The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Edo restricts movement on Ekehuan Road over Buhari’s visit

    The Edo State Government has announced that there will be a restriction of movement from 12 noon to 4pm on Thursday, January 17, on Ekehuan Road axis of the Benin Metropolis as a result of the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state government said that movement will be restricted on parts of Ekehuan Road, particularly between Ehaekpen Junction and Agho Junction, as the President will be hosted at Garrick Memorial School, opposite University of Benin Ekehuan campus.

    According to Ogie, “As a result of the visit of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to Edo State tomorrow, Thursday, January 17, there will be a restriction of movement in the Ekehuan Road axis of the Benin Metropolis from 12 noon to 4pm.

    “Residents in the area are advised to avoid this route, particularly between Ehaekpen Junction and Agho Junction.”

    He added, “Residents, who must move within the area during this period, should use alternative routes that will help them cut-off Garrick Memorial Secondary School, opposite the University of Benin, Ekehuan Campus, which is the venue of the event.”

  • I feel sad over CJN’s trial – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he is feeling sad over the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, on allegations of false and non-asset declarations.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had scheduled Jan. 14 for the arraignment of the CJN.

    However, the process was stalled as the CJN failed to appear before the CCT; and a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also ordered the CCT to halt proceedings.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the 2019 Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said that President Muhammadu Buhari had no prior knowledge of the arraignment.

    The theme of the conference is “Free Press and Objective Reporting in the 2019 Election Year.’’

    According to Osinbajo, Buhari’s approach is that institutions should do their work.

    “I can tell you for a fact that he did not even know about this until Saturday evening. He did not even know that there will be any kind of arraignment until Saturday evening.

    “He has said categorically, do not interfere with whatever institutions are doing; sometimes, it has consequences such as we have today; such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to a trial without the Federal Government?

    “But I can tell you without any equivocation whatsoever that he was not even in the know because it is a specific instruction that he gave.

    “So , even where somebody else calls a public officer such as Ibrahim Magu of EFCC and says something or the other, he will say `no, no, no, Mr president has said I can do my work.

    “My take is that I would rather not have a situation where senior members of my profession are being tried for an offence; certainly, I will rather not have that kind of situation.

    “ So, I do not feel particularly good about it; as a matter of fact, I feel very sad; that it is going on at all, that is my position.’’’

    Osinbajo tasked online publishers to go after details and check the facts before publishing; warning that online news was losing credibility.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo, others lay wreaths for heroes

    The vice president said that elections had heightened ethnic and religious tensions and tended to threaten and challenge Nigeria’s unity and security.

    “So, it is even more so, the case today that we just must be more responsive because anybody on their beds can launch a website, post images from anywhere in the world and tell whatever story he wishes.

    “So, the online publisher is essentially in a poorly regulated space and can publish practically anything, even outright falsehoods.

    “Perhaps because the worst that can happen is a libel action if your publication tarnishes a person’s reputation.

    “The problem with the current situation is that online news may lose credibility; and that is a very bad situation because the loss of credibility is bad for everybody, bad for business and weakens an important social tool of public communication.’’

    He suggested the encouragement and promotion of forums for online practitioners to engage and develop by interaction with others.

    “As for elections, I think it affords an opportunity for an online publication to become well established as a credible and speedy source of news and information.

    “News on election results will be so sought after that anyone who can provide them accurately and in a timely fashion will be the go-to-site, even in the future.

    “The point to bear in mind is that integrity pays. Being the first to break the news, especially when it is unverified, might bring in some traffic initially, but it does not take that long to lose reputation.

    “And once the credibility of the publication is damaged, people will not take the news seriously,’’ he said.

    Earlier in a remark, OPAN President, Mr Austin Ogannah, said that the association as founded in 2011.

    According to him, the idea is to have an association that self regulates practitioners in the online news media; so that members can hold one another accountable.

    Ogannah said that the essence of the conference was to understand objective reporting in an election as captured in the theme

    NAN

  • Don’t allow losing PDP sabotage Nigeria’s democracy – Presidency

    The Presidency has called on Nigerians not to allow what it described as the losing People’s Democratic Party from sabotaging the country’s democracy.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the PDP has been personalizing its attacks on President Buhari.

    “We read the various statements issued in the press by the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP with the latest personalizing their attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This is an uncalled for attack on the administration that crosses the line in a democracy. A call for disobedience to government is a call to anarchy and should not be called opposition politics.

    “Seeing people go down as the PDP and its leaders are heading to in the elections is pitiful but to seek to bring down the roof on everyone is tragic, selfish and the height of desperation. Happily, these acts do not reflect the true feeling of citizens across the whole nation, and that is why the PDP is sinking deeper and deeper into the oblivion. They are losing memberships in droves and their campaign is just a caricature of a proper campaign.

