The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Falana, SERAP, ANN urge withdrawal of  travel ban

    LAGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the travel ban imposed on 50 high profile criminal suspects under Executive Order 6 (EO6).

    Falana, in a statement titled: “Allow the courts to impose travel ban on suspected looters”, said only the courts could impose travel ban on the suspected high profile persons”.

    He argued that since the power of the anti-graft agencies and the courts to place criminal suspects on watch list or subject their passports to temporary seizure has never been in doubt, “the directive to place the 50 high profile suspected persons on watch list and restrict their movement is highly superfluous, completely unwarranted and totally uncalled for”.

    The rights lawyer said the travel ban “is an ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule”.

    Falana added that since the high-profile suspects covered by EO6 had been placed on a watch list and their passports  seized by either the anti-graft agencies or the courts, the travel ban slammed on them by President Buhari ought to be withdrawn without any delay.

    Falana said the travel ban was a sad reminder of the placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.

    He noted that a Federal High Court last week upheld the constitutional validity of the Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued by Buhari on July 5.

    The lawyer added that the government, acting on the ruling, directed the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to place no fewer than 50 high-profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restrict them from leaving the country pending the final determination of their cases.

    He said even though the names of the “50 high profile persons” have not been published by the Federal Government, they are presumed to be either standing trial in the various high courts or being investigated for corrupt practices by the anti-graft agencies.

    “If the Federal Government had done some background checks, it would have discovered that the names of the 50 VIPs have long been placed on a security watch list while their passports have been impounded by the anti-graft agencies or the courts as one of the conditions for admitting them to bail.

    “It is public knowledge that whenever the defendants wish to travel abroad for medical treatment, they usually apply for the interim release of their passports.

    “Since the courts have taken judicial notice of the perilous state of medical facilities in the country, such applications are usually granted. And once the suspects return from the foreign medical trips, their passports are returned to the registry of the trial courts,” he explained.

    Falana, however, regretted that indigent accused persons standing trial for stealing, fraud or other economic crimes  are not entitled to such a privilege because they have no money to acquire passports not to talk of paying for foreign trips and medical treatment abroad.

    Notwithstanding such judicial indictment of politically exposed persons seeking medical treatment during trial, he contended that the law has not authorised the executive to restrict the movement of criminal suspects.

    He counselled the Buhari administration to wage the war against corruption within the ambit of the rule of law.

    SERAP, in a statement, said Executive Order 6 (EO6) banning 50 alleged high-profile corrupt Nigerians from travelling abroad was illegal and repressive.

    SERAP said the order, “without any legal basis and a judicial authorisation, is clearly arbitrary, repressive and illegal, as it breaches constitutional rights and the country’s international obligations, which protect the rights to freedom of movement, to leave one’s country, to privacy, and to due process of law.

    ”A travel ban by its nature is an interference with the right to leave one’s country. It is neither necessary nor proportionate to prevent dissipation of stolen assets or stop politically exposed persons (PEPs) from tampering with any such assets.”

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Akinloye Oyemiyi, the ANN said:  ”We know that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution as amended legally guarantees the right to freedom of movement to all Nigerians and this right can only be tampered with by established laws as enshrined in the Section 45 of the same constitution and not by any draconian executive order targeted at political opponents by a president that is scared of electoral defeat.”

    A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said he was not bothered about a travel ban.

    He said: “I could not give a damn that my name is on the list of 50 members of the opposition and prominent Nigerians that have been placed on a travel ban because nothing that Buhari does surprises me.

    “I have not left Nigeria since 2008 because my passport has been with the EFCC and the courts for the last 10 years and they have refused to give it to me and allow me to travel.

    “Those on the travel-ban list that need to travel abroad for medical attention or to see their loved ones are the ones I feel sorry for.”

  • 2019: Ex-militants vow to work against Buhari

    The National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE-A) has vowed to work against the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group led by Eshanekpe Israel described the Daura-born retired army general-turned politician as a huge disappointment to the group and the Niger Delta.

