined respectively under sections 4 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reminiscent of the military era of decrees.

    “The above, and many more that did not make it into this very short letter, are the unfortunate actions of the government of a man who merely pays lip service to being a reformed democrat.

    “General elections are upon us yet again. I urge you to partner with Nigerians to defend our constitution and play an active role in building our country.

    “The choice facing all of us is either to stand aside and watch Nigerians reelect a President who has been in constant violation of the laws of the land without remorse; or to support them show him the way out and elect a true democrat. We must send a clear message that the Nigerian Nation is bigger than any individual.

    “Even if Nigerians opted not to elect me as president, the incumbent must go into the polls on his own record of lack of respect for the rule of law and not on the spurious perception of his ‘Integrity’. We need to set precedence for successive leaders not to take democratic mandate for granted”.

  • Buhari to Imo monarchs: I have delivered on my campaign promises

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday told the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers that he has fulfilled his 2015 campaign promises to Nigerians.

    The President who met with over 500 monarchs at the Palace of the Eze Imo in Owerri, said that his administration has fought corruption headlong, decimated Boko Haram and revived the economy.

    According to Buhari who was in Imo State for his campaign rally, “We should recall where we used to be in 2015 before we came to power and today we know where we are and what we have been able to do with our resources. Although the challenges of corruption and insecurity are still prevalent today, we have made significant success”.

    He continued that, “Before we came to power, Boko Haram was holding 17 Local Government Areas captive but today, there is no LGA that is under the control of Boko Haram. We have also through the leadership of the militants reduced the sabotage on oil installations we have also scored one hundred percent in food production. We introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA) where all government money goes into and all money going out can be traced. We are trying to put infrastructure in place so that Nigerians can move about freely”.

    Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, commended the President for tackling corruption, which he said is the nation’s greatest challenge.

    Read Also: Imo electorate task INEC on credible poll

    In his words,  “the last we saw you was four years ago and I remembered vividly that I told you were going to be the President  because we needed change and you are a man of strong character who can bring the change the country needs”.

    He continued that, “The biggest problem is corruption and we saw you as the person that can fight it, I want to commend you, we know that your action is raising dust but that is corruption fighting back. Let me tell you that we trust you to continue to fight corruption, we are happy that you’re strong and fighting insecurity and corruption”.

    However the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, in his statement, urged the President to shift his attention to the Southeast, adding that he has focuses more on other zones in the last three years.

  • Onnoghen: Rivers Judiciary complies with strike protest

    Activities in all the courts in Rivers state in cluding the Appeal and Federal High courts were on Tuesday crippled by the two day warning protest by the Nigerian Barr Association(NBA), in respect of the perceived  illegal suspension of the Chief Judge of Nigeria(CJN), Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), of the NBA in a meeting in Abuja, the Federal capital territory, Monday directed all Lawyers in the country to boycott all court

    sitting for two days, on Tuesday and today  while a 3-man committee of two past presidents of the body (  Olanikpeku, A. B. Mahmood), and the current President Paul Usoro  interface with authorities concerned on the issue.

    Although all the courts visited were open court registrars (a. k. a. Clerks), on their seats, but the judges were not found sitting on any of the courts even when their cars were parked at in various parking lots.

    Lawyers were also sparingly seen around the courts, those who managed to cime around were either on mufty or not properly dressed for normal courtroom business.

    In the same vain, prisons warders were equally seen at the port Harcourt high court premises with the inmates from Port Harcourt Prisons for their matters before the courts, but they suspects were securely locked up at the court cell all through without being taken to court.

    The warders who interacted with the Nation Reporter said  “courts are not sitting, they are complying with the protest called for by the Nigerian Bar Association following the suspension of the CJN, so we cannot take the inmates to court, but those of them whose cases were adjourned today are all around but locked up in the cell.”

    Some of the relatives of the suspects who planned to see and talk with them on their way to court (the easiest opportunity to see and chat briefly with them without having to pay any toll or pass through protocoles) were seen lurking around the court cell.

    To kick off the action, Lawyers in the state staged a peaceful protest at the High court premises, they matched from the  Magistrate Court section to the High Court area and the to the Federal High Court through to the National industrial Court  and Appeal Court in Port Harcourt with the view of ensuring total compliance.

