The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari, Amosun meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Recall that the preferred candidate of Amosun, Adekunle Akinlade has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) due to controversies that trailed the governorship primary elections.

    Other loyalists of the Governor have also dumped the APC.

    Read Also: I’ll ensure Akinlade succeeds me, Amosun vows

    But Amosun has remained a member of the ruling party.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report

  • How safe is Aso Villa?

    Last Monday, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) paraded a woman, Amina Mohammed, for allegedly impersonating Hajia Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

    According to the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunaya,  Amina allegedly disguised as Aisha Buhari to fleece a Lagos-based business mogul of N150 million.

    While the accused person has insisted she is not a fraudster and claimed she was involved in the transaction in question with the sisters of the first lady and former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Basshir David Lawal, it is up to the DSS to prove the allegation against her.

    It is not enough for the first lady and the former SGF to simply deny not knowing her, the accusation has to be thoroughly investigated notwithstanding their status. There must be reasons why she mentioned the persons she named and not other persons.

    More importantly, however, is the security implication of the accusation against the woman. According to the DSS, she had unauthorised access to Aso Rock Presidential Villa and used the office of the first lady to engage in the alleged fraudulent act.

    Amina Mohammed, also known as Justina Oluoha, reportedly paraded herself as the first lady of Kogi State and used the false identity to evade protocol and scrutiny.

    “She took advantage of the fact that personalities such as the first ladies, ministers and certain categories of officials are not taken through rigorous protocol and security checks at the Villa posts.

    “What may even surprise you is that Amina had on the said date invited her victim to the Villa and made him believe the invitation was at the instance of the First Lady,” the DSS stated.

    One would have thought that the Presidential Villa would be one of the most secured places in the country considering that it houses and serves as office for the president and other top officials, but the revelation by the DSS raises a lot of doubt on how safe the Villa is. The accusation is an indictment of security officials assigned to the Villa.

    Why would anyone not properly checked be allowed to have unhindered access to the office of the president to the extent that she invited other persons and made them believe that she was acting for a First lady?

    If the accused could beat the security at the Presidential Villa as claimed by the DSS, many others must have and may not have been caught. The truth is that unauthorised persons like the accused must have been bribing their way through.

    There is need to urgently thoroughly review the security of the Presidential Villa and take necessary measures to protect the president and other officials. If the DSS knows the date the accused invited his victim to the Villa, security officials on duty need to explain why they were not vigilant enough to stop her.

    Concerning the impersonation of the first lady and Kogi State’s governor’s wife, this is possible because of the way elected officials and their wives abuse their offices and privileges along with their aides.

    It is not a secret that aides and close family members of top government officials extort gratifications from persons who need to get official things done, sometimes with the knowledge of their principals who pretend not to know.

    What the DSS has on its hands is not just a case of the alleged impersonator of the first lady, it is the confirmation of the rot in high quarters of government where all manners of shady deals are being perpetrated.

  • Buhari congratulates Ribadu over global anti-corruption award

    President Muhammadu Buhari has heartily congratulated the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu on his winning the Anti-Corruption Lifetime Achievement Award.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, rejoiced with the pioneer chairman of the EFCC.

    He noted that being one of eight recipients from five continents of various categories of the Award organised by the prestigious Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence (ACE) Award 2018, during its Third annual ceremony in Malaysia on Friday, “is a rare privilege and acknowledgment of his fearless fight against corruption in his country.”

    According to President Buhari, “The award to Ribadu affirms our commitment to the campaign against corruption, which is one of the three focal areas of our administration.

    Read Also: 2019: Ribadu steps down for Dankwambo

    “This also means that the world appreciates our determination to stem the negative effects of corruption on the country’s development.” he said

    He urged the current leadership of the anti-corruption organisations in the country not to be deterred in the face of “corruption fighting back in different forms and shapes.”

    President Buhari also enjoined all Nigerians in leadership positions to emulate Malam Ribadu and see public office “as a public trust.”

  • ‘FG procures 30 aircraft, six helicopter gun-shoots to fight Boko Haram’

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Mashal Sadique Abubakar, on Saturday in Kano said the Federal Government has procured 18 more aircraft, in addition to expected 12 brand new aircraft and six helicopter gun-shoots to intensify war against insurgency in the country.

