Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Herdsmen/Farmers clashes: IGP advises against inflammatory statements

    Herdsmen/Farmers clashes: IGP advises against inflammatory statements

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has advised Nigerians to avoid making inflammatory statements and playing politics with the herdsmen/farmers clashes to achieve genuine reconciliation.

    Speaking during the launch of his book in Lagos on Thursday, Idris said that the security challenges needed to be properly managed so as not to drag the country into unending crisis.

    “This is the only way the country can secure genuine reconciliation among herders and farmers so that they can once again live in peace, harmony, love and avoid unnecessary loss of lives.” he said.

    The police IG said that even though President Muhammadu Buhari mandated the security agencies to arrest and prosecute offenders in the clashes, the nation needed serious conversation on the issue.

    “I have realized that the issue is beyond apprehension and prosecution of offenders: There has to be speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights and interests of the suspects and victims of crime,” Idris said.

    According to the police IG, this is the only way people will have a sense of justice, peace and reconciliation.

    “It is my conviction that when there is security, justice, peace and reconciliation in any nation, civil strife can be avoided.

    “Inter-communal harmony and reconciliation is easier when the people are convinced that the police and other security architecture can guarantee them their individual rights, security and justice,” he said.

    Idris said that the public image of the police was not impressive and called on policemen to respect the rights of the people while performing their lawful duties.

    Read Also: Govt: herdsmen must be law-abiding in Ogun

    “While performing their constitutional duties of protection of lives and property, the police must do so within the confines of the law,” the IG said.

    He said that he dedicated the book titled “Security and Justice: The Pathway for Peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria” to officers and men of the force for their selfless service.

    Idris said that proceeds from the book would be used to fund “the Security and Justice Initiative,” a foundation being put in place for the promotion of security, peace and reconciliation in Nigeria.

    The IG said that traditional rulers should be accorded rightful place in the security architecture, peace justice and genuine reconciliation of the people.

    Speaking at the book launch, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu attributed the herdsmen/farmers clashes to the nation’s porous borders.

    The book reviewer, Prof. A.B. Ahmed, said that the 293-page book answered salient questions on security and justice and focused on the author’s childhood and experiences as a policeman.

    “This book is original, excellent and very important for everyone that wants the success of the country as it demonstrates the link between security, justice and human life,” he said.

    Among dignitaries present at the book launch were former Ogun Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, Lagos Police Commissioner, Edgar Imohimi and a representative of retired Maj. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma.

    NAN

  • Buhari inaugurates locally made drone, restates commitment to security

    Buhari inaugurates locally made drone, restates commitment to security

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kaduna inaugurated a new drone developed by the Nigeria Air Force ( NAF ) for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.

    The Unmarked Areal Vehicle, named Tsaigumi, was to boost the capacity of the military.

    “From the military perspective, the added capacity for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance provided by the TSAIGUMI will boost ongoing and future security operations.

    “As this project moves into the next stage, which is mass production, it would create employment and possibly generate revenue as Nigeria’s first military export product,’’ the President said.

    According to him, the technological feat is an indication that there is potential to apply the same innovative mindset to addressing other areas of indigenous technological needs.

    “While I commend the Nigerian Air Force for this accomplishment, I enjoin you not to rest on this achievement but to strive harder in your research and development efforts for greater innovation.

    “Be assured of this administration’s support towards the attainment of greater technological milestones for our nation.’’

    Buhari reiterated the commitment and firm resolve of his administration to take Nigeria to the next level of growth and development.

    “We remain determined to overcome all challenges to our security and development as a nation. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with us to make our collective dreams of greatness a reality.’’

    He added: “Government remains determined, despite numerous challenges to bring about the much-needed CHANGE that will lift our beloved nation to its rightful place as a major economic and political force on the world stage.

    “Part of our drive to achieve this goal is to enable enterprise and the improvement of the quality of life through massive improvement of national infrastructure.

