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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari congratulates China on Lunar Year

    Buhari congratulates China on Lunar Year

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with China on the Chinese Lunar New Year.

    According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President conveyed his goodwill message in a letter addressed to the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.

    “As you commence festivities marking the Chinese Year of Dog on February 16, 2018, we congratulate and wish the Chinese people a prosperous and peaceful New Year. I understand that the Chinese believe dogs are associated with affinity and prosperity,”  Buhari wrote in the letter.

    The President acknowledged the accomplishments of the Asian powerhouse in the past year globally and domestically especially on the economic and the political fronts:

    “In the past year of the Rooster, China recorded tremendous achievements in its economy, democracy and foreign relations, among others.

    Read Also: Buhari retires Justice Ademola, dismisses another judge Tokode

    “The successful convening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opens a new chapter for China’s New Era as a global leader in innovation, security, poverty alleviation, infrastructure and development financing,” he added.

    Buhari also commended the close bilateral relationship between China and Nigeria on one hand and Sino-African relations on the other hand.

    He said, “This year marks the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, I am pleased to see that political, economic, cultural and social ties between our two countries are getting stronger.

    “I am looking forward to China hosting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing in September this year, and have every reason to believe that the Year of Dog will bring us more success stories and mutual benefits for China-Africa cooperation.

    “May the year of Dog see Nigeria-China friendship blossom and flourish for the benefit of our peoples.”

  • My life is in danger, says Afegbua

    My life is in danger, says Afegbua

    *But vows:I won’t succumb to intimidation

    *Dismisses Police, DSS as interlopers engaging in bullying

     

    Prince Kassim Afegbua, spokesman to ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida, claimed on Friday that he has been receiving death threats from unknown quarters following his issuance of a statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his reelection bid in 2019.

    The authors of the death threats are not sparing his family, Afegbua said moments after his interrogation on the statement by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

    The former EdoState commissioner said in a statement in Abuja that he has been receiving phone calls threatening him and his family.

    But he vowed that never would he be intimidated by anyone or group for issuing the statement .

    He was first invited for questioning by the police on Wednesday and later by the DSS on the statement.

    Afegbua declared that nothing would stop him from exercising his right of free speech.

    His words: “In the last six days, I have gone through traumatic experience when I was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police.

    “ By the strength of that unprofessional declaration, I was treated like a common criminal and fugitive until I showed up at the Police Headquarters Abuja to physically present myself.

    “After what the Police termed a no case issue, they were apologetic and I took my leave.

    “ In the evening of that day, Wednesday 7th February, 2018 I got a phone call inviting me to the Headquarters of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

    “I honoured the invitation on Thursday and spent seven hours waiting for attention. I left the office at 6.50pm when it became clear nobody was ready to tell me what the invitation was meant for. I was informed to report back on Friday 9th February, 2018 at 11am.

    “On arrival on Friday, having spent two hours, I was attended to by the Director of Operations and two others who interrogated me on the said statement I issued.

    ” My interrogation was recorded electronically and was made to write a statement affirming the issued statement, having collected all my personal details; house address, account number, international passport number and other information.

    “I find this whole episode quite nauseating and utterly condemnable. I cannot rationalise why just a statement would amount to subjecting me to rigorous interrogation especially when there was no complainant.”

    Afegbua said the Nigeria Police and the DSS were at best meddlesome interloper engaging in sheer bullying,

    He added: “The action of the Nigeria Police coupled with that of the State Security Service is at best that of a meddlesome interloper and sheer bullying, leaving serious developmental issues to chasing shadows with a view to intimidate, harass and embarrass me.

    “Let me state at this point that my life is in danger as we speak. I have been receiving series of unknown phone calls from people threatening me and my family.

    “But I am resolute in the true spirit of a free born, that threats, intimidation, harassment and psychological torturing has never and will not stop me from exercising my right of free speech as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as well as carrying out my professional responsibility.

    “I will not submit to intimidation, harassment and threats. Certainly not. I have just a life to live and no one under God will live forever.”

     

    “This experience to me is an eye opener in so many ways. I feel a sense of personal gratitude to several of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries who maintained a constant touch and gave useful legal advice throughout the period of this travails.