    Read Also: PDP sets agenda for new IGP

    “It is high time Nigerians separated the chaff floating around in the air in the name of opposition from the crude and disgraceful invective being thrown personally at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The problem of the opposition is that they are not talking about solutions. Rather, each of them, led in the pack by the PDP is an expert at counting problems. That is the reason why the voting population is coming around the Buhari-led All Progressive s Congress, APC.

    “For years, the PDP had been a bastion of corruption and impunity and it is difficult for them to change from their renter way if life in the nation’s affairs. But CHANGE has come, and has come to stay.” he said

  • NEC, National Council of State to consider N30,000 Minimum Wage

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Tuesday resolved to take the N30,000 new national minimum wage request to the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday at the State House, Abuja.

    The request will also be presented to the National Council of State fixed for January 22.

    The FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari also launched a new 60-page and 10-year Nigeria international passport.

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the emergency FEC meeting, said that the N30, 000 minimum wage request will be taken to NEC.

    He didn’t give details about the minimum wage request as he pointed out that it was still work in progress.

    Asked to speak on the minimum wage request discussed at the meeting, he said: “l cannot because it is work in progress, since it will also be discussed at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting before we come out with the decision, thereafter, we can brief the media.”

    Read Also: I am ready to pay N30,000 minimum wage – Gov. Emmanuel

    A reliable source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, also disclosed that the wage request will be presented to the National Council of State.

    Members of the NEC include governors, who mostly have opposed the N30,000 new minimum wage and agreed to pay N22,500 and Ministers of Justice and Finance and Central Bank Governor as members.

    The organised labour has given the Federal Government up till January 23 to submit executive bill to the National Assembly or risk an industrial action.

     

  • 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.

  • 2019: Presidential candidates back INEC’s guidelines

    A month to the presidential election, Forum of Presidential Candidates, on Tuesday threw its weight behind the guidelines released last Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The candidates who said the released guidelines was a reflection of series of meetings between the political parties and INEC, cautioned stakeholders against causing any tension that may lead to violence before, during and after the elections.

    Part of the issued guidelines are barring collation officers from making or receiving telephone calls during ballot collation and also simultaneous accreditation and voting and mandatory use of Smart Card Readers (SRC).

    The presidential candidates, who noted the use of card reader has come to stay, blamed the National Assembly over its non- inclusion in the constitution as a legally recognised electoral instrument.

    While noting they filed a lawsuit to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from signing the recent amendment to the electoral law, the candidates lambasted the lawmakers for crowding the Amendement Bill with selfish provisions along with the recommendation for recognition of the card reader.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja on behalf of the candidates, the Presidential flagbearer of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) Mohammed Shittu, who is also the Chairman of  Forum of Presidential Candidates, faulted the objection to simultaneous accreditation and voting by some political parties.

    Shittu noted that simultaneous accreditation and voting will help to address vote buying and ballot box snatching.

    Read Also: ‘INEC should conduct credible polls’

    He was flanked by the presidential candidate and national chairman of Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), Danjuma Muhammad and national chairman of Allied Peoples’s Movement, Yusuf Dantalle

    Shittu said: “We have been able to study the electoral guidelines recently released by INEC and it is what we agreed with them on 7th of January.

    “As presidential candidates, we have gone through the document and it is in order

    “We looked at the grey areas and from what was released we think the stage has been set for the electoral process.

    “As we go into the elections we urge Nigerians to conduct themselves well.

    They should think of nation first and not heat up the polity. Hate speed should be avoided.”

    While they noted that the use of card readers have come to stay, he said, “the immediate accreditation and voting system will help us to save time, vote buying and ballot box snatching.

    “When INEC was issuing this guideline what they told Nigerians is that this is the final guideline and I believe, we have one month to the election, I am sure that they will not issue another one.”

    Speaking on the card reader, Danjuma Mohammed, who accused lawmakers of having sinister motives, said they served a good dish by way of a card reader and spiced it with poisons “that was why we went to court.”

    Mohammed noted the lawmakers ought to have taken the issue of card reader as a separate as isolated amendment, “but they decided to bring in amendments that are not necessary.”

    According to him: “What they did was to expunge the issue of counting and called for announcement of votes. So within themselves if they get electoral officers who choose to compromise they will just announce results.

    “They didn’t mean well for the country their aim was to truncate Nigerian democracy. They should take responsibility for the failure of the card reader not being in the Electoral Act.”

  • Buhari directs Idris to hand over to Ag. IGP

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the outgoing Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris to hand over to Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.

    Idris retirement came today, 15th January after clocking 60 years of age.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria has consequently directed that the outgoing Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, hand over to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni as the Acting Inspector General of Police.”

    The outgoing IGP while  appreciating the President and Nigerians for the opportunity and support given to during his service, urged them to extend the same level of support and assistance to his successor, Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.

    “The Acting Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni hails from Lafia, Nasarawa State and a holder of BSc. Geography. He enlisted into the Force on 1st February, 1986 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

    Read Also: Buhari, Idris, Adamu meet in Aso Rock

    “Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni is a versatile and seasoned Police Officer, a professional per excellence. He attended several Senior Officer Courses on Law Enforcement, Crime Prevention, Control and Management within and outside Nigeria.

