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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • 2019: ‘Supporting Buhari is South East surest route to Presidency’

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Wednesday said that the fastest and surest route for the South East to get to the Presidency in 2023 is to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection bid in 2019.
    He spoke with State House correspondents after President Buhari’s meeting with the South East governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
    Stressing that the South East people are integral part of the country, he said that they would be accorded their appropriate place in the scheme of things.
    According to him, the visit was remarkable and had corrected the impression that the Federal Government was not doing anything for the people of the zone.
    He said “We received very high powered delegation today (yesterday) led by the Deputy Senate President and three of their governors and a deputy governor with the DG of the forum of the Southeast governors and I think it is a remarkable visit because they came essentially to thank Mr. President over the major activities that have taken place in the Southeast.
    “They appreciate the fact that the second Niger Bridge was a paper issue in the last five, six decades. They are convinced that the decision to complete the Niger Bridge is real, contract has been awarded by this government for N206 billion of investment and the road networks and other things we are doing in the Southeast, it is a mark of appreciation for the leadership that President Muhammadu Buhari is providing for this country.

    Read Also: Fashola: why Southwest will re-elect Buhari

    “The Southeast is an integral part of this country, it must be accorded its appropriate place in the scheme of things and we believe strongly that this particular government has extended its hands of friendship to the South Eastern states and by the efforts that have been put in place to ensure infrastructural development and integration.
    “The visit is remarkable, often times, what we hear is that the government is not doing anything in the Southeast. We had the topmost leadership of the Southeast coming to say we thank you Mr. President for what you are doing everything in terms of investments that are coming to the Southeast substantially have come under the last three and half years of Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. So it is a mark of appreciation.
    “So I believe that they are willing to cooperate with the government to ensure the development of their people and bringing prosperity, peace and tranquility in the area and every other thing that a good government must provide for its people, we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that every nook and cranny is touched by this particular administration.”
    Asked if President Buhari solicited the votes of the South East during the meeting, he said, “This obviously might not be most appropriate time. You remember there was a programme in the Southeast where Mr. President asked me to represent him and I threw the kite by telling the Southeastern state that their quickest and easiest means to presidency is to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.
    “Meaning that they can short circuit the period in terms of only having him there for another four years and whatever they do in 2019 will determine what will happen thereafter because politics is a game of numbers and it is like a cooperative society.
    “Whatever you bring as an investment when dividends are going to be shared, you will get proportionate with your investment and your investment in politics is what you bring to the table and I urge the Southeast to look at this matter seriously that every time we have a presidency in Nigeria, it is negotiated in several ways. Either negotiated by votes or what you bring to the table and you must negotiate from the position of strength.
    “You can’t negotiate from the point of weakness and I believe that that message resonated with the people and their response now is attributable to the fact that even before the flag-off of the campaigns, we have laid it bare on the table for Southeastern states to consider the prospect of working with us to ensure that at least by the time President Buhari finishes his second tenure, they can make a shot at the presidency depending on what they bring to the table.” he said

  • Buhari, Ekweremadu, South East governors meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with governors from the South Eastern part of country.
    The meeting started shortly after the governors arrived the State House around 4.07p.m.
    Also at the meeting was the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
    They were driven to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa in a bus.
    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
    Details Later …….

  • Edo to host Buhari, as President commissions Edo-Azura Plant

    …To attend COAS conference

    Edo State Government  will on Tuesday, November 27, host President Muhammadu Buhari, who will commission the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, which is billed to hold in Benin City, the state capital.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that preparations are in top gear to give the president a grand reception.

    According to him, “We are delighted that the President will be in the state for the Chief of Army Staff Conference, the commissioning of the Edo-Azura Power Plant and other engagements in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Preparations are in top gear to give the president a befitting welcome.”

    The governor’s aide added that  “Much as we are certain that the impressive governance model by Governor Godwin Obaseki is one of the reasons we are having August visitors from the Federal Government, we are also delighted that the President is coming down by himself this time.”

    Read Also: Edo SDGs assures of quality education

    Osagie explained that some of the activities lined up for the visit include a visit to the Palace of Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II; commissioning of the Edo-Azura Power Plant, and will attend the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

    He said that the state government is pleased to have the president commission the Edo-Azura Power Plant, which is a shinning example of the state’s attractiveness to investors and a boost to the ease of doing business.