    “I am most humbled. And the Almighty Allah will meet all of you in your hour of need. On a lighter note, the support, accolades and motivation I received during this period have given me added confidence to seek elective public office in no distant future.”

    “ I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. “This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.
    “Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country.

    “It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption.

    “Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.
    “My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation.

    “We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.”

  • Buhari approves retirement, dismissal of justices

    Buhari approves retirement, dismissal of justices

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the compulsory retirement of Honourable Justice A. F. A Ademola of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and the dismissal from office of Honourable Justice O.O Tokode of the Benin Division of the Federal High Court.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President’s approval followed recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Read Also: Buhari condoles with Buratai over father’s death

    The statement reads “The disciplinary actions on the two Justices are in pursuance of section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “Justice O.O. Tokode is also to refund all salaries and allowances earned illegally from 2nd December, 2015 when he was sworn-in as a Judge of the Federal High Court to date.” he said

    The President urged judicial officers to be alive to their responsibilities and eschew corruption in the discharge of their duties.

     

  • Buhari condoles with Buratai over father’s death

    Buhari condoles with Buratai over father’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Buratai family over the death of Alhaji Yusuf Buratai, father of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    Buhari’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Friday.

    The statement said Buhari joined the members of the family in mourning the ex-serviceman and veteran of World War II.

    According to the President, Buratai’s service to Nigeria will always be appreciated and remembered.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari   will win landslide – Yahaya Bello

    He further noted that “Buratai’s years of service to the nation epitomised by courage, skill, determination and devotion has been rightly bequeathed to his son, who is diligently serving the country’’.

    The president prayed that the almighty Allah would comfort all who mourned the late patriot and grant his soul eternal rest.

    The death of Buratai, who joined the West African Army in 1942, was announced by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka.

    Kukasheka in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday said Yusuf Buratai, the father of the COAS, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, died Friday morning in Maiduguri.

    NAN

     

  • 2019: Buhari will win landslide – Yahaya Bello

    2019: Buhari will win landslide – Yahaya Bello

    Says Tinubu will reconcile APC

     

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Friday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari will win landslide for a second term in 2019.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after observing the ju’mat prayer  at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he urged Nigerians to give Buhari chance to complete what he has started.

    The governor also believed that the new Presidential All Progressives Congress (APC) reconciliatory committee headed by APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will successfully reconcile all aggrieved members of the party.

    Asked to speak on the National Assembly’s rearrangement of the election time-able, he said “I so much appreciate this. I think if you observe critically what happened in the last election where Mr. President was elected along with other members of National Assembly, then we called it Buhari Sunami, where the good, the bad and the ugly were all put together and elected.

    “Its either going to be in their interest that the Buhari Sunami will return them or everybody will be on his or her own. Let Buhari return and let Nigerians select the good ones out of the bad ones to return to the National Assembly.

    “Which ever order it comes this upcoming general elections I can assure you that Mr. President will win landslide and the good ones will return to the National Assembly.

    On whether the lawmakers will be the losers of the proposed table time, he said “They have the choice to make and they have made their choice that the goodwill of Mr. President should not rob on the bad ones. Surely, the good ones on their own account will return to the National Assembly at the appropriate time.”

    On Tinubu’s reconciliatory committee, he said “Of course. Whatever Mr. President believes in, his judgement and his wisdom I believe in him. And I believe in his ability to bring all party members together.”

    Read Also: Bello appoints panel to probe suspension of LG chairman

    According to him, Nigerians who are angry with the government are those involved in crimes, whose criminal activities have been blocked by the Buhari administration.

    Speaking on the Catholic Bishops’ submission to the President that Nigerians are angry, he said “Yes. I followed it keenly and one of the key statement there was that Nigerians are angry. Yes, its very true that Nigerians are angry but the question is who are this category of Nigerians who are angry?

    “The category of Nigerians that are angry are those who used private jets to cart away Nigeria’s money in dollars out of the country to South Africa. I’m sure you are aware that our money is still locked down there, such money if you bring it into the economy, a lot of youths that are unemployed will surely be employed.

    “And of course those that have looted the country dry and normally go to the church and mosque to pay tithe are no longing doing so, of course these are the category of people that are angry.” he added

    Nigerians involved in legitimate businesses, he said, are happy with the government.

    “If you look at it critically, the farmers, those with real jobs are happy because the economy is improving. In no time we have come out of recession, our foreign reserve is increasing, no more bombing in Sambisa, no more bombing in the country, no more bombing in Emab plaza even as close as Abuja, no more bombing in Suleja and all over the country.

    “I think those that are benefiting from these crimes and criminality will be angry and they are Nigerians. So it is important to define the category of people who are angry.

    “I want to urge Nigerians to continue to appreciate Mr. President, pray for him so that the good work he has started he will complete it, so that Nigeria will be out of the woods.” he said

    On the sale of some Kogi State assets, he said, that there was no need to keep assets in the name of keeping assets when they could be of more value to the people financially.

    He said “Well, to them you call it important but to us it is not important. It is not important because they are tying down the capital and good money of the state that would have been used for other developmental projects.

    “If you have an important project that is not adding values whatsoever to the lives of the people of Kogi State, and such projects can be converted and used to solve the problems that you are confronted with today. We are in deficit of road infrastructure; schools are in shambles, hospitals and the rest of them. So, why keeping an asset that is not yielding anything of value at all in the name of this is Kogi asset instead of use it for what will benefit the people more and add value to the system.

    “You see, this is politics playing out but we will not be deterred by some uninformed so called elites that are here in Abuja making noise. Let them come to Kogi State and compare two years of my stewardship with previous administration, then they will know that they are completely off the track. I think the people of Kogi State are with me and appreciate the much we are doing.” he stated

  • Herdsmen: We will resist attempt to turn Yorubaland to killing field – Adams

    Herdsmen: We will resist attempt to turn Yorubaland to killing field – Adams

    ……Laments murder of SARS commander

    Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Dr. Gani Adams, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently mandate security agents to “arrest the blood-thirsty maniacs on the rampage in the country, masquerading as herdsmen, and bring them to justice, to avoid a total breakdown of law and order”.

    “The first fundamental right of a Nigerian is the right to life. It is when you are alive that you can enjoy other rights. Once this right is taken away from you through killings and murder, you cannot enjoy any other right. Nigerians demand Right to Life. More than a thousand Nigerians have been killed in the last one year. Is Nigeria at war? There is more to all these killings”, Aare Adams said, in a statement on his behalf by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Kehinde Aderemi.

    The Yoruba Generalissimo, who described the killing of the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Saki Unit, Oyo State Police Command, by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Tuesday night as “one killing too many”, declared that the spate of insecurity in the country was worrisome.

    The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was macheted to death by suspected Fulani herdsmen during an operation in a forest on the Saki-Ogbooro Road in Oke-Ogun area of the state.

    To him, all right-thinking Nigerians must condemn activities of these killers “who are now bold enough to start killing security officers”.

    Aare Adams also vowed that Yorubaland would resist any conspiracy “aimed at killing our people at will”.

    “The diplomacy of the Yoruba on national issues, especially when it borders on security, should not be misconstrued for cowardice. It is part of our nature to accommodate people from other ethnic nationalities but now, our people cannot go to their farms again because of the fear of the unknown. The Federal Government must immediately check activities of these killers to avoid plunging the country into an avoidable war.

    “There is no war in Nigeria, there is no famine, no earthquake, but the number of IDPs in the country is more than what obtains in a country where war is going on. Murder of Nigerians, including pregnant women and children continues everyday. What is really going on?

    “Perception is everything. The Federal Government is not helping its own image with the belief by Nigerians that the presidency is always silent when the issue concerns Fulani herdsmen.

     

    Read Also: Adams holds thanksgiving at Ijo Orunmila

     

    “Let me remind the government that killing and murder remain serious crimes in our law books. No level of politics can change this. Nigerians are being killed and the government seems helpless. Utterances from government officials such as the Defence Minister, Brig–Gen. Mansur Dan–Ali (rtd), and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, are not helping matters. One wonders if we are in the same country.