    According to the erstwhile pro-Buhari group, the president has shown disdain for the youth and ex-militants. The group said it worked tirelessly to install Buhari because of promises to better the lots of members of the group and develop the Delta region.

    Israel accused the president of engaging in selective patronage along tribal lines.

    The ex-militant leader added that the President was neck-deep in nepotism, ethnic bigotry and selective reward for loyalty.

    The coalition, Israel said, ran all its activities through self-sponsorship which brought its finances to its knees with the hope that the President was willing to fulfil his pledge to the group.

    He said the coalition was discussing with a better and more reliable candidate for the 2019 presidential contest, adding that it was tired of a government without purposeful leadership. The coalition said in 2019 a new President would be installed.

  • The rejected stone

    Next year’s General Elections, particularly the presidential election, is beginning to become all the more interesting with the entrance into the race of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the flag bearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be in grand delusion if it underrates the capacity of the former vice president to worm his way into the hearts of Nigerians. Well, if you like, you may call them gullible Nigerians. While you reserve the right to so refer to them, it should also be realised that ‘gullible’ is only an adjective. Both the gullible and the not-too-gullible are entitled to one vote each once they are of voting age. And, at any rate, is today’s world not being governed largely by gullibility? If not, what would a Donald Trump be doing in the White House in America? Coming back home, why would a governorship contest between APC’s cerebral Gboyega Oyetola and PDP’s governorship hopeful in the hotly contested Osun State governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, renowned for his entertainment prowess, almost have gone the way of Adeleke but for providence?

    For now, we can only console ourselves by hoping that the other front runners in the October 6 PDP National Convention which produced Atiku as winner would renege on their promise not to back whoever won the primary. But if they remain in the PDP fold, then the opposition party is likely to produce a formidable side to reckon with when the election comes. Make no mistake about it; those who ensured Atiku’s victory at the primary knew what they were doing. It was high-wire politics both from within the PDP and from without. To snatch the presidency from Buhari is too big a role for Lilliputians like Senate President Bukola Saraki. Atiku is more like it. That was their reckoning; and everyone of them in the race seemed to have accepted it that way because there is a common enemy that they all want out of power: Buhari, for very obvious reasons. Many of them who have survived the government so far cannot be sure of being lucky if President Muhammadu Buhari returns.

    But that is not to say that the Buhari government has not played into their hands several times. It would however be a tragedy of monumental proportions if the PDP gives the ruling APC a good run for their money during the presidential election, or even has a better showing in the election outright. Indeed, it is not good enough if we have a repeat performance of Osun governorship election at the presidential election next year. I mean the APC has to win the election, if it must, convincingly at first attempt. The party will have itself to blame if PDP gets so close as to warrant a rerun. It would be worse for the APC to be crying foul while the PDP is running away with the trophy. Yet, if any of these frightening scenarios plays out, President Buhari should accept responsibility. It would amount to sheer scaremongering if a ruling party is the one weeping that the opposition rigged it out.

    Trust former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he has swiftly endorsed Atiku, his one time political foe. What this endorsement of his former vice (yes, vice!) tells us is that in politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent foes, but permanent interests. We know that Obasanjo and Atiku had both gone their separate ways even while the latter was Obasanjo’s deputy in the Obasanjo administration (1999-2007). As a matter of fact, some account had it that Obasanjo prostrated for Atiku to get his second term when it seemed that his return ticket was under threat. Yet, it was Obasanjo that routed for Atiku while the latter was governor-elect in his Adamawa State. But, Obasanjo, who many believe neither forgives nor forgets, has not failed to demand his pound of flesh from Atiku whenever the opportunity presents itself.

    Only a few months ago, Obasanjo had vowed that nothing would bring him close to Atiku again, at least politically, and that as a matter of fact, God would not forgive him if he did. This was a vow to which Atiku too replied that if his former boss had any issues with his creator, he should go sort them out with Him. Obasanjo seemed to have eaten his words and has now anointed Atiku as his presidential preference in next year’s election. The former president even waxed biblical in pardoning Atiku. He said with Nigerians voting for him, next year, “It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.”