    “Before his appointment as the Acting Inspector General of Police, he was a Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

    “He was Commissioner of Police in Ekiti and Enugu States and also Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5 Police Command Headquarters, Benin, Edo State.”

  • Ondo communities decry herdsmen attack, kidnapping

    Residents of Owo and Ose local government areas of Ondo state, have urged the state government to bail them out of the alleged herdsmen attack, kidnapping in the communities.

    Through a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) ‘Owo is One Movement,(OIOM) they emphasized that the peace and calm traditionally associated with the ancient town of Owo have been defeated by menace.

    A statement after its emergency signed by the National Coordinator and Ogbeni Oja of Owo kingdom, Chief Akin Aruwajoye commended Akeredolu’s government for its prompt action on the menace.

    However, it noted that the herdsmen issue was national in outlook with very complex security implications, calling on the federal government to intervene and stop the incessant attack.

    The group pointed out that the damage to farmlands and unauthorised harvesting of farm products to feed cattle are causing untold hardship to peasant farmers whose only source of livelihood were being tampered with.

    Read Also: Former Kwara deputy speaker, others defect to APC

    According to the statement “The movement is constrained to cry out to the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, to come to the aid of our people before they are wiped out by hunger as a result of the criminal activities of rampaging herders and kidnappers”.

    “Considering the huge economic losses our farmers have suffered, particularly the hapless peasant farmers whose lives depend on the farms for survival, we ask for compensation for them”.

    “This is important in resuscitating the economy of the communities and in curtailing loss of jobs resulting from the destruction of people ‘s means of live hood”.

    The group called for urgent intervention to curtail the rising anger of the farmers which could fester into self-help which would worsen the present security situation.

  • NANS congratulates new Acting I-G

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), has congratulated the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, on his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Adeyemi Amoo, NANS’ Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, urged the acting I-G, to embark of general restructuring of the police.

    He said that Nigerians at this period of elections, are counting on police officers not to compromise security at the polling centres.

    He said, “NANS equally commend President Muhammadu Buhari for respecting the voice and yearnings of Nigerians, against possible tenure elongation of former I-G, Idris Abubakar.

    The president’s action is a demonstration that he remains cautious of his integrity.

    Read Also: NAMA installs ILS at Benin airport

    “NANS, therefore, calls on all officers of the Nigerian Police Force to cooperate with the new I-G.”

    Amoo further assured Nigerians that the students’ body would continue to keep its monitoring eyes on the activities of relevant agencies ahead of the general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mohammed, who served as the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State and currently the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone Five, was born on Nov. 9, 1961.

    He enlisted in the police in 1986 and has a Bachelor Degree in Geography.

  • Buhari promises to secure Nigeria

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to secure the country for the future.

    Buhari stated this at the All Progressives Party (APC)presidential campaign rally on Tuesday in Akure.

    The president, who asked the electorate for votes for his re-election, noted that if he re-elected, he would get rid of corruption in the country.

    According to him, those found culpable in corrupt acts would be prosecuted.

    He added that his 2015 campaign promises of revamping economy, security and fighting corruption had been fulfilled.

    “Boko haram is no longer occupying those places it was in control of before our administration came in in 2015, though they are now using young girls to attack soft targets.

    “But we are reassuring you that we will revamp our economy and we are making fertiliser available to farmers in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

    “Those found culpable of corruption will be prosecuted.
    “We will secure the country and rid it of corruption,”he said.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the present administration had taken youths engagement seriously, hence the introduction of NPower initiative.

    Osinbajo added that the initiative had engaged 500,000 youths, promising that the number would be increased to 1.5 million youths.

    The vice president stated that the planned railway line to Akure would create job for different strata of people.

    According to him, more power distribution companies will be engaged to supply power and that that the Federal Government is partnering with some solar power suppliers to provide electricity to some parts of the state.

    Osinbajo recalled the federal government had partnered with Brazil to supply farm equipment that would make farming attractive to youth.

    He warned electorate not to vote for another party’s candidate that would take the country back to era of corruption, saying “it was corruption that took us back”.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomohle, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Party (APC),said the difference was clear between Buhari and other candidates.

    Oshiomole noted that Buhari’s policy was to liberate children of the poor and ensure that Nigerian workers got the best, hence the reason for bailout funds to all states.

    According to him, the APC led government is ensuring that Nigerians must produce what they eat and stop exporting job to Europe.

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, assured the president of landslide victory come Feb. 16 poll.

    Akeredolu said that if the party could win in 2015 general election when it was in opposition, it would handsomely win in the coming election.

    Read Also:Army repels Boko Haram attack in Yobe

     

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC National Leader, said the Buhari administration was rebuilding the country for the future.

    Tinubu added that the administration had created enabling environment for the economy to thrive.

    He asked electorate to vote for Buhari, saying that the president represented honesty and accountability.