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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Southwest will deliver massive votes to Buhari

    A group, Southwest Frontiers Group for Buhari 2019 has said that the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari was the collective responsibility of all eligible voters in Yorubaland.

    The group emphasized that the restructuring being canvassed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was to deceive them in order to garner votes during the polls.

    Besides, the group criticized the fractionalized socio-political organization, Afenifere for declaring support for Atiku.

    According to the group, the Afenifere was not speaking for the people in the South-West on their choice for the next month poll.

    The group hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his excellent performance, stressing that he deserved re-election.

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the spokesman of the group, Omowumi Adebayo said the restructuring planned to carry out by Atiku was deceitful.

    Adebayo said the people of the South-West would not be part of such ‘arrangee’ restructuring.

    He said Afenifere was not speaking for the interest of the South-West people, but only fighting for their pockets.

    His words “We in Yorubaland have always been in the progressives’ camp since the days of Awolowo. These people are deceiving us that they are progressives but they are not.

    The coordinator of the group, Joseph Ayodele said those behind the restructuring compromised the June 12 election, won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

    Read Also: Buhari vows to end illegal tax collections

    He said if Atiku could work with Obasanjo for eight years and described as being corrupt by the former President, Afenifere ought to distance themselves from such an individual.

    Ayodele pointed out that ” If the PDP ruled for 16 years and Atiku was the vice president for eight years out of the 16 years and could not restructured the country then, he asked what type of restructuring does he (Atiku) want to give the country now

    The group urged the people in the South-West to vote for Buhari, alleging that Atiku would draw Nigeria backward with his flair for corruption.

  • Nigerians storm streets of New York , urge United States, United Nations to back Buhari

    Barely 24 hours after some concerned Nigerians trooped out en mass in the United Kingdom to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, their counterparts in the United States of America have followed suit.
    These Nigerians, under the auspices of Restore Nigeria Coalition (RNC) were spotted in the streets of Washington, chanting ‘Sai Baba’ as they urged the Donald Trump-led government and the United Nations to support President Buhari in flushing out corruption.
    Cosmas Collins, President of RNS, speaking on behalf of the group, believes Nigeria has made tremendous progress in the anti-corruption fight as witnessed in the case of embattled Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.
    “They are sufficing to note that since 2015, the present administration has initiated measures aimed at reducing corrupt practices in the conduct of government business at all tiers of governance. This effort has yielded positive results to the admiration of the bulk of Nigerians and the consternation of a select few that have benefited from the rot in the system,” he said.
    “Undeterred, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has carried on with enthusiasm and a determination to see that structural defects are fixed to curb the rot in the system for the betterment of Nigeria as a country.
    “You may also wish to note that the bane of underdevelopment in Nigeria is as a result of the lackadaisical attitude of previous governments in the fight against corruption that has resulted in the wanton disregard for accountability and transparency in the conduct of government businesses and by extension governance in Nigeria.
    “Since 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari took over the affairs of the state in Nigeria, Nigeria has recorded tremendous progress in governance evident in the dividends of democracy trickling down the ladder.
    “However, the present administration has encountered numerous challenges from individuals and organisations that have subverted the system through nefarious ways and means all in the quest to portray the Muhammadu Buhari administration in poor light in an attempt to pitch the populace against the government to fulfil their personal agenda of causing unrest and disaffection in the country.

    Read Also:I am not corrupt, Buhari tells Nigerians

    “The recent case of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen who violated the law in declaring his assets as stipulated by the law has further emphasized the level of rot in the system.
    “A particular segment of the Nigerian society has cried wolf where none exist and painted a picture of political persecution, forgetting that Nigeria was on the brinks of imminent collapse due the activities of a few that have benefitted from the rot in the system.
    “We are through this medium soliciting for assistance from the United States and United Nation in the war against corruption in Nigeria as initiated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in recent times.
    “A vivid example can be seen in the instance where the Chief Judicial Official in Nigeria, either by omission or commission failed to declare a part of his assets running into millions of dollars.
    “The Chief Justice of Nigeria as the number one judicial officer in the country for inexplicable reasons did not declare a part of his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau in Nigeria. The CJN cited “forgetfulness and mistake” as the reasons for the non-declaration.
    “The non-declared items are bank accounts with balances that runs into millions of pounds sterling and dollars.  This is too much to be right in our considered opinion. As the number one judicial officer in the country, it is wholly untenable for such an excuse, unless for deliberate reasons.”

  • Kano civil groups calls for IGP’s tenure extension

    A group of Civil Society Organizations in Kano have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris till after 2019 general elections.

    The appeal came few days after President Buhari said he will in due course act on the retirement of the IGP.