    Again, just as this piece was being put together on Friday, I stumbled on a World Bank report that ranked Nigeria 152nd out of 157 countries. I know the government is going to react to this negatively rather than do introspection to see where its economic policies in particular require tweaking. That was the way the immediate past Goodluck Jonathan administration dismissed all such reports instead of doing something to change the situation for better. I wonder why government officials suddenly become paranoid about such reports when what is required is to do the rightful. But, the World Bank is not the only institution that is saying that something is wrong. The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has warned that Nigeria may remain the world’s poverty capital even as former United States envoy John Campbell parroted what has always been known about Nigeria being Africa’s troubled giant.

    What one would expect is informed reaction to such statements and assertions from the seat of power. For instance, two take-aways from Chief Obasanjo’s statements when Atiku called on him centred on ethnicity and the economy; stupid! Again, Obasanjo said nothing new. These have remained sore points of criticism of the Buhari administration since its inception. What one expects is for the president’s aides not to dismiss these with a wave of the hand because they reflected the government’s style for long. Presidential aides or government officials who want to take on these allegations should tell us what has changed, instead of making it look as if the allegations are entirely baseless.

    Moreover, APC should dwell more on its own achievements rather than keep telling Nigerians that Atiku is corrupt. They have been hearing that for years. This is sad to say though; but the point is that not many people see the government’s anti-corruption war in the same light as they saw it in 2015. Not a few have the feeling, rightly or wrongly, that there is little difference among the parties corruption-wise.

    Honestly, this is not about sentiments. Notwithstanding my reservations about Obasanjo, the APC cannot want us to believe that his views now count for nothing. When he tore his PDP membership card about four years ago and pitched his tent with the Buhari team, the event was widely celebrated by the then opposition party and the then presidential hopeful’s handlers.

    Nothing I have said foreclosed anything happening because, as they always say, ‘it is not over until it is over, especially in politics. President Buhari and the APC still have about four months to change the tempo of the game. They still have an ample opportunity to step up their  performance in order to secure a straight, incontrovertible victory at the polls.

    We need no one to tell us that this might jolly well be Atiku’s last opportunity at the presidency.  He will be 72 next month; and if he loses the election, he has to wait till 2023, by which time he would be about 76 years old. Buhari became president at about the same age (72). But, going by the new mantra of not-too-young-to-run, a 76- year-old aspirant could be considered too old to run for the country’s number one seat by 2023. If Atiku sees this as his last chance, he would put everything into it. So, unless a miracle happens, the next elections would be tough. It is one in which virtually everyone concerned would put in their all to secure victory. If anything, Atiku is a veteran in the country’s political arena; he understands the game. Not only that, he also has deep pockets and he would spend as if spending is going out of fashion. Atiku has probably attained all that he craved for in life; fame, wealth, influence. Perhaps the only thing after his heart is the presidency. He would do everything to get it.

    At this juncture, what I expect the APC to do is to collate all the criticisms against it; distill them and provide credible answers/solutions to them, irrespective of whether the claims are true or false; it is all about perception. The government could be swearing that certain things are not the way they look; if Nigerians are not sufficiently persuaded, whatever the government says will amount to nothing. This is where the Buhari government has to be careful. It should stop talking to itself; it should as a matter of fact listen more because that is the way it would not delude itself that there is no cause for alarm when in fact, nothing is under control. Just as I said after the Osun State governorship election, an election that the ruling party should win hands down at the very first ballot should not become a subject of controversial rerun just on account of delusion.

    Like Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, shortly before meeting his political waterloo at the last governorship election when his dream of choosing his successor crashed under his very eyes, many Nigerians will be in great pains if APC, by omission or commission, allows the PDP that Nigerians rejected less than four years ago to become the cornerstone, and so soon. Most poignantly, that would not be a good emblem for the Buhari government’s anti-corruption crusade.

