The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Benue now relatively secured, peaceful – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue said on Saturday that the state was now relatively peaceful since the deployment of troops in various operations to tackle the menace of armed banditry and suspected killer herdsmen.

    Ortom, however, pleaded with the military not to leave in spite of the successes recorded.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benson Abounu spoke at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of over 300 housing units under the Nigerian Army post-service housing scheme at Otukpo.

    He urged the Army not to demobilise its `Operation Whirl Stroke’ that has helped to bring about peace to the state.

    On the housing project, Ortom commended the army for siting the project in Otukpo, the first of such scheme to be located outside any state capital.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the houses, expected to be delivered in 12 months, are being constructed under Public Private Partnership arrangement.

    Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai had assured that the army in partnership with other security agencies would continue to tackle all security challenges in the state.

    Buratai stressed that as the “food basket” of the nation, it was imperative that there should be security and peace in Benue.

     

    Read also:Ortom: I’m being persecuted for grazing law

     

    He said the houses would be allocated to military personnel and civilians on 50-50 basis, unlike the previous arrangement of 70 to 30.

    The army chief had earlier at the palace of Och’ Idoma, Dr Elias Obekpa, informed the monarch that the army was constructing a barrack in Otukpo as part of efforts to ensure security in the town and its environs.

    He said under the Nigerian army “Order of Battle” 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval for the establishment of the barrack.

    The army chief noted that Idoma sons and daughters had contributed to the development of the military through their enlistment into the Armed Forces.

    Responding, the Och’ Idoma, who was represented by Chief John Ochayi, Ad’ Ohimini, commended the army for the establishment of the barrack.

    He said the formation, when completed, would help in addressing security challenges in the area, noting that there had been long cordial relationship between the army and Idoma people.

  • Buhari departs for New York Sunday to attend UN General Assembly

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday depart for New York to participate in the 73rdSession of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) which officially opened September 18, 2018.

    The theme for this year’s Session is: “Making the United Nations relevant to all People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.”

    The highpoint of President Buhari’s participation, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, will be his address on Tuesday to the General Assembly on the opening day of the General Debate.

    “The President’s presentation of Nigeria’s National Statement is expected to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to international peace and security; sustainable socio-economic development; disarmament and denuclearisation; youth and women empowerment; climate change; rule of law and human rights; among others.

    ‘He is also expected to particularly canvass international support for the fight against corruption; the return of illicit assets; counter-terrorism and insurgency; curbing irregular migration; re-settling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs); recharging the receding Lake Chad; and calls for the reform of the United Nations, especially the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council to make that vital principal organ of the global organisation reflect regional and equitable geographical representation.” he said.

    Read Also: Buhari, Saraki and caustic electioneering

    The statement also said that the President and his wife, Aisha, will also attend a welcome reception hosted by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and his spouse for Heads of State and Government and their spouses.

    The Nigerian leader and his delegation will participate in a High-Level meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis organised by the World Health Organisation as Nigeria currently ranks seventh amongst the high TB-burden countries globally, and second in Africa.

    The Nigerian delegation is expected to attend the Mandela Peace Summit, which is a High-Level Meeting on Global Peace in honour of the centenary birth of the late South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela.

    Other side-events lined up for the Nigerian delegation include: High-Level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit; the Second Annual Bloomberg Global Business Forum; High-Level Meeting on Action for Peace-Keeping; Commemoration and Promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; High-Level Meeting on the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa; and Pathway to Localising a Global Agenda.

    During the course of his stay in New York, in addition to the audience with the UN Secretary-General, the Nigerian President is also expected to have bilateral meetings with African and world leaders including Bill Gates with a view to promoting national and African interests.

    He will also grant audience to a select group of Nigerian professionals based in the United States.

    Apart from his wife, President Buhari will be accompanied by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; and the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin.