    “The Edo-Azura Power Plant is a success story in the state’s drive to keep investors and has become a model for other states in the country. We are very much delighted that the President will be here to commission the facility.

    “This will be the second time, we are having a visit from the Presidency in less than six months and it shows we are doing something right. So, we are indeed happy to have the President,” he added.

  • 2019: Buhari Campaign Organization demands 90 per cent of votes in Ondo

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has urged its newly inaugurated executive members in Ondo State to work tirelessly to deliver 90 per cent of votes in the state to President Buhari in 2019.

    Alhaji Danladi Pasali, its National Coordinator, said this in Akure while inaugurating the Ondo State Chapter of the organization.

    Pasali said that President Muhammadu Buhari, being honest and sincere man, was what the country needed at this period.

    According to him, the current administration has reduced insurgency in the North East to the lowest level within the shortest period.

    “Buhari will come back in 2019; it has become history already. In those days people are afraid to go to their churches and mosques due to insurgency, but it has now become a thing of the past because we have stopped it tactically.

    “Imagine, the money meant for security was used for election under the PDP administration and many people also lost their lives to insurgency.

    “Buhari made insurgency to become history in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Buhari Campaign Group launched in Ondo

    “Those clamoring for former Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to be released are not sincere.

    “We know the masses of this country are behind Buhari, there is no vacancy in Aso rock,” he said.

    Pasali said that the Buhari’s administration had improved the economy through empowerment programmes for youths and market women.

    He said that PDP made Nigerians to lose over 10 million jobs through the sale of government properties.

    Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim, the BCO Director of Communication and Strategic Planning, said that APC was not biased against any other political party, but wanted to engage in issue- based campaign.

    “We are not against any political party, we have taken up the presidential campaign here from Ondo.

    “We advised other political parties to campaign on issues and not to attack our president,” he said.

    NAN

  • Fashola: why Southwest will re-elect Buhari

    The Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) says the South West has more to gain by re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

    Fashola, who was in Lagos yesterday for the inauguration of 5000 foot soldiers for the campaign of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the Southwest already had high stakes/appointments in the current administration.

    He said the promise of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) slot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not enough for the South West to lose the positions it is currently occupying.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Chief Gbenga Daniel, the Director General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, said the position of the SGF would be given to the Southwest, if Atiku emerged as president in 2019.

    “As a Southwest indigene, I will vote for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket Westerner, because my people stand to gain more from it,” Fashola said.

    He said that the re-election of Buhari would guarantee that power would come to the South West in 2023.

    “ The Southwest is presently occupying the position of the vice president. We have three sitting ministers and many different federal appointments from the present administration which we cannot afford to lose.,” he said.

    The Minister explained that although the APC promised change In 2014, the party did not promise to do it in four years.

    “The APC has done more in three years than 16 years of PDP administration, yet they say president Buhari is too slow.

    “President Buhari is taking Nigeria to the next level. We are going to the Next Level.

    “The 2019 presidential election is a choice between going back and moving forward to the next level and also a choice of whom Nigerians can trust with their money,” he said.

    He noted that the APC-Buhari led administration has done more in three years with less money than the PDP with all the monies that accrued to the nation in 16 years.

    “Buhari has inaugurated a structural infrastructure fund for road construction. N15 billion has been released for the continued construction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    “There is need for the progress to continue. Dubai was built with oil-money, Nigeria can be built with it too. The past administration squandered oil revenue.

    “Federal Government is constructing at least one road in every state in Nigeria. We are also constructing houses in 34 States in Nigeria.

    “We have collected 690 containers for the construction of 90 transmission stations and through our policy of mini grids, our markets now have uninterrupted power supply.

    “In the last 3 years we have constructed 40 kilometres of roads per year. In 2015, the total number of roads completed nationwide was 80 kilometres. In 2016 after we took over, we completed , 274 kilometres of road, 478 kilometres in 2017 and 474 kilometers in 2018.

    “Electric generation has moved from 4000 Megawatts that we met to 7000MW. That’s an increase of 3000MW, an average of 1000MW a year. We have started an IPP in 9 universities in Nigeria. We have accelerated the distribution of meters by outsourcing it to distributors,” he added.

    At the event are Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, (Lagos East), former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Mrs Adejoke Adefulire and Mr Obafemi Hamzat, running mate to Lagos APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu among others.