  • Nigeria, James and the future

    Nigeria, I Prophesy is a book which title attracts, especially those who believe in prophesies and the spiritual world. Written under the pseudonym I Am James, it is a book that is bound to attract lots of attention and interests among readers. As it is with issue of prophesies people are bound to agree or disagree with the writer in the manner in which he put his case (prophesies) about Nigeria across.

    In riveting over two hundred pages, James who claims to have had long meetings with those he refers to as “Guardian Angels”, tells of how many things about the country were revealed to him. For instance, in the chapter entitled ‘Buhari, Jonathan and a coup plotted in the spirit world’, he narrates his fear over the 2015 general elections before it was held. According to him, during all the cliff-hanger situation in which the country was embroiled in at the height of the collation of results for the presidential poll, he was busy communing with the ‘guardian angels’ to intercede to avert the crisis that he had foreseeing if things go awry.

    He writes, “I soared in Spirit and was able to view the source of the demonic attack to which the whole country was subjected. I also saw that the aim was to unleash mayhem, shed blood of thousands of people that would die in the violence to ensue. To dissipate the dark clouds that had engulfed the whole country, I reached out to the Guardian Angels, the Lords, and other Messengers of the Holy Spirit in the Spirit Realms. Grace was sought and granted.”

    The 2015 election crisis was averted and the country was saved the cataclysmic experience that would have followed if former President Goodluck Jonathan had refused to concede defeat to then candidate Muhammadu Buhari. And with the recent revelations by the Gen Abdulsalami committee about what transpired behind the scenes and what led to the decision the country was saved.

    James did not in any way claim infallibility in his prophesies, as he writes “No one can see all of the future; you only see some high points.” Perhaps this may help readers to situate some of his prophesies about the country and its leadership. In writing about the what the administration of President Buhari would usher in for the country, a dispassionate reader would likely pinch himself and ask whether all the things listed to be achieved by the administration were meant to be done during the first term that is gradually inching to an end or what would be done at his second coming (that is if he wins the 2019 election)!

    Does James possess the power of prescient? An answer to this is perhaps found in these words, “Most of those who clamoured for change and worked assiduously to bring the political change about will be victims of their own design. They will fall short of the spirit of newness that the people and the Lords demand and decree. The high and mighty will fall. The otherwise holy men and women will fall. The wise will fail themselves and their emptiness would be the sources of stand-up comedy. Their stories will be told in every home in Nigeria and abroad for a long time, as classic examples of human tragedy.” Haven’t many fallen? Remember the NYSC certificate forgery and none participation in the scheme that two ministers have been embroiled in?

    The treatises spelt out in this book are many and the future of Nigeria that he paints is rosy and beggars belief of the cynic. But whether you agree with his views and what he sees as the country’s prospect is another thing. It is a book recommended for both optimists and cynics alike to have a glimpse into the mind of the writer and the future he thinks the country is heading for.

    But this book would not find a friend in those in the academia because the rosy future he paints are not backed by any scientific data but with some spiritual beliefs!!!

    It is available for sale on online platforms both at home and abroad.  Happy reading.

  • 2019 and the Buhari imperative

    In the next few months, Nigerians will face the challenge of another round of elections, following the expiration of the four years of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Though this is a four years ritual, the next general election is instructive as it has implications for our future.

    This is in view of where we were before the Buhari presidency and where we intend to be from 2019.

    As usual, the political field has been alive with different political gladiators promising to fix one thing or the other to make Nigeria better.

    In a democracy, this is surely a good idea as it offers the electorate the benefit of choice because democracy is a market place of ideas. And luckily too, some of those offering themselves to lead the nation are people we all know their antecedents. This no doubt offers an idea of their pedigree even before they are given the privilege of leading Nigeria in 2019.

    We must however not fail to remember the need to ‘shine our eyes’ before we are fooled by some of these political gladiators, using their actions and inactions in the offices they occupy as parameters.