    Others on the presidential entourage include: the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammad Babandede; and the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

  • Controller assures of imminent rehabilitation of federal roads

    Federal Controller of works in Katsina State, Engineer Tunde Balogun has assured motorists plying federal roads in the state that rehabilitation of all federal roads in the state would soon commence as the requisite proposals have been submitted on them for capture in the ministry’s budget

    Engineer Balogun who gave the assurance on Saturday in Katsina, during an exclusively chat with The Nation in his office, said already the dualization of Kano-Katsina federal highway is in progress and that the katsina border end of the road which was awarded to Chinese firm, CCECC, is also ongoing

    He said’’ the state governments are taking charge of internal roads within the state capital or local government headquarters, like the kano road in Malumfashi and the bye-pass, it is the Katsina state government that has been maintaining that intersecting roads within the town’’

    ‘’If it is road maintenance, FERMA, is in charge while rehabilitation of major highways is our responsibility especially when it is 8km outskirts of the road’’

    Read Also: Saraki: Nigeria is at crossroads

    ‘’There is much improvement on road funding under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari unlike what obtains in the past, with the limited resource available, there is a lot of activities on the  federal roads now, as you can see’’

    On his assessment of the condition of federal roads in the state, the controller said it is fair, when compared to what obtains in some other states

    He identified other federal roads being captured in the proposals to include; Katsina-Dutsinma-Kankara road, Katsina-Jibia road and Daura-Kano road

    Meanwhile the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, have assured motorists plying Funtua –Bakori-Katsina roads that the patching of the potholes on the road has not been abandoned as being insinuated in some quarters but that work will resume on the road as soon as the rainy season is over

    The resident engineer in charge of FERMA in Katsina state, Engineer Ali Abdul, told The Nation, exclusively, that the road was being handled under direct labor and supervised by one of their staff, Engineer Solomon

     

     

  • Buhari has no anointed candidate in C/River Central-Ricketts

    An aspirant to the Senatorial seat of Cross River State central district Obol Akin Ricketts, has reacted to speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has anointed a chieftain of the party from the area be the flag bearer of the district in the 2019 elections.

    Fielding questions from reporters after a consultative meeting with APC members and his supporters in Obubra Local Government Area of the State he said, “the President Buhari that I know as a father cannot take such a blanket decision without considering the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Central Senatorial District.

    “Our party is committed to providing a level playing ground for all aspirants to test their acceptability by their people. The claim that President Buhari took the decision because APC has zoned the position of Senate Presidency to Cross River Central Senatorial District is untrue and a cheap political propaganda.

    Read Also:2019: ‘Buhari is our strongest selling point’

    Obol Ricketts, who is one of the front runners for the Cross River Central Senatorial ticket pointed out that his aspiration to represent the people of the old Obubra Province is borne out of the desire and agitations for equitable representation by all segments of the Senatorial District, emphasizing that since the advent of democracy, Yakurr and Obubra are the two Local Government Areas that have not had a shot at the Senatorial seat while Abi, Ikom, Etung and Boki which are the other Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District have all had their turns in the past.

    The Senatorial hopeful, who is a former Commissioner for Information in the State, urged his supporters and party loyalists to remain calm, insisting that he is in the race for victory.

  • APC suspends LG party chairman in Ebonyi

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Onitcha Local Government area of Ebonyi, on Saturday suspended its party chairman, Mr Uchenna Agwu, for alleged anti-party activities, indiscipline and insubordination.

    Mr Kenneth Nwali, Onitcha Local Government Secretary of the party, announced this in a statement in Isu, the Headquarters of the Council at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting.

    Mr Ifeanyi Ezeka, the Vice Chairman of the party, was appointed as the acting chairman of the party in the area.

    Nwali said: “His suspension follows adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr James Okafor, Organising Secretary, urging the local government executive committee of the party to adopt an earlier report submitted by a disciplinary committee set up to look into the allegations.

    “Executive Committee after a critical study of the report of the disciplinary committee upheld the report.

    “Also the chairman‘s refusal to honour series of invitations extended to him by the disciplinary committee to defend himself is a further prove of guilt.

    Read Also: Zoning: APC group threatens to vote PDP in C’River

    “In the light of the above, the vote of no confidence earlier passed on Agwu is hereby sustained and accordingly he is hereby suspended from the party indefinitely.