    The Kano state chairman of Eminent Persons Forum, Mallam Mukhtar Gashash who led the group appealed to the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the National Assembly to approve the elongation of the service term of the Inspector General in view of his track record.

    He said the Inspector General has succeeded in instilling discipline, zero tolerance to corruption and promoting rule of law among police officers.

    “Among his track of record are: conveying of National Security summit to look and proffer solution into rampant cases of farmers/Pastoralist clashes, kidnapping and other forms of banditry in the country.

    “He has to his credit establishment of Eminent Persons Forum at National, state and local government levels with a view to consolidate members of the communities into policing matters,” Mr Gashash said.

    According to him Mr Idris has contributed in conducting successful governorship and re-run elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Rivers and Kogi states.

    Read Also: Kano agrees to pay N30,600 minimum wage‎

    In his address Kano state chairman of police community relations committee Sale Jili said the IG has demonstrated good leadership skills in managing the security of the country through the creation of police rapid response unit which enable citizens to report crimes through phones and social media platforms.

    He added that the IG has established anti-kidnapping unit to handle kidnapping cases and X-squad to check corrupt practices and excesses of police officers across the country.

    He recalled that former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru ‘Yaradua have extended the tenure of former Inspector Generals Mike Okiro and Sunday Ehindero.

    He therefore appealed for the extension of Inspector General’s tenure till after 2019 elections.

    In his address the Regional Coordinator of West African Institute for Legal Aid  Ma’aruf Yakasai said there is no law that prevents the president from extending the tenure of the IGP.

  • Health Minister launches Buhari’s re-election initiative

    As part of effort to ensure the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has launched ‘Buhari Leekan Si’ (Buhari for another term) project.

    This was contained in a statement by the project’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Samson Owoyokun in Ibadan on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that ‘Buhari Leekan Si’ initiative, a self-funded project of the minister was to complement the party`s campaign structure.

    NAN reports that the initiative is aimed at canvassing professionals and artisans to support Buhari’s reelection bid in the six south west states with extension to some parts of Kwara and Kogi states.

    Owoyokun said the initiative is an operational political structure committed to the propagation of Buhari’s achievements in the last 44 months as a leverage for his reelection.

    It said that part of the statutory obligation of the initiative was also to encourage participation in the electoral system across all wards of the south west states.

    He said that the minister would meet professionals in all the major sectors, registered associations of artisans as well as religious and traditional leaders.

    Read Also: Health minister urges governors to emulate Ganduje

    “The aim of the meeting is to motivate and persuade them on the need to reelect the president and all other APC candidates in the listed states.

    “This will enable the president complete the restoration agenda which he kick started in 2015 across all sectors of the country including the health sector,” he said.

    He said that what the minister met in the health ministry on assumption of office in November 2015 was appalling and embarrassing, saying almost all the health indices were in the negative.

    Owoyokun said that health statistics and data generated from both non- governmental and international organizations were scary.

    According to him, “we met collapsed medical facilities. What we have as at the last quarter of 2018 is a new beginning, having revitalized all the federal teaching hospitals.

    “We ensured personnel were efficient and equipment more effective to provide functional as well as qualitative healthcare services.”

    He said that on assumption of office no single linear radiotherapy machine for cancer patients was working, adding the two machines in the National hospital and LUTH were today up and running.

    “Today, UCH and ABUTH are in the process of installing theirs. Our bid to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is gaining momentum as we have revived over 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the country.

    “This is a pointer to why our vaccination for children has improved, child and maternal mortality dropped, malaria incidences crashed and rate of communicable and non-communicable diseases have reduced drastically,” he said.

    NAN

  • Fake News: CSOs want Timi Frank arrested, prosecuted

    The Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria, has described the conduct of the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, as a threat to national security, which must be immediately checkmated by the Federal government.
    The group said, it is becoming worried about the  criminal penchant of Timi Frank, for spreading falsehood, inciting and insidious statements especially at this crucial electioneering period in the country.
    The group at a media briefing  today by its Convener ,  Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, said it was reacting to a recent statement credited to Frank, where he alleged that  Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and some top officials of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, over the weekend held a secret meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where plans to rigged the forthcoming Presidential election were purportedly hatched.