  • Buhari Campaign Group launched in Ondo

    The Ondo state Chapter of the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) was on Tuesday officially launched in Akure, the state capital

    The event which took place at Ojuelegba area on Oyemekun road,Akure was attended by eminent supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Inaugurating the group, its National Cordinator, Danladi Pansali said President Buhari has transformed Nigeria in virtually every sector.

    Read Also: Three arraigned for impersonating Aisha Buhari

    He specially eulogized his anti corruption crusade, urging Nigerians to vote massively for him in the 2019 elections.

    The Iyaloja General, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo also tasked  Nigerian women to support the re-election bid of President Buhari

    Tinubu-Ojo who was represented at the event described  Buhari as a man of uncommon integrity.

  • PDP knocks Buhari over alleged plagiarism of ‘Next Level’ logo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked President Muhammadu Buhari over what it described as “plagiarism” of the logo of the President’s presidential campaign document, “Next Level”.

    The Buhari presidential campaign has come under severe attacks in the social media over similarities in the “Next Level” logo, which originally belonged to the Rex Institute in the United States.

    Joining the fray, the PDP, in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Buhari Presidency has again disgraced the nation by stealing the Rex Institute’s logo and mantra as the President’s 2019 campaign mantra and presenting it to Nigerians as their idea and creation.

    The party said the revelation has further confirmed that the Buhari Presidency lacked integrity as a “fraud syndicate” that thrives on deception, lies, false performance claims, certificate forgery, corruption while always trying to take credit for the achievements of others.

    The statement said, “This shameful plagiarism by the Buhari Presidency has further sunk him into self-inflicted public opprobrium, from which he has not recovered since the demonstration by Nigerians, that he does not have his acclaimed WAEC certificate and had to procure an attestation, which Nigerians also discovered to be a forged document.

    “The PDP is however not surprised that President Buhari, in his desperation, can go as low as patronising plagiarism and false credit claims, since it is clear that he lacks the competence to initiate and articulate an original blue print for leadership; the reason our nation has been in dire strait in the last three and half years.

    “A perusal of President Buhari’s 2019 campaign document reveals that apart from the stolen logo and mantra, the document is replete with false claims, spurious projections and unsubstantiated figures in the bid to again beguile Nigerians ahead of the elections”

    The main opposition party also said that President Buhari has over time shown that he cannot be trusted, adding that he leads the most corrupt administration in the history of the nation.

    The PDP charged the President to immediately show remorse, apologise to Nigerians and prepare to accept defeat as the people are not ready to vote for any leader that has demonstrated a proclivity for falsehood, forgery and incompetence in governance”.

  • Fed Govt goes tough on arbitrary port charges

    Plans are under way by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to end arbitrary charges at the nation’s sea ports, The Nation has learnt.

    The Federal Government, it was gathered, has finished its study of the various tariffs across ports in West Africa, and determined to ensure that Nigerian ports are competitive compared to its neighbours.

    Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, a senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF), who craved anonimity, said the government was reviewing the concession agreement to make the ports attractive and competitive by eliminating the legion of arbitrary charges importers and their clearing agents are being made to pay by the private terminal operators.

    The President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the official said, was going tough on arbitrary charges based on the economic diversification agenda of the government.

    “Through the on-going review of the concession agreement, the Federal Government was determined to check the excesses of the private terminal operators by ensuring that things like arbitrary tariff by terminal operators will be checked

    “The review of the concession agreement by the government  will further sanitise the sector and enhance smooth operations and clearance of cargo at the ports.

    “Many illegal payments that contribute to making Nigerian ports  non-competitive in the West African region will soon be eradicated and the review will boost the ease of doing business initiative of the government,” the source said.

    The new operations rate as contained in the review agreement, the FMoF official said, cannot be circumvented by the private terminal operators.

    In the proposed review agreement exclusively sighted by The Nation, it is now mandatory for all terminal operators “to use their best efforts to do the following: •develop, market and promote cargo throughput and cargo-related business of the lease property in order to achieve maximum utilisation thereof in a manner that  is consistent with applicable law and prudent industry standards; and • ensure that there is no decline in the standards of the operations; •the lessee shall perform the operations in such a manner as to achieve the performance requirements in the applicable years of the term. •the lessee shall ensure that the operations rates shall be in accordance with applicable laws and competitive within the port and with other competing ports of Nigeria and its neighbours having facilities similar to the lease property.