    Just before the PDP presidential primary, some suddenly became emergency marketers of restructuring, all in a bid to pull wool over our eyes.

    These were the same characters who played significant roles either as vice president, speakers, governors, senators etc., during the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was at the helm of affairs of the nation.

    That period was undoubtedly an era where Nigeria made stupendous wealth from oil as oil was sold in the international marker for over 100 dollars for years and our resources were looted like never before.

    Take your mind back to this era, and ask yourself what impact these people made with the resources at their disposal at their levels in government. In contrast, though Nigeria is making far less than the PDP era in revenue, Nigeria has made far much progress under the Buhari presidency in the last three years than PDP’s 16 years. All over the nation, life transforming projects are being executed like never before.

    Though those who made life difficult for Nigerians have feigned ignorance, the results are there for all to see. That was why one was very happy when Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, laid it bare when he was challenged to name some of the hundreds of projects government claimed to have done and is doing in the Southeast. Not only did he name the projects, he equally listed their locations, cost and completion dates.

    This was the same zone where President Buhari got the least number of votes in the 2015 Presidential Election, the same Southeast that cried marginalisation throughout the 16 years of the PDP misrule.

    Today, even the world knows that there is a new sheriff in town and this has shored up our profile positively on the global arena.

    World leaders are now saying that Nigeria has a president that they are proud to associate with. This in turn has rubbed off on Nigerians, as we are now treated with respect when we travel abroad.

    In addition, there is no hiding the fact that the present administration has drummed it into the consciousness of Nigerians that it will no longer be business as usual in government business.

    Gone are those days when public official dipped their hands into the cookie jar without being challenged because the times have changed.

    Though it is not yet all Uhuru in the fight against corruption, the fact that Nigerians know that they will face the music, if they fail the integrity test, is a plus for this administration.

    We must also not forget that if past administrations had diversified our economy, Nigeria would have fared better today. Because of the sweet aroma of Petro dollars, the PDP lived like the prodigal son up till the end of the Jonathan administration in 2015.

    That was why it did not take long for Nigeria to slide into a recession, which thankfully the Buhari administration has taken us out of by putting on its thinking cap.

    Today, this administration is doing a lot in the area of diversification through agriculture, mineral resources, tourism and more.

    The gains recorded in agriculture and mineral resources are unprecedented in our national history, as these sectors are now money spinners for our country.

    Across all sectors, the success stories keep increasing by the day, to the admiration of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

    Will Nigerians forget in a hurry how Boko Haram and other acts of terrorism almost killed the Nigerian project?  Though this administration may not have met all our expectations, the good news is that President Buhari, whose candidature has been ratified by APC for 2019, has left no one in doubt that he has the capacity to deliver. That is key.  We must not allow anyone or anything to reverse the gains we all laboured to achieve by voting for another four years of Buhari administration in 2019. The process starts now.

    -Umohinyang, a lawyer and political analyst, wrote in from Lagos.

  • Buhari pays tribute to Late Justice Edozie

    President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to a former justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon Justice Dennis Onyejife Edozie, describing him as an accomplished jurist who diligently applied the law in principle.

    As the late jurist is laid to rest in his country home in Oghe, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, President Buhari believed that he will be long remembered for his meritorious and dedicated service to the nation, earning him a seat at the apex court for nearly three years.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns Usman Abubakar

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, trusted that the respected jurist, teacher, community leader and statesman will be eternally honoured and celebrated for his exemplary and courageous works on the Bench in upholding the laws and Constitution of the country.

    President Buhari extended his heartfelt condolences to Justice Edozie’s family, members of the judiciary and legal profession, and the government and people of Enugu State.

    He prayed that God Almighty will grant the soul of the departed eternal rest and comfort all who mourn the jurist.

  • FRSC seeks road users’ support

    Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Friday urged road users to support the drive to reduce road crashes, especially during the Ember months.

    Oyeyemi spoke in Ibadan, during the inauguration of the new office complex of FRSC RS11.3, Oyo State Sector Command, Eleyele, in Ibadan.