    Read Also:I am the author of restructuring – Atiku

    The group said it is completely taken aback, by the insidious statement credited to Timi Frank, in an attempt to score cheap political points and throw caution to the wind.
    “Even though we understand desperation of Timi Frank, we cannot but also remind him, that we all have a binding duty to uphold the ethos of fairness, equity and justice, any departure from this acceptable standard is disingenuous, mischievous and wicked”!  We implore the general public to ignore characters like Timi Frank, whose conducts, are capable of causing confusion and apprehension  at this critical period when the 2019 election is fast approaching.”
    “It is also our hope, that the Federal government will take a drastic step, in ordering the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Timi Frank and his sponsors , who major preoccupation at this period is the dissemination of fake news, aimed at destabilizaling the country and casting aspersions on the integrity of our security agencies, particularly the leadership of the Nigerian Army and our indefatigable COAS,  who have been making tremendous sacrifices to protect our nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy. Our Armed Forces especially the Nigerian Army and it’s leadership must be insulated from the antics and activities of some unpatriotic individuals and their collaborators both local and foreign.

  • Peace Accord: PDP is afraid of defeat

    The Forward with Buhari, an Independent Presidential Campaign Organisation for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is afraid of its imminent defeat in the February 16, Presidential election, hence its threat to pull out of the peace accord, entered into by the  various political parties, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
    The organisation in a statement made available to media by its National Secretary and Human Rights Lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo said PDP’s threat to pull out of the peace accord it signed with the National Peace Committee alongside other registered political parties, clearly shows that the handwriting is now so clear to the PDP, and the only option left for the party, in its desperation to return to power in the country, is to unleash violence, hence, its threat to boycott the peace accord.
    Recall that the PDP had yesterday, through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, threatened to pull out of the peace accord over comments made by Kaduna Governor Nasir el’Rufai that foreigners who interfere in the forthcoming elections would leave the country in body bags.
    Ajulo said the nature of the PDP’s response clearly shows that neither the party nor its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is committed to a peaceful election in the country, but only signed the accord under pretence and false patriotism. This statement is after they have realized that 30 states including their candidate’s state are a no go area and so they want to pull out of the peace accord which will introduce violence. The Forward With Buhari Group urges PDP to allow peace to reign and not fuel crisis. “A violence free election is what we need and which we will continue to work towards,” Ajulo said.

    Read Also:PDP planning to malign Abdulrazak, says forum

    He said further that irrespective of the disposition of the PDP towards fostering crisis come February 16, Nigerians are ready and they shall fully participate in the presidential and National Assembly elections, which will surely be held peacefully and creditably to the disappointment of the PDP.
    He further urged the teeming supporters of President Buhari not to relent in these last few days to reach out and be ready to protect their votes.
    “PDP has realised that the endorsement by some groups with the corresponding response that negates it by Nigerians shows that they can’t win as most of the said organisations are not masses based, but rather operate in isolation of the group they lay claim to represent. This informs their being jittery,” Ajulo maintained.

  • Atiku accuses Buhari, APC of using state resources, apparatuses for campaign

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using state resources as apparatuses for electioneering campaign.

    Describing the action as a violation of the nation’s electoral laws, Atiku said Buhari and the APC have been acting contrary to claims by the President that he would not use state resources for election.

    In a statement Thursday by his media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the PDP presidential candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction President Buhari and the APC for violating the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The statement said, “Recall that the National Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had in December of last year warned incumbent office holders against using state resources or apparatuses for their campaigns, or deploying same against their opponents.

    “Prof. Yakubu, who issued the warning at a lecture titled “Political corruption and other emerging issues for the 2019 elections” in Abuja, noted that the commission has the power to monitor campaign financing and sources of funds according to the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “However, in negation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the Buhari administration and the APC has taken to the illegal deployment of state resources to its advantage for the election.

    Read Also: Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    “We wish to remind President Buhari and the APC that the use of state videos released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is illegal under the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “The media is awash with advertisements with the hashtag #PMBDIDIT and signed by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and referencing so-called achievements of the APC administration in the states of Abia, Kwara, Lagos, Ebonyi, Delta and Kano, among others”.

    These, Atiku said, were without doubt, 2019 presidential campaign materials produced by the Ministry of Information and Culture using state resources and apparatuses to benefit President Buhari.

    “This appalling conduct, which is clearly in violation of Section 100 of the Electoral Act, is even more shocking when it is recalled that the state resources being used to the illegal advantage of President Buhari are being drawn from agencies which for over three years, prior to this election, failed to perform their duties to the benefit of Nigerian citizens. The Ministry of Information and Culture must stop this illegality immediately.

    “We demand that INEC issues an immediate cease and desist order to both the Ministry of Information and Culture and to the broadcast channels running it.

    “We also insist that INEC register the media spend behind it as part of the APC’s total N1 billion campaign spend limit.

    “Fortunately, INEC is alert to this danger and itself warned the ruling party to refrain from such conduct. Now that the party has clearly flouted the law in negation of the electoral umpire’s warning, we urge that INEC sanctions them accordingly”.

  • Buhari appoints El-Yakub N’Assembly liaison officer

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Umar Ibrahim  El-Yakub as his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on National Assembly matters (House of Representatives).