    • the lessee shall charge cargo dues and delivery charges for the operations which are not greater than the rates set forth in Section A of Appendix H (the “Operations Rates”) in accordance with the terms and conditions included therein.
    • The lessee shall not make any increases in the operations rates unless agreed to in writing by the parties and any required consents of governmental authorities have been obtained.
    • Value added taxes and other taxes shall be added as required to the accounts rendered to the lessee’s customers.
    • Income from the operations rates shall accrue directly to the lessee without any collection, deduction or set off by the lessor or the regulator.
    • The lessee shall also be allowed to charge for other services rendered but not specified in Appendix H, including but not limited to: terminal handling, inland container depot transfers. storage and for penalties for violation of applicable rules and regulations set down by the lessee.
    • The level of terminal handling charges and inland bonded terminal transfer charges shall not exceed the market rates charged by the shipping agents and the lessor respectively prior to this agreement, and any future-increases shall require the consent of the relevant governmental authorities.

    The Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the FMoF official said, was coming up with stiffer penalty for any terminal operator that refused to publish it’s operations rates from time to time.

    “Terminal operators shall at all times publish their rates, charges and conditions of the operations as may be  directed by the lessor, the NPA or the regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council shall make such information immediately available upon request by any person

    “Terminal operators shall afford to all who may request the operations uniform treatment under like conditions and shall not apply discriminatory charges on any person. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the lessee from granting preferential rates in accordance with the provisions set out in Sub Section (e).

    “lf preferential rates are applied to any customers of the lessee, the lessee shall inform the lessor and if applicable, the regulator in writing of the same. If the lessor can show to the satisfaction of the regulator,  that the preferential rates applied by the lessee are discriminatory, the lessor shall have the right to instruct the lessee to apply such rates to all other similar customers of the lessee using the operations and the lease property.

    “ Other than in circumstances where the lessee charges preferential rates, if the lessee is not able to charge the operations rates and/or other charges referred to in sub-section (b) above to its customers, the lessee shall refer the matter to the regulator for determination of the rates chargeable.

    “ In the event that the lessor or any other governmental authority receives a complaint of discrimination on the part of the lessee, and the regulator, concludes after its investigation of such complaint that there are reasonable grounds for such complaint, then the lessee shall immediately cease and desist from such practices and pay any applicable penalties provided for under applicable law,” he added.

    To complement government efforts  in repositioning the ports for greater efficiency and competitiveness, the FMoF official said there must be synergy between  NPA and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).

    The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the official said, must ensure that the NPA, as  the landlord and the Shippers Council, as the Ports Economic Regulator work together for effective enforcement of the provisions of the new concession agreement.

    The FMoF official said the lack of necessary synergy and proper understanding between the two agencies was responsible for the impunity with which the terminal operators are violating the concession agreement.

     

  • ‘Buhari’s achievements should earn him a second term’

    …President has fulfilled campaign promises

    Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor, Uche Nwosu, on Monday said that the sterling performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in office has justified his second term ambition.

    Speaking at the background of the flag-off of President Buhari’s second term campaign,  Nwosu, noted that the Preaident has delivered on his campaign promises of fighting corruption, insecurity and diversifying the economy.
    He said that the President from all considerations, deserve a second term to consolidate on the achievements he has recorded during his first term, adding that the country will be better off under another four year of President Buhari’s administration.
    Nwosu enjoined Nigerians to jettison tribal and religious sentiments and support the President for another term, adding that Nigeria has reclaimed its respect among the comity of nations since the last three years that Buhari came on board.
    According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in office to earn the support of Nigerians. Take for instance the achievement recorded in the agricultural sector, it is on record today that Nigeria is now a major exporter of rice. This has earned the country trillions of naira. Another area the President has written his name in gold, is the fight against corruption, which had almost destroyed our nation.
    “The case of corruption has gotten to the extent that if you travel abroad and show your passport as a Nigerian, they will treat you as a corrupt person from a corrupt nation but this is no more the case today. Nigerians are now treated with respect across the globe. And on the issue of insecurity,  the President has also restored normalcy in the troubled parts of the country. Before now, Boko Haram was having a field day, it was a story of one bombing today and another tomorrow but this is no more so”.
    The former Chief of Staff also pointed out that President Buhari’s uncommon integrity and honesty stand him out from the crowd contesting for the office of the President.