    “According to the scribe, the party has taken the decision in the interest of APC to serve as deterrent to others, instil party discipline and loyalty in the area.

    “APC wishes to assure every member of the party of its support, cooperation and equal opportunities to achieve individual and collective ambitions and the development of democracy.

    “We reiterate our commitment to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our great party in the 2019 general elections,” the statement added.

    Newsmen reports that efforts made to speak with the embattled party chairman were unsuccessful as he was not in attendance at the meeting and while his mobile phone could not be reached.

  • Zoning: APC group threatens to vote PDP in C/River

    Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State have threatened to vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election.

    The stakeholders who spoke through a group, the Cross River North Solidarity Forum (CRNSF), said they would vote against their party if the governorship ticket of the party which was zoned to the area in 2014 is not retained.

    In a statement issued in Calabar by the group’s spokesman, Joseph Ogah, they said that the President Muhammadu Buhari led government has not been fair to members of the party from the zone in terms of appointment and will resist any move by “corrupt people who just defected to the party to hijack the ticket from the north.”

    The group said that if the APC does not want people from the northern senatorial district of the state in the party, they would not hesitate to seek their political fortune elsewhere where every zone will be treated equally.

    They questioned why zoning was observed in the recently held congresses from ward to national but some “greedy and self-seeking intruders are going about planning to take what was zoned to the north in 2014.”

    The statement read, “The message we have to pass in this press statement is simple; we will vote the PDP massively if the governorship ticket is given to another senatorial district.

    Read Also: 2019: Imo APC backs Oshiomhole, Buhari

    “In 2014, party positions were zoned and the governorship ticket was zoned to the north. Odey Ochicha from the north was APC governorship candidate and he came second in that election. It was because of Ochicha’s effort that President Buhari had up to 28,000 votes, the highest votes an opposition party ever had in the state. He went to every corner of the state with his personal resources campaigning for himself and Buhari. The then party Chairman who is today eating large as the Niger Delta Minister never followed him for once to any campaign nor released funds for campaign.

    “Many of us used our money to work for APC but when the party won, the zone was completed neglected. No reasonable appointment was given to the north despite the numerous juicy appointments that came to the state.

    “The central alone got Minister of Niger Delta, NDDC Chairman, Career Ambassador, SA on Prosecution to the President, Auditor General etc. The South has the Head of Service, Ambassador, NDDC Commissioner, DG, National Centre for Women Development and many others. The north was left with nothing. Even the governorship candidate who sacrificed so much for the party in 2015 was not given anything reasonable.

    “Are we less a senatorial district to others? Sir John Ochala was Acting Chairman after the former Chairman was appointed Chairman, the central fought that he must relinquish power to them or nothing. There was a mini Congress where a substantive chairman was elected from the central in line with the zoning arrangement. But today, the same people that said the north cannot keep state chairman and governorship ticket have turned back to fight that central should that has the state Chairman should produce governorship candidate.

    “The national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other National Working Commitee members are product of zoning. Nobody from the north contested against Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the National Vice Chairman (South South) because the position was zoned to the southern senatorial district. Nobody from the north contested against Dr. Achigbe because the state Chairmanship position was zoned to the central. So why are people struggling what was zoned to the north now? Are we slaves in APC?”

    “If APC is ready to win Cross River State, aspirants from other zones must jettison their selfish interest to allow the north field a candidate. Failure to do this will mark doom for APC as the PDP will have 100% support in the north in all positions.

    “We also want to advice some APC leaders who have collected money from aspirants sponsored by PDP to sell out to tread with caution as a day of reckoning is just by the corner.

    “Those who last year were shouting that the north must do eight years like others but are now saying different things because of the bribes they have collected should trade with caution. APC must avoid another Governor Ortom and Saraki experience in Cross River State. Some aspirants are only in APC because they want a platform to achieve their desperate political ambition after which they will destroy the party and return to PDP. APC must be careful.”

  • Presidency tackles Saraki for disparaging Buhari

    The Presidency yesterday lashed Senate President Bukola Saraki for disparaging President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Dr Saraki, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to seek the presidential ticket of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Buhari as lacking the vision and capacity to run the country.

    He spoke when he led his presidential campaign team to visit Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The Senate President urged the electorate to replace the APC leadership, which he accused of causing disunity in the country.

    But the Presidency fired back at Saraki, describing him as a dangerous and desperate politician who can do anything to achieve his inordinate ambition.

    It, however, pleaded with Buhari’s supporters to ignore what it called “Saraki’s crude speeches”.

    A statement by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said: “The Presidency wishes to react to the crude speeches hitting the news from Senator Bukola Saraki who recently joined the Peoples Democratic Party with the sole ambition of running for the president of Nigeria.

    “In response to the condemnable and extremely derogatory speeches by the PDP aspirant, we urge all Buhari supporters to display restraint in language and conduct and to always put across their points of view in a decent language.

    “Throughout his political career, Senator Saraki has shown that he is a very dangerous person who can go any length to promote his personal interests.

    “The language of his campaign is such that cannot be used against a domestic help. Is he just knowing that the President lacked vision? This is someone that the Senator had worked with very closely for more than three years. Amazingly, he never said all that he is now saying against him.

    “Rather, his word for and on the President were always respectful and reassuring. That’s the man he called ‘My Father’. About him, ‘there is no cause for alarm…a President who is healthy, witty and himself.’ What then changed, all of a sudden?

    “Is he saying these blatantly false and crude things against the President because he is gunning for the same office? Could it be that he is targeting President Buhari because the party he just joined does not have any real issues to highlight?

    “Be that as it may, our appeal to our supporters is to ignore Saraki and any such politicians bent on lowering the quality of political discourse. Let them drown in their own waters.”

    In his search for support, the Senate President claimed that the country needed a leader of his stature to unite the country and create a sense of belonging through fair distribution of appointments.

    He insisted that the country was in need of a young vibrant leader with the capacity to withstand the rigours of governance at all time.

    He said governance must be accompanied with the willingness and capacity to give 24 hours attention to the demands of the job.

    According to him, the Asian Tigers were respected to have developed their countries because of their painstaking commitment and patience in dealing with issues of governance.

    He urged PDP delegates to consider him for the presidential candidacy to make the requisite difference in the governance of the country.

    He said: “2019 is a very crucial election for this country; we are at the crossroads as we have never been so disunited as we are today.

    “Wherever you go, people ask questions: where do you belong? We need to address the issue of unity in this country; it is time for everybody to have a seat on the table, a time for everyone to have a sense of belonging in this country. It is not about me.

    “There is a new order in the world today, wherever we go, we see leaders that have vision, that are ready to develop their countries. A lot of us talked about the Asian Tigers, but they did not come by chance, or trial and error; they became tigers because they have visionary leaders.

    “They are leaders that are ready to defend their countries that have an idea of what they want to do.  As I keep on saying, you cannot give what you don’t have. Where we are now, we have a leadership that has no vision for us. We must bring visionary leadership to the presidential level so we can move this country forward.”

    Dickson said that the time had come for the country to move away from bigotry and leadership founded on sectional superiority.

    He called for a country where all could be trusted and appointed into sensitive positions irrespective of ethnicity and religion.

     

  • Buhari, Ambode meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja met with Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the State House, Abuja.

    The mission of the governor at the Presidential Villa was not known. It was after the meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), which dragged into the late hours of Wednesday.

    Ambode is seeking a renewal of mandate for a fresh four-year term. He has challengers in two former Lagos commissioners – Babjide Sanwo-Olu (Establishment &Training) and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (Works & Infrastructure).

    The trio would contest for the APC governorship ticket at a scheduled shadow poll.

  • Buhari names Amaechi head of campaign organization

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a campaign organization for his re-election in 2019.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the  Secretary/Director General of the organization.

    Read Also: Buhari in the eyes of a writer

    The statement also recalled that Hon. Amaechi was the Director General of the Buhari-Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Committee in 2014-2015 that won the elections and brought the current administration into office.

    “The new Director General will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by President Buhari.” it stated

     

  • Domestic carriers commend FG over suspension of national airline

    ….Investing over $3 billion on unprofitable venture , not in national interest

    Umbrella body of domestic carriers,  Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has commended the Federal Government for taking bold steps to suspend indefinitely the controversial carrier – Nigeria Air.

    The airline body said judging by the tough economic times in the country today, it would not make economic sense for any administration to invest over $ 3 billion in an airline project that is neither sustainable nor profitable.

    In a statement on Thursday, its executive Chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison said the government took the right steps to pull the brakes on the planned carrier in response to the AON  consistently called for a rethink on the project in the light of the tough economic situation; warning government that the concept of national carrier was moribund.

    Besides, Meggison said government should go back to the drawing board and engage with the private sector with transparency on how to position Nigeria as the Hub for Africa given its  geographical location

    Meggison said: ” At this time of our national limited resources and struggle to recover from recession, AON would like to state that there are private Nigerian Airline Investors ready to invest and already investing heavily on the sector and only asking for a more friendly operational environment and infrastructure support.”

    “During these tough economic times, why do we want to rush and spend $3bn on an airline that we know will not make profit?

    We know how many Nigeria roads can be tarred with the funds. The truth is that the whole National Carrier concept is totally unsustainable and will be a drain pipe that will lead to wastage of our scarce resources.”

    Read Also: Foreign meddling in Africa’s domestic affairs

    Putting the issue in perspective, Meggison said: “Setting up of National Carrier will cost Nigeria at least $3bn (a single B777 as of today costs about $320m.)” He therefore asked: “Is it wise and our priority as a nation to take $3bn from the Nigerian coffers today and put into a venture that will for sure go down the drain within a maximum of five  years to establish a “National Carrier”?

    He went on: “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for listening to our many calls for the idea to be suspended. In our opinion we believe the process was neither transparent nor did it clearly define the role of Private investors in the entire process.

    “At this time of our national limited resources and struggle to recover from recession, AON would like to state that there are private Nigerian Airline Investors ready to invest and already investing heavily on the sector and only asking for a more friendly operational environment and infrastructure support.

    “National Carrier is an obsolete ‘“EGO/PRIDE” idea. Business and pride don’t go together. All over Europe South America, United States today, 90 per cent of their carriers  including Lufthansa, British Airways are all flag carriers which are completely private entities.

    “Just about 10 days ago on September 12, 2018 was a clear indication of what obtains in the true world. Boeing financed a private Nigerian airline, Air Peace for purchase of 10 Boeing 737-8MAX airplanes in a deal valued at $1.5billion. This is much more than the Nigeria National Carrier and a clear indication of the future and where the world is today.”

    He said examples abound of how unfashionable the concept of national carrier has become.

    He said: ” South African Airways has been termed as been  in insolvency in the last 10 years and has been receiving from the government bailout yearly ($400 million) in order for it to stay in business.

    “Kenya Airways has equally been struggling. The airline is facing tough financial crisis that is threatening its very existence. The airline recently got a $750million bailout in the past year. It’s a known fact in the industry that Ethiopian airlines with over $35bn exposure, is rushing to go public (Plc.) or may start to default in payments soon.

    “Nigeria does not need a National Carrier. Like what operates in advanced countries of the world, what Nigeria needs are strong private airlines that are allowed to operate in a friendly operational environment with a level playing field and policies that ensure their survival.

    “Nigeria is a natural Hub for Africa. However, airlines don’t make a hub; but it is world-class infrastructure that makes a hub. Then the airlines and airplanes will come in.

    “Today, Air Peace is Nigeria’s largest airline operator with 30 aircraft. The Airline has acquired four (4) B777 with ten (10) B737Max on order. Medview has gotten B777 and B767, while Azman Air just received an Airbus 340.

    “These are huge positive steps and the biggest growth in Africa this quarter that needs government support, better infrastructure, low interest rates , double,taxes  fewer levies, better runway landing aids  among others as well as encouragement.

    “AON believes government should focus on governing and let the businessmen do the business!! Or, as I always say; “government has no business in business.

    “Once again we thank the President and the FEC for this indefinite suspension of the national carrier. “