    “Accordingly, as I outlined in my New Year Day broadcast to the nation, this Administration has designed series of key projects to dramatically overhaul national infrastructure and overcome the deficit in that vital area.

    “The role of the military as an enabler of national development cannot be overemphasized, as efforts would be futile if national security is not first guaranteed.

    “In this regard, let me once more commend the gallant men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, for their tireless efforts towards defeating Boko Haram and all other threats to our nation’s security, thus ensuring that the government can proceed with its developmental activity without hindrance.

    “Let me again commend the Nigerian Air Force leadership for the unprecedented feat it has attained on Research and Development.

    “I am aware that the Air Force was the overall best in the recently concluded 2017 National Technology and Innovation Exposition under Research Institute category.

    “Accordingly, its drive, determination and unwavering support brought about numerous significant innovations, not least of which is the TSAIGUMI which I am inducting today.

    “It is indeed most gratifying that the Nigerian Air Force has gone a step further than simply acquiring them, to developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capabilities with indigenous technology.

    “This outstanding accomplishment, which we are gathered today, holds promise of both military and economic benefit to the nation.’’

    Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, said the unmanned vehicle has a “mission range of 100 km, a service ceiling at 15,000 feet and operational endurance of about 10 hours.’’

    He pledged NAF support “to harness, promote, commercialise and diffuse locally developed technologies for the production of globally competitive goods and services that intensively utilise Nigeria’s raw materials for national development.

    “ This is necessary because it is through R&D that nations technologically advance and enhance their productivity, spur economic growth and address societal concerns such as health, energy, environment, defence and security.

    “Besides, to be effective and efficient in dealing with contemporary security challenges posed by non-state actors, there is the need to build capacity to develop smarter and highly sophisticated indigenous platforms as well as compact and mobile forces that use information technology to get real time intelligence necessary for military operations.”

    Sadiq added that the NAF Research and Development Centre established in 2015, “has so far successfully repaired the CH-3A Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) that had been grounded for over four months due to the lack of spares.

    “Since its reactivation on 2nd January 2018, the UCAV has conducted several missions which have positively impacted on our Operations in the North East. As I speak, the UCAV is engaged in combat missions in the North East.

    “Only last week it acquired and destroyed Boko Haram Terrorists and their equipment in the Sambisa general area.

    “We have also tasked the centre to address gaps in specific areas of operational needs of the Service.

    “One such area of need has been that of enhancing NAF’s Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to meet national security imperatives.

    “In this regard, AFRDC has been charged to build capacity to maintain all ISR platforms that are currently in the Service.

    “Similarly, the AFRDC was tasked to operationalise the Gulma UAV prototype taking into cognisance the peculiar challenges associated with our operating environment.

    “It is gratifying to state that the efforts in this direction have, yielded positive results which include among others, the production of the TSEGUMI UAV.’’

    NAN

  • Ex-Airways staff raises alarm over FG’s N45b entitlements

    Ex-Airways staff raises alarm over FG’s N45b entitlements

    A former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, has raised alarm over the N45 billion approved by the Federal Government to offset the entitlements of the staff of the former national carrier.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in December, last year,  approved the payment of the former staff of the Nigeria Airways, and ordered that the payment be done before Christmas.

    But up till now, the payment is yet to be actualised, situation that made the beneficiaries to cry out.

    In a petition he wrote to the Federal Government, and obtained by The Nation in Kano , yesterday, Yusuf alleged that some highly-placed government officials have formed a bogus union in the name of the bonafied staff of the Nigeria Airways to sabotage the payment.

    According to him, no staff union existed in Nigeria Airways since its liquidation, noting that no one had the right to hide under the guise of any union to extort them of their legal money.

    The former District Manager of Nigeria Airways, Kano office, also alleged that it was the antics of the saboteurs that caused the delay in payment of the entitlements, noting that the situation had inflicted untold hardship on the staff,  who had been waiting for the payment for many years.

    Narrating his ordeal, Yusuf disclosed that he had spent 17 years without earning salary after he was allegedly suspended by the Federal , adding that after he filed a lawsuit, the Federal High Court delivered judgement in his favour.