    “Peace and security cannot be guaranteed where there is no justice. To enforce the law, security agents must ensure justice for all and sundry. Nigerians were shocked to wake up on New Year Day and hear the news of killings in Benue State. Now, Nigerians living in Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Kogi and others don’t feel safe. Senseless killing is like cancer and if not quickly checked, the situation can lead to a complete breakdown of law and order because Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.

    “Historically, the Yoruba are known to have the capacity to defend themselves. These killers are testing waters by burning the farm of Chief Olu Falae and invading the farms of prominent people in the South-West. We will no longer accept activities of this murderous gang in Yorubaland. Enough is enough”.

    Aare Adams also told Buhari that the only solution to the various crises in the polity “is restructuring”.

    “Restructuring is the only system that will bring about a just, fair and egalitarian society. I welcome the report of the Governor Nasir el-Rufai APC Committee which also recommended restructuring but what the committee has done is not different from the position of the 2014 National confab.

    “If Nigeria is going to survive as a nation, this country must be restructured. This is the time to have true federalism, state police, resource ownership and control, and an entirely new constitution deriving its legitimacy from the people”.

  • Primate Okoh urges decisive action on herdsmen menace

    Primate Okoh urges decisive action on herdsmen menace

    Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Nicholas Okoh yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive, swift and pragmatic steps in stopping the killings by the herdsmen in parts of the country”.

    Primate Okoh also urged the administration to disarm “these murderous herdsmen.”

    The clergyman spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, in an address to the standing committee of the church.

    The primate urged the government not to allow the herdsmen’s menace to “degenerate any further in the interest of all, and the Nigerian nation.”

    He noted that the federal government had in the times past dealt with different groups that threatened the peace of the country.

    Said he: “The carnage inflicted by armed herdsmen in recent times in the country on harmless and innocent citizens has reached an alarming stage; it is disheartening even to describe what these wicked human beings do to their fellow human beings; their bloodthirsty swords do

    not recognize children; they pleasurably open up pregnant women and display unborn children.

    “For them, a single cow is worth a community of human beings. To further worsen the scenario, the government appears either powerless to curb their activities or deliberately, purposely and intentionally indifferent.

    “Why is dealing with herdsmen a difficult task for the government? This is a question making Nigerians lose confidence in the present Federal Government.”

    On the proposed cattle colony for herdsmen, Primate Okoh said “the move to create cattle colony for Fulani herdsmen around the country does not have our support. This is because the move treats a set of people with unwarranted special preference, making theme indigenes of

    all regions of the country.

    “Just as we were hoping for a sigh of relief from Boko Haram menace, herdsmen have taken over. Militancy in different parts of the country, armed robbery, kidnappings, human trafficking, ritual killings etc are all still there. Nigeria needs prayers now more than ever before,” he said.

    On 2019, the primate said “we wish to call on our political leaders and politicians to work harder to deliver on the promises of previous campaigns. Nigerians are still yearning for the dividends of democracy not another round of empty promises.”

  • NPA begins exportation through Ikorodu terminal

    NPA begins exportation through Ikorodu terminal

    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) has commenced the exportation of agricultural products through the  Ikorodu Lighter Terminal as part of measures to decongest the Lagos sea ports and boost the economy.
    The movement of export cargoes from Ikorudu terminal to Apapa sea ports, NPA said, would enable Nigerians to maximize the facilities at the moribund terminal.

    Speaking during the official flag off of using barges to veery over 31 containers laden with agricultural produce from Ikorodu to Apapa port yesterday, NPA’s Managing Director Ms Hadiza Bala Usman said her agency has the mandate to ensure effective utilisation of the Ikorodu terminal for export.

    Read Also: OGFZA,NPA partner on free zone operation 

    President Muhammadu Buhari administration, she said, is committed to encourage export promotion through the terminal while NPA would ensure adherence to occupational, health and safety as  panacea to efficient port services in line with international best practices.

    She urged Nigerians to come forward and avail themselves of the emerging opportunities in the agricultural export market to boost for foreign exchange earnings and to strategically position the country on the global business community

    Exporters at the forum said they were happy that a major infrastructure at the Ikorodu which has been idle for decades came alive again with productive economic initiative of the current managing director of NPA.