    Air Mashal Abubakar who relocated to the North-West and North-East in furtherance with President Buhari’s directive spoke during the commissioning of a multi-billion Naira Modular Theatre  at the 465 Nigeria Air Force hospital, Kano.

    He said the United States of America and Italy have been supporting Nigeria with the supply of platforms to fight Boko Haram and other insurgency in Nigeria.

    According to him, “the President Buhari administration has done much in re-positioning the Nigeria Air Force. In the last three and half years, the Federal Government has procured and released 18 brand new aircraft to the Nigeria Air Force.

    “We are also hoping to get 12 brand new aircraft from the United States of America. In addition, we are also hoping to get six brand new helicopter gun-shoots from Italy. So, I think from what we have seen in terms of support, every officer, air-man and air-woman in the Nigeria Air Force has every reason to put in his or her best in order to ensure that Nigeria is secured.”

    He further stated that, “I assure Nigerians that the Air Force will continue to work. I am in Kano for two reasons, not only to commission this theatre, but in compliance with the directive that we should relocate to North-West and to the North-East of the country in order to supervise or see what is going on in terms of dealing with some of the security threats facing Nigeria.”

    Read Also: Troops kill Boko Haram terrorists in Borno

    While commissioning the Modular Theatre, he said, “this hospital is for the benefit of the officers and the benefit of their family members. I also want to urge the Commander of the hospital to make this facility available to the civilian population around here.

    “Furthermore, in line with the Nigeria Air Force tradition of giving back to her host community as earlier indicated, I want to direct that the Commander should open the facility to all civilians. This gesture will, no doubt, go a long way in improving the quality of healthcare delivery in these communities.

    “I also want to reaffirm our commitment to periodically reach out to the surrounding rural communities, to provide them with the much needed preventive healthcare services, including health education and ensure their wellbeing.

    “On behalf of the officers, air-men and air-women of the Nigeria Air Force, I wish to express our gratitude to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for his continued support for the Service.

    “On our part, the Nigeria Air Force shall continue to strive for excellence in everything we do, and operating within the constitutional provisions, in collaboration with other sister Services to provide the necessary security for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “I was conducted round our hanger where we saw some technicians that are working to bring back three of our aircrafts that are being reactivated. And the second part of it is commissioning of the Modula Theartre.

    “Our desire is to have a professional Air Force, an Air Force that has the right structure, and an Air Force that has equipment such as the platforms that have been acquired for us; and then, an Air Force that takes care of the welfare of the personnel and that is where this Modula Theatre comes in.

    “Professionalism is about getting all these things sorted out and I am very happy that we have tried in the last two and half years to ensure that we address all the fundamental issues that are likely to make the Air Force a professional service so that Nigeria will be secured and Nigerians will also be secured.”

    While speaking during the event, NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Commodore M.E. Sha’aibu said with the commissioning of the new theatre, “injured personnel from the theatre of operation in the North-East can be evacuated to this hospital, stabilized and treated.

    Sha’aibu added that the new theater with state-of-the-art equipment comprises of a reception, lecture hall, common and recovery rooms, offices, two operating suites.

    “It is equipped with modern anesthetic machines, operating tables, theatre lamps, C-arm machines and operating microscopes,” adding that, “The Chief of Air Staff has also provided funds for the maintenance of the equipment in the radio diagnostic department of the hospital in addition to employing seasonal consultants.”

  • Buhari appoints Nine new federal permanent secretaries

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of nine new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

    The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

    The list of the successful Federal Permanent Secretaries and their states of origin are as follows:

    Read Also: Buhari may present 2019 budget to NASS next week

    “Dr Bakari Wadinga, Adamawa, Dr M.K. Dikwa, Borno, Dr Ajani Magdalene N. Olor, Delta, Umakhihe Ernest Afolabi, Edo, Mbaeri Maurice Nnamdi, Imo, Babatunde Lawal, Lagos.

    “Engr. Festus Yusuf Narai Daudu, Nasarawa, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, Osun and Dr Musa Hanafi Moriki, Zamfara

    He said that the swearing in and assignment of portfolios would be announced in due course.

  • Immigration seizes over 700 voter cards from foreigners

    As the 2019 general elections approaches, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has so far retrieved more than 700 voter cards from non-Nigerians, it was learnt on Saturday. 

    The Comptroller-General (CG) of NIS, Muhammad Babandede disclosed this in Abuja at the NIS 2018 end of the year dinner and award presentation.