    The Corps Marshal said the FRSC’s effort to reduce road crashes to the barest minimum in Nigeria needed cooperation of all road users and Nigerians in general, to have the desired success.

    “We can have a crash, but let it be zero fatality because life is of essence, and we can achieve the desired result through the cooperation of everyone.

    “We are making effort that whenever a crash occurs it does not affect free movement of people,’’ Oyeyemi said.

    The Corp Marshal said the FRSC had been getting it right since inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’ s administration due to financial support.

    “When I assumed office in 2014, I discovered that the harassment by landlords and court injunctions to vacate the corps rented apartments were too much.

    “I set a target that before the end of my two term tenure, we needed to build our own offices in states where we did not have permanent offices, and by God’s grace, we have completed 11 commands now,” he said.

    The corps marshal appreciated the support given by President Muhammadu Buhari and Oyo State government toward the completion of the new office in Oyo State.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on his part, said the new office of the corps was another milestone in his administration’s quest to boost the security and welfare of people of the state in terms of safety on the roads.

    Read Also: Road crashes claim 32 lives in Edo – FRSC

    Ajimobi was represented by the deputy governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo.

    He said his government had always played a pioneering and significant role in ensuring that the overall objective for founding the corps, which was essentially road safety administration and management, was achieved.

    Ajimobi commended the corps for exhibiting a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    He urged them to do more in view of ever increasing challenges facing road users in Nigeria.

    The governor said his administration would continue to do its best to support FRSC and other security agencies in the state.

    This, he said, was to ensure that they gave their best to the people of Oyo State.

    The Oyo State Sector Commander, Cecilia Alao, said the new office of the command would motivate the officers to be more dedicated to work.

    She appreciated the support given by the federal and state governments, as well as other stakeholders in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Minimum wage: ‘We cannot guarantee industrial peace’

    There are indications that unless there is timely intervention from the President, Muhammadu Buhari, Organised Labour may soon call out workers for yet another round of strike following insinuations that the government was yet to agree on a new National minimum wage with Organised Labour.

    The leadership of Organised Labour said they cannot guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the country if the government delayed further the announcement and implementation of the new National minimum wage following the completion of the work of the tripartite committee set up by the President to come up with a new minimum wage for the country.

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba had told newsmen that the federal government will announce a new National minimum wage after a meeting of the National Economic Council, but Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige told the Nation after the Federal Executive Council meeting that the committee was yet to arrive at a particular figure.

    Ngige said the government was still negotiating with Organised Labour as the states and federal government as well as Organised Labour and employers were banding different figures which has not been agreed upon.

    Sources close to the committee told The Nation that the Minister of Labour himself headed the subcommittee on figures during the negotiations and came up with certain figures which the committee discussed over two days before arriving at a particular figure which is to be communicated to the President.

    Apart from the figures, the committee has also drafted a bill which is to be sent to the National Assembly to give the new National minimum wage wage a legal backing.

    Read Also: Minimum Wage: No agreement on N30,000, Says FG

    Contacted, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama  said organized labour will not disclose its next line of action for now, but waiting for Chairman of the Tripathite Committee to call them to come and sign the final document which will be submitted to the President.

    Kaigama told The Nation on phone that since the committee has concluded it’s work, Nigerians should be patient and await the final document which will made available by the government, pointing out that the statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige should not be taken serious by Nigerians.

    He said Organised Labour will meet at the appropriate time to take a decision on the way forward, adding that it was rather too early to begin to talk of any formal action.

    He said “Like you know, the tripartite committee has concluded its assignment. We are waiting for the Chairperson of the committee and former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms. Ama Pepple to invite them to come and sign a clean copy of the final report which will be submitted to the President.”

    In a reaction to the Minister’s claims, Organised Labour had accused the minister of creating unnecessary tension among workers and Nigerians with his statement.