    Read Also: Buhari, governors meet over minimum wage

    In his words, “Nigerians should support Buhari for who he is, a man of uncommon integrity and honesty. He is a man that does whatever he says and does not believe in saying a thing and doing another. Nigerians should compare him with other persons without any form of bias and they will discover that he is poles ahead of them all in those qualities that define a true leader and democrat”.
    He however appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the Buhari’s administration, adding that he is laying the foundation for a strong and virile economy in the overall interest of Nigerians, “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step, Rome was not built in a day. Those great economies you see today were not built overnight but through good policies and the right investments like what is happening in the agricultural sector will surely make our nation great, it is just a matter of time”.
    Nwosu who is the acclaimed winner of the October 6 governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Imo state, assured that the post primary crisis rocking the APC will not affect the chances of the Preaident in the election.
    He said, “we are United in our support for President Buhari’s reelection. We don’t have anything against the President, he is a man of integrity and is doing everything possible to resolve the crisis emanating from the party’s primary elections, which was mismanaged by the National Chairman,  Adams Oshiomole who was indiscriminately taking people’s mandate and given those who never won elections, like in my case, where he substituted my name, which we will not allow. But all of these does not affect our love and support for President Muhammadu Buhari. We are poised to working for him to return and there is no going back on that”.
    He also pointed out that the President has done well in the Southeast to merit the support of the Igbo, citing the second Niger Bridge, the Onitsha-Enugu road, the Owerri-ABA road, the Owerri-Port Harcourt road, among other projects executed by Buhari’s administration in the zone.

  • We will end Boko Haram activities, Says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured that his administration is committed to bringing an end to Boko Haram activities in the northeast and further make all parts of the country safe for Nigerians to live peacefully with one another.

    President Buhari noted that the vision of his administration was anchored on building a stable and prosperous Nigeria that would be the pride of future generations, but added, that the vision cannot be achieved without peace, stability and security.

    The President made the remarks while declaring open the maiden edition of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) International Air Power Seminar holding at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.

    The Seminar with the theme “Air Power in Irregular war: A Framework for Understanding and Responding” was being attending by Air Force Chiefs from the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and South Africa among other countries.

    President Buhari said while there has been steady improvements in the security situation in the northeast, it is also important for the nation’s armed forces, particularly the Air Force to draw from the experiences of other armed force to defeat terrorism and insurgency in the country.

    Said he: “It is important to stress that there has been steady improvement in the security situation in the North East where the Boko Haram activities have been confined in recent times. We have denied them the ability to hold territory and the freedom of movement to operate at will and they now resort to skeletal attacks on soft targets.

    “Our thougths and prayers are always with the victims and families of the Boko Haram atrocities. We remain committed to ensuring that the crisis comes to an end, while making the North East and indeed all parts of Nigeria safe for all to live and prosper.

    Read Also: Troops kill two Boko Haram commanders

    ” Let me, as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces once again assure the military that I will continue to ensure appropriate funding for our armed forces in order to enhance capacity building and deepen professionalism.”

    President Buhari described the theme of the Seminar as timely, noting that since the outbreak of the Boko Haram crisis in the northeast, the nation’s armed forces have been engaged in various operations that have challenged services’ doctrines, tactics, training, order of battle and force protection architecture.

    He said “Even though we require substantial military input in combating an insurgency, its root cause is inherently political in nature”.

    President Buhari told the gathering among whom were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris as well as the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali that “Successful counter-insurgency operations would therefore require unity of efforts across multiple Ministries, Departments and Agencies covering political, economic, law enforcement, intelligence and of course the military, in what is popularly called whole of the nation approach.

    “In this regard, we have mobilized relevant agencies and international organisations to support the counter-insurgency effort in order to ensure success”.

    The President commended the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar for initiating the seminar, saying the nation’s air force had over the years contributed immensely to ensure peace and security of the country.

    The President further said: “Our vision is to build a stable and prosperous Nigeria that would be the pride of future generations. It is however pertinent to note that this cannot be accomplished without peace, stability and security.

    ” Peace and stability can only be achieved if we are committed to emplacing reforms that will entrench true democracy in our polity. In the same vein reforms would be required to enable us build a virile economy that can support our aspirations

    “This administration is therefore committed to diversifying our economy. We have been partnering with other stronger economies to attract the much need Foreign Direct Investment. We are also looking at alternate means of generating electricity to power our industries and meet domestic demand.

    “I assure you all that a lot has been achieved in this regard and we are putting in more effort in order to achieve more. This is to ensure that we build an economically prosperous, politically stable, socially just and truly democratic Nigeria, where security of lives and property is guaranteed. “