    “In the first instance, the N45 out of N78 billion said to have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for payment of the Nigeria Airways Staff entitlement is their legitimate right. Any Government officials involved in the handling of this assignment has their approved salaries and due allowances.

    “And any Union being selfishly and wrongly being patronized by some government officials exists legally only when the Nigeria Airways exists as an Airline. By implication of Liquidation,  therefore both Nigeria Airways and house unions do no longer exist legally.Therefore have no right to have an economic share out of the money whatsoever.

    “It is the selfish personal economic interest of some highly placed government officials here and there and the so called Nigeria Airways union that are responsible for the delay, untold hardship and unmeasured death of the Nigeria Airways Staff.

    “In fact, the situation of Nigeria Airways staff and their families is so pathetic to any human being having human thought.

    “For instance, in view of the large family I have, apart from salt and pepper there is no bag of any food stuff that could last for more than 2 weeks in my house, but having living for 17 years without salary, and  without committing any offence.  I received my last salary in December, 1999. Just  Because I was wickedly suspended unjustifiably but the Federal High Court delivered judgment in my favor the case which federal Ministry of Aviation is fully aware,” he alleged

    He called on president Buhari to direct the payment of their entitlements with exact date, urging the President to direct the stoppage of any deduction from any union.

     

     

  • CBN spends N55bn to improve local food production

    CBN spends N55bn to improve local food production

    The Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ), says it has disbursed N55 billion to more than 250,000 farmers within two years of implementation of the Anchor Borrowers Programme ( ABP ).

    The Acting-Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Isaac Okorafor confirmed the figure on Wednesday in Abuja during a media briefing on the implementation of the programme.

    The ABP was launched in Kebbi State on Nov. 17, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It was designed to create economic linkages between farmers and processors, not only to ensure increased agricultural output of rice and wheat, but also close the gap between production and consumption.

    Okorafor was accompanied to the briefing by the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr Olatunde Akande, and top executive of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria ( RIFAN ) led by its President, Alh. Aminu Gorongo.

    Okorafor said that out of the N55 billion provided by the apex bank to farmers, 80 per cent of the amount, N44 billion was given to rice farmers alone.

    He said the need to provide rice farmers adequate funding was to ensure self sufficiency in rice production and to also ensure that Nigeria becomes a net exporter of the product.

    “It goes to underscore the effectiveness and efficiency that the CBN has put into this programme.

    “We have assisted about 250,000 farmers across Nigeria to cultivate close to 300,000 hectares of farmlands and you can see the impact on the streets’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the RIFAN president Gorongo said that the association was partnering with the CBN to increase rice production by two million tonnes in 2018.

    He said under the new ABP partnership between the CBN and RIFAN, 200,000 farmers would be given fresh funds to plant rice in the dry season farming.

    According to him, another 500,000 rice farmers would also be mobilised during the wet season farming.

    Gorongo said that through the funding, the farmers would be able to employ a total of five million people to work on rice production value chain during the period.

    He said so far, farmers in about 34 states were presently under the new ABP with RIFAN.

    “We have started collaboration with the CBN to have a private sector driven ABP, which means that under this new agreement, the state governments are not involved.

    “We have launched this programme to put this country on the right part, especially in the area of agri-business.’’

    Also speaking, Akande, the Special Assistant to the CBN Governor on Development Finance, said the ABP had been digitised to keep account of the activities of all the farmers involved.

    According to him, under the new agreement with RIFAN, each farmer’s identity, home address, farm location and other vital information has been captured and each farmer is given a biometric card.

    He said the new system would help resolve the issue of delay in payments to farmers and also the recoupment of funds borrowed out by the CBN.

    “We have successfully digitally mapped all the farmers that are participating in the projects. This makes the new programme reliable, accessible and verifiable.

    “The digitisation will ensure that no farmer will collect payment and refuse to pay. So loan repayment is guaranteed.

    “Also, in the new agreement, RIFAN will provide training, and ensure that whatever is given to the farmers are well utilised.

    “Depending on the season and the crop which is being cultivated, each farmer will get a support of about N250, 000 per hectare,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Akure’s monarchs decry herdsmen attack on council workers.

    Akure’s monarchs decry herdsmen attack on council workers.

    The lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Chief Tayo Alasoadura has criticized the reported attack on Akure South local government workers by suspected herdsmen.

    Besides,the Deji of Akure,Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo expressed displeasure on the impunity of Fulani herdsmen across the country.

    A statement by Alasoadura’s media aide, Dayo Joseph said it was high time the federal government proffered permanent solutions to the problem.

    The lawmaker described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that the incessant attacks by herdsmen were getting out of hand and should be curtailed.

    The chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources(Upstream) urged his constituents to be more vigilant and wary of the activities of the herdsmen in the area.

    He urged security agencies to be more proactive on the present challenge in order to sustain peace in the community

    Oba Aladetoyinbo described the invasion as barbaric, provocative and an attempt to stir up trouble in the peaceful Akure Community.

    The monarch wondered why the herdsmen would have chosen to lead their cattle to graze on the farmland belonging to the council if not an attempt to create tension in the community.

    Read Also: Suspected herdsmen sack Akure council workers

    He expressed sadness that no major arrest had been made by the Police since the attack on Chief Olu Falae’s farm, stressing that the arsonists who parade themselves as herdsmen now target the local government as their next point of call.

    The royal father called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to treat the issue of the herdsmen with kid gloves as their activities were becoming unbearable.

    Oba Aladetoyinbo said the people could no longer tolerate the excesses of these herdsmen who according to him, are now making live unbearable with their nefarious attitudes.

    The traditional ruler urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) in the State to take proactive measures in curbing the menace.

    Besides, he appealed the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris and the Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju with other security agents to take more decisive action and ensure that the menace is curtailed.

  • Buhari meets Abdulsalami Abubakar at Aso Rock

    Buhari meets Abdulsalami Abubakar at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed door with former Head of State, Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting took place immediately after President Buhari received letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr Alat Mogaskia; the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa and that of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy Sea to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi.

    The former Head of State declined to speak to State House correspondents after the meeting, which lasted for less than one hour.

    Read Also: Buhari: we’re battling security challenges (Video)

    Reports also say that barely hour and half hours after his meeting with Abdulsalami, the President also met behind closed doors with two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.

    Two APC chieftains were in the Villa to console the President, who lost two members of his extended family in Daura recently.

    Tinubu is visiting the Presidential Villa for the first time since his appointment by President Buhari as APC “Chief Mediator”

     

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out, says  Buhari

    Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari today in Abuja said the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    He made the remark while receiving the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that will eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and keep shouting God is great.

     “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

     “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps,’’ he said.

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    Read Also: Boko Haram releases policewomen, UNIMAID lecturers

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by repositioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ President Buhari told the Archbishop.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

  • FG not unmindful of unemployment, poverty – Minister

    FG not unmindful of unemployment, poverty – Minister

    The Federal Government is not unmindful of unemployment and poverty situation in the country, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said on Tuesday.
    Such problems among others structural conditions which are responsible for violent extremism in the country are being addressed on daily basis by the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, the Minister added.

    The Minister made the remarks at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, while delivering a keynote address at the public presentation of Policy Framework and National Action Plan For Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

    Alhaji Mohammed said for instance the Anchors Borrowers Programmes has created over 6.3 million jobs for farmers through rice farming.

    Listing the achievements of the present administration, the minister said the federal government served no fewer than 246.4 million meals to primary school pupils across 20 states under the National Home Grown School feeding programmes.

    He said 10.27 million children have been enrolled in schools in the Northwest and North Central zones of the country in the last one year.

    He said the N-Power programme which has engaged and deployed about 200,000 Nigerians would increase with about 300,000 this year following the steps of government to expand the programme.

    Read Also: Minister  to face House panel over breach of waiver policy

    According to the Minister the Boko Haram terrorist group has been decimated and put on the run by the nation’s military due largely to President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership and political will which served as morale booster for the troops.

    Said he: “Thanks to the leadership and political will demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari, which has served as a morale booster for our gallant men and women in uniform, Boko Haram has been decimated and put on the run by our gallant military.

    “The record of success is there for all to see: At least 30,000 hostages kidnapped by Boko Haram extremist group, including women and Children, have been rescued by the military. More than 100 Chibok girls have so far been rescued.

    “The government is committed to the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls while rehabilitating and reuniting them with their families and communities. Sambisa Forest has become too hot for Boko Haram and they are now escaping to neighbouring communities.

    “Boko Haram is no longer able to carry out organized attacks. They hold no territory and their flag, which they were flying in Bama and other territories they used to occupy, has become a shroud”.

    The Minister assured that his ministry would parner with all critical stakeholders to ensure the smoth implementation of the policy framework and action plan against violent extremism in the country.

    He said as a soft approach towards tackling the current security challenges in the country, the administration would engage critical stakeholders in dialogue aimed at finding lasting solutions to the problems of herder/farmer conflicts, among others.

    He added that government is taking a bold step to recharge the Lake Chad Basin which has shrunk by 90 percent since 1963, stressing that the holistic approach of government on the Basin would make lives more bearable for people within the area whose economic activities have been affected negatively.

    In his remarks, the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Babagana Monguno , said following President Buhari’s directive on the implementation of the framework on the 24 August 2017, it was therefore expidient to make a public presentation of the document to enable key stakeholders and principal actors key into its goals and objectives.

    He said the framework which is in tandem with international laws and best practices adopted a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach for maximum benefits.

    “Accordingly, it encourages the active participation of line ministries, departments and agencies as well as critical stakeholders from the different sectors of the civil society such as reliogious actors, youths, teachers, women and community based organisations.

    “It provides a National Plan of Action at Federal , States and local government levels to ensure the delivery of targeted intervention that are both PCVErelevant and PCVE-specific”, General Monguno said.

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out – President Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    The President stated this when he received the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday.

    Buhari noted that the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that would eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    He said: “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and you keep shouting God is great.

    “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

    Read Also: Baraje: Buhari should take Obasanjo’s statement seriously

    “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps.’’

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by re-positioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ he added.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

    NAN

  • Sokoto defunct CPC members cry marginalization, injustice, seeks Tinubu intervention

    Sokoto defunct CPC members cry marginalization, injustice, seeks Tinubu intervention

    Members of the Sokoto state chapter of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), today regrouped to lament over alleged total marginalization  from affairs of governance and appointments by the Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led administration in the state.

    They unanimously appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to earnestly intervene by requesting the presidential panel to mediate in the matter with a view to addressing the problems.

    Similarly, they accused the current government in the state for meting gross injustice ranging from victimization as well as subjecting them to various criminal abuses.

    Addressing a press conference in Sokoto, the Convener, Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashir said after their painstaking sacrifices in the electoral processes that saw to the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) both in the state and at the center, they were side lined.

    Bashir maintained that after the electoral victory, the PDP decampees under the leadership of Governor Tambuwal formed the government without any one of our members. They have extricated themselves from all the merger agreements.

    “Out of the sixty nine elected offices, none has been given to us from the office of the Governor to councils chairmen.

    ” Also, out of eighty eight political appointments, only one is given to CPC even though, he was a former member of the PDP who decamped to CPC after losing relevance in the party at that time”, he pointed out.”

    The group however, applauded the move by the President for recognizing the exigency to appoint a mediator to finetune and salvage the ruling APC from imminent disintegration and ultimate collapse.

    “We acknowledge and express our support and joy for a mediator in the person of our National party Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu to assist in salvaging our great party, the All Progressives Congress from imminent disintegration and ultimate collapse”, the convener said.