    The appointment of El-Yakub followed the resignation of Hon. Kawu Sumaila who occupied that position but recently resigned to contest the February 16, 2019 election.

    Read Also: I won’t use government fund for campaign, Buhari vows

    Sumaila was appointed SSA to the President in August 2015, but he resigned to contest for membership of the House of Representatives for Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency in Kano State under the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, El-Yakub, an APC stalwart from Kano State, was a member of the House of Representatives, 1998, 2003-2007 representing Kano Municipal Federal Constituency.

  • Vote Buhari for N-Power’s continuity – Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on youths in the State, especially the beneficiaries of the federal government’s economic intervention programme christened ‘N-Power’ to vote President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office for the programme to continue beyond 2019.

    The governor gave the charge on Thursday while addressing the beneficiaries at a ‘Thank you Rally’ organized by the close to twenty thousand beneficiaries of N-Power in Oyo State at the Agodi Gardens, Ibadan on Thursday.

    Ajimobi who described N-Power as an intervention programme by the Buhari-led federal government to build the youths population towards enhancing their financial capabilities for a developed society added that their number if in concert was enough to give Buhari the second term.

    He said “If you fail to vote President Buhari for the second term, I want to assure you that N-Power will be stopped. We all know that your age group is 54 per cent of the Nigerian population and if the number of registered voters in Nigeria is 84 million, we can be sure that Buhari already got 61million votes.

    “I want to also assure you that the N-Power fund will be reviewed upward after 2019 but you all must know that to succeed in life, you must hold your future in your hands.

    “An empowered people will contribute to the growth of the society, that is why the federal government said the youths that constitute the larger percentage of the nation’s population must be well taken care of. The youths are the one that can bring the country forward and must be helped.”

    Read Also: Southwest plans Buhari’s re-election

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Jobs’ Creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede who had earlier participated in the rally round Ibadan city, appreciated the consistent dedication of N-Power beneficiaries to the growth of the nation.

    He assured the youths of continuous support of the federal government as their engagement had reflected the better economy and robust human capital development.

    Imoukhuede said Oyo State had 9000 beneficiaries for the first batch of the programme and 8000 for the second batch, totalling 17000, with the assurance of a new set of the batch after the 2019 election.

    “We commend the participants and beneficiaries of the N-Power programme for being faithful to their country and contributing to the progress of Nigeria. Today is a great day, looking at the colourful rally with which we were welcome here today.

    “It will go into history that these teeming number of Oyo youths have come out to appreciate President Buhari for changing their fortune for the better and giving them a voice to be reckoned with and for them to contribute to the nation’s economy.

    “It is pertinent to remind you youths that continuity of Buhari is tantamount to the continuity of this social programme. So you must keep supporting President Buhari for the future of this programme to be assured”, he said

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, hinted that the close to 20,000 N-Power beneficiaries from Oyo State was selected without any religious or political bias but through the online application.

    She appreciated the federal government for the programme which she said Oyo State had earlier introduced its like in Youths Empowerment Scheme (YES-O), that created financial freedom for over a million youths in the State.

  • ‘Atiku’s restructuring is deceitful’

    A Southwest group comprising all political party supporters under the platform of Southwest Frontiers Group for Buhari 2019 in Thursday said the restructuring being canvassed  by the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a ruse aimed at garnering votes from unsuspecting Nigerians.

    Besides, the group criticized the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere for declaring support for Atiku.

    According to the group, the Afenifere was not speaking for the people of the South-West on their choice for the next month poll.

    The group hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his excellent performance,stressing that he deserved re-election.

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the spokesman of the group, Omowumi Adebayo said the restructuring planned to carry out by Atiku was deceitful.

    Adebayo said the people of the South-West would not be part of the such ‘arrangee’ restructuring.

    Read Also: Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    He said Afenifere was not speaking for the interest of the South-West people, but only fighting for their pockets.

    His words “We in Yorubaland are always in the progressives’ camp since the days of Awolowo. These people are deceiving us that they are progressives but they are not.

    Also speaking, the coordinator of the group, Joseph Ayodele said those behind the restructuring compromised the June 12 election, won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

    He said If Atiku could work with Obasanjo for eight years and described as being corrupt by the former President, Afenifere ought to distance themselves from such an individual.

    Ayodele pointed out that ” If the PDP ruled for 16 years and Atiku was the vice president for eight years out of the 16 years and could not restructured the country then,he asked what type of restructuring does he (Atiku) want to give the country now

    The group urged the people in the South-West to vote for Buhari, alleging that Atiku would draw Nigeria backward with his flair for corruption.

    Members came from Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun state in solidarity with Buhari’s reelection bid.