    Babandede disclosed that the service will be fully involved in the 2019 general elections.

    He vowed that the NIS will make sure that no foreigner will vote during the forthcoming elections. 

    His words: “This year, we have retrieved over 700 voter cards from non-Nigerians. We will be there during elections to ensure that non-Nigerians don’t participate. We will make sure that they don’t vote and they are not voted for. During the election, we will ensure the borders are secured so that nobody can enter the country during the days of election. Immigration service has changed for the better.

    “We have built the capacity of personnel and improved on structures and contributed to Nigeria’s security and prosperity in many ways.”

    On the Ease of Doing Business, the NIS boss said the service had assisted businessmen to get visas as quickly as possible without hurdles adding that: “We have trained so many officers. There has never been a time Nigeria Immigration Service has gotten better structures than now.

    Read Also: Immigration prosecutes three for passport offence

    “The approval of the technology building worth N7.1 billion by President Muhammadu Buhari will serve all law enforcement agencies where we will share such information online with partners. I thank President Buhari for approving the unique project for the NIS. That has never been done since inception in 1958.

    “We became independent in 1963. Since that time, we have not gotten a centre to coordinate all our operations until this year when the President approved the technology building.

    “Julius Berger has already started work on the site. It was launched by the Minister of Interior last week.”

    On ensuring discipline and integrity in the service, Babandede said: “We dismissed many officers, retired many and reduced the rank of some other officers and will will not relent in making sure that our integrity in intact.”

  • ‘Buhari deserves another term unopposed’

    A pro-Buhari support group has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) deserves another mandate without being opposed by any other politician or political party in the country.
    The group said a catalogue of the achievements recorded in Nigeria between 2015 and now shows that President Buhari and the ruling APC ought to have earned automatic ticket from all well-meaning Nigerian irrespective of party affiliation.
    The group known as ‘Buhari 2019 Integrated Support Group’ made their views known during their maiden Press Conference in Jos on Saturday.
    National Coordinator of the group, Williams Audu, who read the text of the briefing said, “We are a volunteer group made up of youths with a mission to take Buhari’s re-election campaigns to the grassroots across the country.”
    “We are motivated as a group to take Buhari’s campaigns to the grassroots because we have done a careful search on the policies and programs initiated by President Buhari since 2015 and discovered that Nigerian has been put on the right path of progress.
    “The fight against financial crime initiated by this government has been consistent and should be sustained and made a permanent orientation in the psyche of present and next generation. And the re-election of President Buhari will guarantee this continuity.
    “President Buhari as a visionary leader has brought the country’s agricultural sector to the front burner as an alternative to crude oil considering that the prospect of oil as the mainstay of the economy is daily becoming risky for the country”
    According to Audu, “We are moving to all nooks and crannies of the country, particularly the remote areas to spread the good things Buhari has done, to tell them about the need to re-elect Buhari again, we will move from door to door and from village to village with the success stories of Buhari.

    Read Also: ‘Give Buhari another chance’

    “From the achievements recorded on ground, we believe Buhari has become a brand that is marketable anywhere in the country, and we are proud to market him.
    “This group believe that with the achievements of President Buhari in his first term, if only all Nigerians are are aware of those achievements, they will elect Buhari unopposed even if he contest on zero party.
    “Our emergence at the political scene therefore is to promote the ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari and his development achievements to people of the grassroots.
    “Our group has national spread and we are open to any Nigerian youth who shares the same understanding with us to join us in this campaign to ensure we facilitate this continuity in our quest for development and economic growth”

  • Group applauds FG for planned police salary increment

    Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Mandate (SNPM), a NGO, has applauded the Federal Government for its planned increment of police salary.

    President of SNPM, Mr Augustine Chukwudum, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

    “The increment in police salary is a welcomed development from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    “It is a step in the right direction and should be commended by all Nigerians,’’ he said.

    Chukwudum, who spoke on the neglect of the Nigerian Police Force by successive administrations, noted that the salary increment would restore a sense of purpose among police personnel in the discharge of their constitutional duty.

    “It is SNPM wish that police must appreciate this gesture by doing their work with honesty and respect to human right because the money been used to pay the salary as well as its proposed increase is citizens’ tax.