    Read Also: Security men chase staff off Onnoghen’s office

    Speaking to newsmen shorrly after the match, the state NBA chairman Sylvester Adaka, expresded the opinion that even if there are issues of corruption linked to the CJN,  the President should follow due process in handling it rather than arrogating power to himself.

    “It is not that NBA is encouraging corruption in any way, all we are saying is that there is a process which must be followed.”

    He appealed to litigants who would be affected by the suspension of work for two days by the NBA not to be panic, explaining that the move was to end executive’s disobedience to the rule of law.

    Meanwhile, former Attorney General of Rivers State and a Senior Advocate of Nigerian, Barinua Wifa, has stated that the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigerian, Justice Walter Onneghen, was a trial on the nation’s democracy.

    The legal luminary, who spoke in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, noted that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Onnoghen and appoint Justice Tanko Mohammed was hasty and did not follow the constitution of the nation.

    Wifa noted that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the constitutional backing to appoint or remove a judicial official without recommendations from the National Judicial Council, adding that the president acted contrary to the law.

    He said: “What is going on today is not a trial on the CJN, but a trail on Nigerian democracy. I am among the 25 persons that compiled what we are using today as the 1999 Constitution, and that made me automatically a Constitutional lawyer. There is no section of that constitution that gives the president such powers.

    “I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to be more noble by admitting his error and recall the CJN. There are so many motifs, but let us save this nation from disintegration.”

    Wifa, however, stated that the President may have acted as a result of fears, but advised Buhari to leave fear and do what is constitutional.

    “NJC made the recommendation for the appointment of the CJN, then why sacking him without returning to the same NJC. The president as it is, is trying to intimidate the judiciary, so he should recall him, and conclude their investigation and prosecution before the sack.

  • Electricity has no political colour, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared that electricity has no political colour.

    Buhari spoke while inaugurating the Ariara Market Independent Power Plant (IPP) in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also pledged that his administration will continue to execute people-oriented projects around the country irrespective of party differences.

    ‘‘Today with policies and programmes such as this IPP we have demonstrated that if the common good is our mutual objective, it can be achieved irrespective of party differences and constitutional limitations.

    ‘‘Electricity has no political colour,’’ the President said in his speech at the inauguration of the plant.

    He expressed delight 37,000 shops belonging to traders and small business owners in Ariara market will, one after the other, be connected to the dedicated electricity supply.

    Buhari said the feat will strengthen the Made-in-Nigeria policy for which Abia and in particular, Aba, and Ariaria market are already well known.

    ‘‘I am pleased to be here today at the milestone connection of 4,000 shops that now have dedicated power.

    ‘‘Being a market that supplies shoes, bags, clothing, trunks and many household accessories to Nigeria, many African countries like Chad, Cameroun, Gambia and Central Africa Republic, reliable power supply is critical for ease of doing business to ensure sustainability and improvement.

    Read Also: Pensioners to Buhari: have mercy on us

    ‘‘I am told that before this intervention, traders in the market only got 4 hours a day of electricity and paid exorbitantly for it, which consequently affected the viability of many businesses.

    ‘‘This is the sad legacy we inherited but which we are replacing with an all-day power supply that is cleaner and better for our environment.

    ‘‘Those who turned their backs on these problems still have the courage to campaign about unemployment and poverty,’’ he said.

    The President told delighted traders and businessmen who trooped out en-masse to welcome him to Aba that the APC-led administration is creating jobs for Nigerians through investments in power projects like the IPP in Ariaria.

    ‘‘What is happening in Ariaria today by way of clean, independent and reliable power to markets and small businesses is happening in Kano, Lagos, Ondo and Ibadan.

    ‘‘Similar initiatives have started in nine Federal universities with a plan to cover 37 universities, through Government funding,’’ he said.

    Saluting the traders for their fortitudes over the years when no previous government attended to their concerns, the President declared: ‘‘Methodically, slowly, but very efficiently, we are cleaning up the mess.

    “We are moving our economy away from rent and arbitrage and heading resolutely to building an economy that rewards investments, enterprise and hard work.’’

    Buhari assured business owners in Ariara that under his watch they will continue to experience better days and prosperity as African markets await more of Made-in-Aba products.

    The President is on his 17th and 18th campaigns stops to Abia and Imo States for the February 16, 2019 presidential elections.

    On his arrival in Aba, the President had paid homage to Enyi 1 of Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne before attending the APC presidential campaign rally at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba.