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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari supporters caution Senators against use of foul language

    Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari under the auspices of Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has asked the Senate leadership to caution senators from using foul language on Nigerian leaders on the floor of the senate and during plenary.

    The Buhari supporters said it take exception to what it described as conspiratorial stance by some senators against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari with emphasis on abuse of immunity, which emboldens them to use incendiary remarks on the President at different times during their sittings.

    In a statement signed by Chairman and Secretary, Austin Braimoh and Cassidy Madueke respectively, the group said it was particularly uncharitable for Senator Eyinaya Abaribe to use foul language against the President who was quoted as saying that Nigerians have been indulging the President he referred to as “incompetent”

    BMSG said it took exception to such remarks by Senator Abaribe, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member during Thursday Plenary, describing it as reprehensible, his action amounting to an irresponsible brand of politics that the opposition has been exhibiting over time.

    The group calls on the Nigerian Senate leadership to always prevent its chamber from turning into a circus that allows use of profane and insulting language as lingua franca with the President of Nigeria being often verbally abused.

    While asking the Senate leadership to call members to order on use of intemperate language to address the president, It said, “Senator Abaribe’s comments on the floor of the Senate which engendered a rowdy session are not just shameful to the institution of the Nigerian Senate, but such defiles the hallowed office of the President and even the Senate Chamber.

    They also called on Senator Abaribe to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians and to the President of Nigeria on the ill-conceived remarks credited to him and for him to know henceforth, that the Chamber of the Senate is not to be desecrated in any way.

  • Orkar optimistic Buhari will provide solution to Benue killings

    Despite the renewed attacks on some communities in Benue by herdsmen, a chieftain of the APC in the state, Dr Joseph Orkar, is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari will provide an enduring solution to the crises.

    Speaking to our reporters on Friday in Makurdi, Orkar, immediate past Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, said the crises would not continue to linger on” as solutions will soon be found”.

    “The president has promised to provide a solution to it and we just have to wait for that solution,” he advised.

    He said the attacks on rural communities were condemnable but assured that  very soon they will become a thing of the past”.

    Orkar said the president’s delay in combating the herders attacks was not tantamount to unwillingness to deal with the situation but an act of deliberate planning.

    “As a Tiv man in Benue, where the attacks are worse hit, it is painful but I assure you, the president will find a solution to it, it will not continue like this; we can’t say the killings have erased his achievements in other areas.

    “Remember where we are coming from, you need to know the quantum of rot and decay that was in the system before Mr president took over, its not easy dealing with the issues but the man is doing his best,” he said.

    He said the APC would adhere strictly to the its guidelines on the conduct of congresses and shun impunity to ensure the election of credible state officers to handle party affairs.

    He said Gov Samuel Ortom was still the best candidate for the APC in the state and lambasted those criticizing him as been unfair to him.

    Read Also: Herdsmen kill 31 in Benue communities

    According to him, if by 2019, they was another aspirant with better credentials than Ortom, he will support such person.

    Orkar commended the agricultural programs of the Federal Government saying; they impacted positively on the food value chain.

    The party chieftain pointed out that more farmers were engaged in local production of crops which has brought down massive importation of food into the country.

    “Local rice production has increased thereby leading to massive decline in rice importation during this administration,” he explained.

    NAN

  • Suspension: Omo-Agege appeals for calm

    Senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, yesterday appealed for calm over his suspension by the upper chamber.

    Hours after the Senate handed 90 legislative day suspension, Omo-Agege released a four paragraph statement on his suspension.

    The statement signed on his behalf by his Senior legislative Aide, Prince Afe Duku read in part:

    “We owe our people a responsibility to address concerns arising from today’s proceedings in the Senate as they relate to the Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. Our first duty is to appeal for calm and we hereby do so trusting that there is no insurmountable challenge before us. There is adequate capacity to address the now widely reported “suspension” matter.

    “As already well-known by many, the issues acted upon today by the Senate are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction and therefore subjudice. It is the Senate’s view that the issues be withdrawn from court for an amicable resolution to hold. Until a resolution is reached, it is better to respect the court processes by not commenting on them.

    “Also, we note that as part of the resolution of the issues, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki ruled that the Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, (Senate) for President Muhammadu Buhari should be disbanded. This should be a matter for the over 50 members of PSG to decide, possibly with President Buhari on whose behalf they openly work as Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic.

    “In the circumstance, we appeal for calm and assure that as a fervent believer in the rule of law, our Senator is in positive spirit. He deeply respects the institution of the senate and his good friends in the senate. He will never undermine them. He remains an ardent supporter of Mr. President’s agenda for a better nation for all and will continue to work assiduously for his re-election.”

    Meanwhile a source close to the leadership of the Senate said that Omo-Agege’s suspension had nothing to do with order of elections.

    He told our reporter that the suspension was primarily about Omo-Agege’s “filing a case a case in court after he had apologized to the Senate.”

    He added that the unsolicited apology was an admission of guilt.

    He noted that ‘Omo-Agege through his conduct and utterances was becoming a divisive element in the Senate which is not good for the institution of the Senate.”

                                                                                                                                                     

  • TCN commissions 60MVAR capacitor bank to improve electricity voltage in FCT

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN ), has commissioned a 60MVAR Capacitor Bank at the Apo 132/33Kv substation to improve quality and voltage of electricity supply to consumers in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ).

    The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said at the commissioning of the project on Thursday that it would improve quality of power in terms of voltage to some communities in the FCT.

    He listed the communities to include Apo, Guzape, Garki, Lugbe, Asokoro, and some parts of Central Area.

    Fashola said the provision of the facility was part of the implementation of incremental power programme of the Federal Government.

    “We are here because we promised incremental power, we have improved the quantity that is available. We have improved the quantity of power that is being transported.

    “We have improved the quantity of power that is being distributed, but our work is not finished.

    “It is one thing to have power, it is another thing for the quality of the power to be good and today we came to address the quality of power.

    “Our population has grown over the last 20 years without a commensurate expansion in the services that we have installed, and that is partly why you experience issues like low voltage, load shedding and other issues.

    “Today, we added a capacitor bank here which will help to increase and improve the quality of power by improving the voltage.

    “Voltage is critical not only to general safety but also to quality of life and cost,’’ the minister said.

    The installation of the power capacitor bank was necessitated by the on-going transmission rehabilitation and reinforcement of power infrastructure to improve wheeling capacity at the interface level with DisCos.

    The installation of the facility was done by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ) through mutual cooperation between the Nigerian and Japanese governments to improve electricity supply to Abuja, Nasarawa and Benue States.

    The contract for the project was awarded to EPC contractor in July 2016 at the cost of 12.1 million dollars.

    Fashola said the Japanese government through JICA was one of the partners driving the change promised Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This project is part of the change for a better Nigeria, the president need partners and one of the partners is the Japanese government represented in Nigeria by JAICA,” Fashola explained.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of TCN, Mr Mohammed Gur-Usman, said the project was one of many the company had undertaken under the collaboration component of the incremental power project.

    He said the Apo sub-station capacitor bank was done jointly with another capacitor bank in Keffi, adding that the Keffi component had 25MVAR as capacity value, while Apo has 60MVAR.

    Gur-Usman said under the collaboration, JICA would support the upgrade of the Apapa sub-station from 90MW to 160MW and rehabilitation of Akangba sub-station

    He said negotiations were on-going with JICA to also rehabilitate Isolo, Ojo and Ikeja West subs-stations.

    “JICA is supporting us with a loan that will help us increase transmission capacity between Lagos and Ogun States to more than 1,000MW,” Gur-Usman said.

    The Chief Representative of JICA at the Nigerian Office, Mr Katsutoshi Komori, said JICA was working in the areas of infrastructure development in Nigeria.

    He said improving infrastructure like power was one of the priority areas of JICA programmes to enhance Nigeria’s potential economic growth.

    He explained that the provision of the capacitor was to mitigate the suffering of consumers from voltage loss and load shedding due to increasing population and distance from power infrastructure.

    According to him, the project will help stabilise power supply in the region to approximately 7,000 households.

    NAN

  • MOSOP wants Buhari to address injustice, marginalization in Ogoniland

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately address the injustice and marginalisation in Ogoniland, in order to put an end to the neglect of many years.

    MOSOP on Thursday in Port Harcourt, through its Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke, also expressed displeasure over the Federal Government’s inability to commence the clean-up of Ogoniland and the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland.

    It noted that with the August 4, 2011 submission of the UNEP report to the then President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, it was expected that almost seven years after, the actual clean-up of Ogoniland ought to have started, considering the assurances given by President Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during his last visit to Ogoniland about two years ago.

    Ogoni people in the four Local Government Areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme declared that they were not happy over the inaction on the Ogoni clean-up and other recommendations in the UNEP report.

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people said: “At the inception of the administration of President Buhari, we (Ogoni people) had anticipated some relief for the Ogoni people, not only because the new President had during his campaign in 2015 pledged to ensure the clean-up of Ogoniland and fully implement the recommendations contained in the UNEP report, but we expected that the clean-up would open discussions on crucial issues affecting the Ogoni people, especially the political right to self determination.

    “We had hope that President Buhari’s integrity, based on what we had heard about him and his uprightness, would not be compromised. We were actually optimistic of a renewed commitment to resolving the Ogoni problems.

    “We were sure that President Buhari was aware that in over 30 years of oil exploration in Ogoniland, an estimated $81 billion had been generated from the area, excluding the huge gas potential of Ogoniland, the revenue from the two seaports, two refineries, a petrochemical complex and two power stations in the area, but Ogoniland has no water, electricity, roads and other social amenities.

    “The Ogoni experience clearly shows the injustice in Nigeria. The shame is that rather than address the injustice, the Federal Government of Nigeria is attempting to deceive the world about the true situation in Ogoniland. Today in Ogoniland, some villages bury as many as 13 persons in a week, because of pollution caused by exploration and exploitation of crude oil and gas since 1958.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria is not bothered about the pathetic situation in Ogoniland, but still pushing for resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, over 25 years after Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) was sent packing from the area. Nigeria government’s primary interest is the Ogoni oil and not the safety and future of the people.”

    MOSOP also stated that it was demanding justice, fairness and equity peacefully and non-violently, while noting that the peace-loving Ogoni people were being pushed to the wall.

    It maintained that Ogoni State was not negotiable, stressing that the new state would deliver social equality and justice for the people, thereby allowing Ogoni people to set their priorities and developmental needs.

    The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people assured that the determined people of Ogoniland would never surrender to an oppressive Nigerian government.

    It will be recalled that the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists were hanged at the Port Harcourt Prisons on November 10, 1995, during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

  • $1bn Security Fund: Reps urge FG to follow due process

    The House of Reps has advised the Presidency to follow due process in obtaining one billion dollars from Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account ( ECA ) to fight insurgency.

    Spokesman of the House, Rep. Abdulrasak Namdas (Adamawa-APC), gave the advice in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Namdas said that the National Assembly had not received any notice on such need of government, nor had it given any approval for one billion dollars to be taken from the ECA for the military to fight insurgency.

    According to him, the normal practice in Nigeria is that any amount to be withdrawn from the Federation Account must have approval from the National Assembly.

    “We are hoping that this will be brought before us before any amount is withdrawn.

    “Although from the presidency we have heard some explanations that the president has not approved.

    “What we have been told is that the National Executive Council (NEC) has given its tacit approval and that it will still come to the National Assembly.

    “But until we approve, no single amount can be taken from that account,” he said.

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) – Federal Government has been under criticism following President Muhammadu Buhari had approved one billion dollars from the ECA to procure more military hardware to fight Boko Haram terrorism.

    NAN

  • President Buhari extends VAIDS deadline to June 30

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme ( VAIDS ) to June 30.

    The approval for the extension of the deadline is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the short extension after the original March 31 date is based on the appeals of professional bodies and individual taxpayers.

    The statement, however, maintained that no further extension of time will be approved after June 30.

    It stated that a new date was also given, based on the conviction of the Ministry of Finance that the overall objective to increase compliance will be attained, and additional revenue will accrue.

    It said that a Fresh Executive Order would be made to give legal backing to the new timeline.

    “For a nation of people who are competitive and driven, it is not a pride that we are the lowest performer in tax to GDP, not just in Africa, but in the world.

    “Nigeria’s growth needs are such that every Nigerian must do his duty to his nation, to his neighbour, and to himself.

    “Hiding monies overseas, evading taxes by manipulation, and other unwholesome practices, have never developed a country, and for Nigeria to attain her true potential, these must stop,’’ President Buhari was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Read Also: Protest as Buhari arrives in London

    The President urged Nigerian companies and individuals to join government in the rebuilding mission, “and do the right thing by taking this window of extension to regularize.”
    He added that the right thing may not be convenient or comfortable, “but in the long run, we will all have a nation we can be proud of.”

    President Buhari further urged tax authorities to use the extension window to perfect plans to prosecute those who fail to regularize their tax status.

    VAIDS is one of the key policies being used by the Federal Government to reposition the Nigerian economy and correct inherited underdevelopment.

    The country has one of the lowest tax collection rates in the world at just six per cent of GDP. This was partially a function of the reliance on oil that saw us abandon the historical revenue collection systems and switch to a culture of sharing resources, rather than generating them.

    President Buhari had in 2017 inaugurated the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan ( ERGP ), and the VAIDS tax amnesty is first in the series of reforms that will transform our tax system and provide sustainable predictable funding for all tiers of government.

    Tax revenues will ensure that public infrastructure is provided, and public services are funded to improve the lives of the people.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s 2019 declaration: Obasanjo, IBB, others are not God – Shittu

    Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, says APC’s supporters should not entertain fear that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other ex-military leaders may block President Muhammadu Buhari’s chance of coming back.

    Shittu, who made the remark on Tuesday in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, said since the former Nigerian leaders “are not God, there should be no apprehension’’.

    Buhari had on Monday declared his intention to seek re-election at the closed-door meeting of the National Executive Council ( NEC ) meeting of the party in Abuja.

    Buhari said he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to re-contest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give NEC the honour of notifying them first.

    However, Obasanjo and former military president, Ibrahim Babangida ( IBB ), had advised the president not to run in the 2019 poll, asking Nigerians to vote him out should he decide otherwise.

    While reacting to Buhari’s declaration, the minister said the action was a welcome development.

    “Who is OBJ? OBJ is not God. IBB is not God. Obasanjo was president here, he wanted a third term and he didn’t get it.

    “What Mr President did yesterday (Monday), we had done that much back on his behalf; that is the Mohammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group.
    “So what he did yesterday was just a follow-up to what we had done about three months ago.

    “And I want to assure you is that by the grace of God, Mohammadu Buhari will become president the second time,” he said.

    He said the president had distinguished himself as his achievement in three years had surpassed what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria in 15 years.

    “For instance in the area of job creation for youths, no government has ever in one day employed 200, 000 graduates. It has never happened but under Buhari N-Power it happened.

    “Through this, he has provided jobs for 200, 000 families spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

    “Government is still processing the employment of 300, 000 more graduates to make it 500, 000, this has never happened.

    “In the areas of transport, works and housing, the last budget of the PDP government was less than N20 billion and most of these monies were stolen; diverted to private pockets.

    “In 2017 alone, the Buhari government spent N255 billion on those subject matters; transport, works and housing. So how do you compare?

    “Today, government is also building new roads across the South East states with 100 million dollars SUKUK loan; non interest loan from Islamic Development Bank.

    “For the first time, government is building new railway from Lagos to Kano, from Kano to Maiduguri, from Maiduguri to Calabar and from Calabar to Lagos. So the records are there,” he said.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s declaration: Agbakoba foresees upsets in 2019

    A leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) on Tuesday said there could be “upsets” in next year’s general elections.

    Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to seek to re-election, Agbakoba told The Nation that it was within the President’s rights to do so.

    He said it was left for Nigerians to decide if the President deserves a second term.

    On what he thought about Buhari’s declaration, Agbakoba said: “It’s his constitutional entitlement but what really matters is whether this means he will be re-elected is an entirely different matter as this will be decided by Nigerians.”

    Agbakoba, a civil rights activist and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, said discussions were ongoing with a view to presenting a credible candidate who can match Buhari.

    He predicted that next year’s general elections would be competitive.

    On whether there is a credible candidate who can successfully challenge Buhari, Agbakoba said: “That’s to be taken for granted.”

    He added: “I am aware there are massive consultations and alignments underway throughout Nigeria and very credible candidates will emerge to make the elections competitive and with strong possibility for upsets across Nigeria.”

    Another activist lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, said Buhari’s decision to seek reelection was “good for Nigeria”.

    According to him, the President’s honesty and discipline make him the best candidate, adding that a victory for the opposition party would take Nigeria backwards.

    Adebiyi said: “Buhari’s second coming is good for Nigeria. There are two things he possesses: discipline and honesty, rare qualities in present Nigeria Leaders. We need them and we will continue to need them.

    “No doubt he has made some economic restructuring and diversification, benefits of which may not manifest until later years.

    “Let him come back to reap and use what he had sowed and the looted money he had recovered for the betterment of Nigeria.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming back will only be to loot/waste the money recovered. It will be a reign of revenge.

    “Honesty and discipline cannot be acquired; they are inborn. No PDP leader has such qualities. They will only take us back and down the drain in a despicable form that Nigeria may never find recovery.”

  • 2019: Buhari has right to seeks for second term – Textile workers

    The National Union of Textiles Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has the constitutional right to seek for a second term.

    The General Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu said in a press statement in Kaduna.

    According to the union, the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to seek re-election in 2019 is largely a constitutional matter.

    “For us in the labour movement, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria allows for two-term tenure for the President if elected; same for governors and open-ended for legislators,’’ Aremu stated.

    Read Also: Buhari salutes Ayo Adebanjo at 90

    He noted that President Buhari certainly has the right, under the 1999 Constitution, to seek re-election for second term in office.

    “Same Constitution allows all eligible citizens to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for.’’

    He said the controversy over why the president is contesting or not, was, therefore, unnecessary.

    The labour leader stated that the labour movement will exercise its constitutional rights to vote in 2019 based on critical assessment of all political office holders.

    NAN