    One of the exporters, Mr Ken Adeyanju said, the  rejection of Nigerian commodity and produce at the international market would soon be a thing of the past with the current efforts of the Federal Government through the NPA.

  • Sack IGP Now! Reps tell Buhari

    Sack IGP Now! Reps tell Buhari

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday told the President Muhammadu Buhari to replace the present Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris with a more professional officer.

    The lawmakers were of the opinion that the IGP, due to his utterances, actions and inactions can no longer be trusted to conduct his job in an apolitical manner, and thereby putting the lives of Nigerians in jeopardy.

    Two motions of urgent national importance presented by two members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday culminated in the vote of no confidence on the number one cop.

    The first was by Mark Gbillah, APC Benue titled ” Motion in the derogatory statement by the Police PRO against an executive Governor of a state and the seeming unwillingness of the Inspector General of Police to recognize and enforce a constitutionally enacted law by an executive arm of government,”

    The second motion was by Abubarkar Dannuram with the titled “motion on need to curb thuggery development in political activities in Kano and Nigeria in general,”

    Gbillah’s motion chronicled the inability of the Police Boss to perform up to par in the wake of the killing of 73 indigenes of Benue state and the utterance of the IGP before a Senate committee that the Open Grazing Prohibition Law by the Benue State House of Assembly was responsible for the killings by Fulani Herdsmen and that the state government should scrap the law.

    The motion also spoke of the alleged derogatory statement made by the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, who called the Executive Governor of Benue State ” a drowning man ” on television .

    The lawmaker thereafter called on the House call on the IGP to apologize to the Benue State Governor over the derogatory statement of the Police PRO and relieve him of his duties immediately, and to mandate the relevant committee to investigate the alleged statements made by the IGP’s and the implications to his ability to superintend the resolution of the killings in Benue and other parts of the country if found to be true.

    But Danburam’s motion which alleged that the Nigerian Police and other security agencies have turned a blind eyes to illegal acts of terror being perpetuated in Kano and other parts of Nigeria was the turning point in yesterday’s critical resolution of the House.

    His prayers were to invite the IGP and Kano State Commissioner of Police to give account of what happened in Kano State and direct them both to provide measure against thuggery in Kano State.

    But this quickly changed when Hon. John Dyegh ( APC Benue ) moved an amendment that it was evident from the slant of arguments, discussions and presentation on the floor that members have lost confidence in the Inspector- General of Police. This, he said, should be one of the prayers of Danburam’s motion.

    The Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara thereafter asked the members if that was what they wanted and all members on the floor responded in the affirmative.

    He subsequently to this to a vote, and the House overwhelming passed a vote on no confidence in the Inspector- General of Police.

  • Union commends Buhari for signing of executive order on local content

    Union commends Buhari for signing of executive order on local content

    The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

    The General Secretary of NAAPE, Mr Aba Ocheme, told the News mens on Wednesday in Lagos that the move was a welcome development.

    Ocheme said that no fewer than 500 young Nigerian pilots and engineers, who studied at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and Kaduna State and in other countries, were currently unemployed.

    “For us, it is a most welcome development vis-à-vis our campaigns over the recent past on issue of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are amply qualified for.

    Also, the failure of government apparatus to enforce the expatriate quota law.

    “So, the executive order is not on its own, a new instrument to curtail this malfeasance. It only indicates a refocusing of government’s attention in that direction.

    “If will continue to do it the way we have been doing it, obviously we are not going to make a headway,” Ocheme said.

    He said the union was desirous of working with the Ministry of Interior to weed out expatriates who were not needed and also ensuring that the law on expatriate quota was fully implemented.

    Read Also: 2019: Group urges Nigerians to support President Buhari

    “Without the involvement of NAAPE, the Ministry of Interior does not possess the capacity to understand how the aviation industry runs. They have no personnel who are specially trained in these areas.

    “We think our involvement is the only guarantee that what is needed to be done will actually be done.

    “Because, we know what is going on and we are in the best position to advise government appropriately,” Ocheme added.

    The news men reports that the executive order signed by the president on Monday is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation toward achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

    The president, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    The executive order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

    NAN