    They said “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige claiming that no amount has been agreed by the Tripartite Committee recommendation to government. The report further claimed that the Minister said that government was still negotiating with Labour.

    “It is rather unfortunate and sad if indeed, the Honourable Minister made those statements. For the avoidance of doubt, organised labour representatives Wish to state unequivocally that the Tripartite Committee concluded is work, adopted a figure through a formal motion moved, seconded and adopted In the absence of any counter motion.

    “This was after a thorough debate of a report from the subcommittee figure, chaired by Senator Ngige himself which presented four scenarios for consideration.

    “The subcommittee worked on the basis of a figure proposed by the Federal Government, figures proposed by a number of state government, as well as proposals submitted by the Organised Private Sector and Organised Labour.

    “The Committee formally adjourned its sitting with a decision that a date will be communicated to members for the signing of the report and submission of same to Mr President.

    “Organised Labour, therefore frowns at the manipulation and bending of facts in an attempt to delay or derail the processes needed to promulgate a new National Minimum Wage. We call on the government to take immediate necessary steps to ensure the enactment of a new National Minimum Wage

    as we cannot guarantee Industrial peace and harmony.”

  • Group drum support for Buhari

    The Buhari Osibanjo Mandate Group, one of the several support groups working for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerians must support the President to lead the country to what they called the promise land devoid of money politics.

    National Coordinator of the group, Prince Europe Martins said at a news conference in Abuja that Nigerians must be careful and not hand over the country too desperate politicians who spend billions of naira to secure nomination as Presidential candidate, saying “what do you expect if such a person is voted in to govern this country”.

    He asked Nigerians too select the best among the Presidential candidates who has the interest of the nation at heart and not those who are desperate for power, but lack the integrity to govern a country like Nigeria.

    He called on all Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari administration in his drive to ensure infrastructural development in the country.

    Countries all over the world, including China and Dubai are able to succeed because of their ability to put in place proper infrastructure and it is on record that none of them was able to do this within four years. The good news for Nigeria is that President Buhari has started putting together proper infrastructure for the country.

    According to him, Nigeria had the largest number of abandoned projects before the coming of the Buhari’s government, stressing that the current government has started completing those project because of his believe that they are important to the overall development of the country.

    While commending the government for the take off of the Mambilla Hydro power project, Prince Martins reminded Nigerians of how the previous governments wasted 16 billion dollars on power project without anything too show for it while the Buhari government has raised power generation too about 7000 megawatts.

    Read Also: Obasanjo, Atiku and 2019 calculations

    He said that the social intervention programmes of he government are not popular because they are targeted at the poor and not the rich.
    Also speaking at the event, leader of the South East Forum, Chief Ansleem Njoku said every sensible Igboman with the interest of the people at heart know that a Buhari second term Presidency is the only guarantee for an Igboman presidency in 2013.

    He pledged that the south east would give the President an overwhelming support because he is the only president has genuinely addressed the marginalisation of the Igboman nation through infrastructural development and the payment of pension too retired Biafran soldiers.

    He challenge other political parties too an open debate regarding the provision of infrastructure for the South East, saying “they should come out and tell us what they have been able to do for the South East over the years despite our support and we will show them what President Buhari has been able to do for the South East in just three and half years despite not voting for him in 2015”
    Sent from Samsung tablet.

  • 2019: Gang up against Buhari will not stand – Presidency

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Thursday declared that gang up against President Muhammadu Buhari towards the 2019 presidential election will not stand. 
    Buhari, according to him, will win the 2019 presidential election as all gang ups against him will fall.
    Adesina made these remarks on his Twitter handle, @FemAdesina on Thursday, which coincided with the day the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

    Read Also: Buhari, Atiku, others and the road to 2019

    Obasanjo tactically endorsed Atiku to win the 2019 presidential election. 
    But Adesina declared that the harder the gang up against President Buhari, the harder the fall.
    “The harder they come, the harder they fall. 2019 presidential election on my mind,” Adesina stated on his Twitter handle even though he was not specific on the issue he was reacting to.