    Read Also: Police arraign bricklayer for stealing generator from Church

    “We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to make good his promise of monitoring personnel of the Nigeria Police because so much atrocity is committed everyday by some `bad eggs’ in the organisation.

    “Let the `bad eggs’ among the organisation’s rank and file be identified and flush out of the system.

    “So, that we will have a Nigeria Police everybody will be proud of.

    According to him, SNPM is calling on Nigerians to thank Mr President for this wonderful and unexpected motivational gesture to the gallant and dedicated Nigeria Police personnel.

    Chukwudum, however, called on the federal and state governments to equip the police to enable them to carry out the task of policing the country more effectively.

  • Dance, Muhammadu Buhari, dance

    The trending news to which President Muhammad Buhari reacted a few days ago in faraway Poland reminds me of the tale they regaled us with in my childhood years.

    Years ago, long before I set my feet on that sleepy village soil, we heard of Ajiran, the town of the dead. I was too young and innocent to know where Ajiran was; whether it was a town set in the sky or tucked under the ocean. But the tale fired my imagination to know if it was indeed true that one could meet a dead relation alive in that town.

    You can then visualise how ecstatic and expectant I was when I saw in the campaign itinerary of Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1978 – forty years ago – that we would be stopping on a whistle-stop campaign rally at Ajiran, as LKJ bidded for the governorship of Lagos State on the platform of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    “Ajiran, the town of the dead?” I was too eager to know where it was until our Landrover—the only means of transportation in that Maroko-Lekki axis at the time because of its sandy terrain—screeched to a halt and we stepped on the soil of Ajiran.

    My eyes started darting from one end of their socket to the other to see if I would see my very beloved maternal grandfather, long pronounced dead and buried in faraway Ijebu Igbo in Ogun State, in that mystic town. Throughout our stay in the town, I looked in vain as no hitherto dead person that I knew appeared to me in the town, now one of the choice living areas on Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.

    No one I enquired from could offer any satisfactory explanation why that town was referred to in that manner and I quickly dismissed it as one of the fantasy tales of our childhood years.

    That experience of 40 years ago crept back to my consciousness when a fresh story was concocted from goddot that Nigeria’s President Muhammad Buhari had died a year ago and that the gangling man you and I see on TV and other news media these days as our president is no longer the retired soldier from Daura in Katsina State but a certain Jubril from Sudan.

    Why Sudan and not nearby Niger or Chad? Or what does anyone gain from such fabrication? That must be imagination crafted from outer space. It makes me wonder why some Nigerians are filled with such murderous imagination, that many wonder why such ingenuity has not yet been converted to positive uses as you have in the more civilised world.

    But why do we from this part of the world prefer darkness to light in several of our dealings with ourselves – lying without batting an eyelid, malign with murderous motive and assassinate character or even body without caring a hoot? Whoever survives the evil scheming of man deserves to be happy and be filled with thanksgiving.

    I now see the import and sense in a song rendered by Sikiru Aýinde Barrister, the Fuji music creator, in one of his long playing records, that whoever people “kill” with their mouths but survives the unrelenting assaults deserves to dance for joy. In his exact words, the Fuji king sang:

    “O ye ko jo, o ye ko yo,

                       Eni araiye pa pa pa, ti o

                       ti o ti e ku;

                       O ye ko yo o”

    If President Buhari decides today to assemble musician’s like Onyeka Onwenu, Wasiu Aýinde Marshal and Thrace or Dan Maraya’s successor in the North and decides to dance before each of these artistes even before the 2019 presidential election is due, it’s worth it and more, for a man whose only sin is that he has taken it upon himself to set a commendable moral tone for the nation.

    Dance, Muhammad Buhari, Dance and rejoice in your God!

  • Buhari congratulates new Emir of Nasarawa, Jibrin

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibrin on his selection as the new Emir of Nasarawa, in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

    The President saluted the people of Nasarawa Emirate and the State Government on the hitch-free exercise which led to the emergence of Alhaji Jibrin as the 13th Emir.

    Describing the new First Class traditional ruler as a “wise choice and worthy successor,” President Buhari averred  that Alhaji Jibrin’s impeccable credentials as a distinguished public servant and land expert will be deployed to impact positively on development of his emirate.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “His people will benefit immensely from his wealth of experience in the Ministry of Environment,”

    While wishing the new emir a successful reign, President Buhari also urged him to build on the legacies of his predecessor and promote peace and unity in the emirate.