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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • APC holds rally for Buhari, drums support for second term

    APC holds rally for Buhari, drums support for second term

    All Progressive Congress (APC) Ebonyi chapter, on Monday in Abakaliki held a rally to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s return from medical vacation, as well as drum support for his second term in 2019.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally created heavy human and vehicular traffic long Afikpo and old Enugu roads, among others.

    Acting state APC Chairman, Mr Eze Nwachukwu, who addressed the rally, commended party faithful and other teeming supporters of APC for turning out in their large numbers for the rally.

    “We thank God for the recovery of Mr President from his sickness and successful return from the medical vacation in London to resume his normal duty as president.

    “The overwhelming crow that attended the rally is a clear indication that Ebonyi is indeed an APC state and by massively attending this solidarity rally is another indication of the love Ebonyi people have for our president and his populist government.

    “This is the third time APC in Ebonyi is organising this type of rally to demonstrate its love, support and loyalty for Buhari and APC led central government,” Nwachukwu said.

    He said that the rally was also to drum support for the people – oriented programmes and policies of the present administration, stressing that the anti- graft war of the administration had redeemed the battered image of the country at the international community.

    “We have witnessed tremendous live-transforming programmes and policies which are impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary citizens, including job creation, economic repositioning, infrastructure, anti-graft and fight against insecurity, among others.

    “We are calling for more support for Mr President while urging him to avail himself for 2019 to enable him consolidate on the many achievements so far recorded by his administration.

    “We want to reiterate that Ebonyi is an APC state and that we pledge our unalloyed and unflinching support and loyalty to the President and Commander – in – Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ” Nwachukwu added.

    The rally was attended by the Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elections, among other top party members.

  • Why Lai Mohammed urgently needs social media accounts

    Why Lai Mohammed urgently needs social media accounts

    While denying the false report of President Muhammadu Buhari purported plan to travel to the United States on Sunday, Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Muhammed disclosed that he does not have social media accounts.

    “Numerous parody accounts have been opened in my name on the two platforms, when indeed I have no Twitter or Facebook accounts,” he stated while urging Nigerians to disregard what was credited to him.

    The minister also recalled how the same parody Twitter account, @MohammedLai used to disseminate the fake news about the President’s purported trip was employed to circulate a fake report that he sharply criticised Senator Dino Melaye for attending the Notting Hill Carnival in the UK.

    He said these two instances highlight the dangers posed to the polity by the purveyors of fake news and disinformation, and vowed that the Federal Government would soon fish out those behind the shenanigans.

    I sympatise with the minister that the false sensitive information was credited to him by some faceless individuals who create parody accounts in the name of others, especially top government officials to misinform the public.

    I totally agree with the minister that “Fake news, disinformation and hate speech are the antics of the naysayers, those who are pathologically opposed to this administration.” Everyone on the internet, including Nigerians as he counseled need to be more discerning and should double check any information emanating from the social media.

    However, notwithstanding the wrong use to which social media accounts are being deployed, the minister cannot continue to justify not having Twitter or Facebook handles.

    The accounts are too important in the present information age for information dissemination for any government official like the country’s information minister not to have.

    If President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and many other top officials of the federal government have social media accounts, why should the spokesman of the government not have verified handles?

    Parody accounts will always be created by mischief makers, but when the real ones exists and are used regularly, it will be easy to distinguish between fake and real information.

    Alhaji Mohammed should take a cue from many members of this administration who are effectively using the social media to disseminate information to prevent the naysayers from taking advantage of his absence on the too-important to ignore platforms.

    He doesn’t need to operate them himself like most top dignitaries do. He can get tech savvy assistants to keep Nigerians informed through the platforms and match the naysayers tweets for tweets.

     

     

  • Buhari not travelling to US, says Minister

    Buhari not travelling to US, says Minister

    MINISTER of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged “Nigerians to disregard the fake news being circulated via a parody Twitter account and an old Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) news video that President Muhammadu Buhari is travelling or has travelled to the United States (U.S.)”.

    A statement issued in Lagos yesterday by his Special Adviser Segun Adeyemi quoted the minister as saying one of the numerous parody Twitter accounts in his name, @MohammedLai, was used to disseminate the fake and ludicrous news that claims that the President is due to leave Nigeria for the U.S. on Monday “to condole with President Trump over the floods in Houston”.

    Also, he said an old NTA News video being circulated on the Social Media claims that Buhari had already left for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

    “This is a 2015 NTA News video that was repackaged to look current and to give the impression that the President left Daura, where he is celebrating Eid-el-Kabir, directly for New York,” Mohammed said.

    Mohammed urged Nigerians to disregard any news credited to any account in his name, either on Twitter or Facebook, adding: “Numerous parody accounts have been opened in my name on the two platforms, when indeed I have no Twitter or Facebook accounts.”

    The minister recalled how the same parody Twitter account used to disseminate the fake news about the President’s purported trip was employed to circulate a fake report that he sharply criticised Senator Dino Melaye for attending the Notting Hill Carnival in the UK.

    He said these two instances highlight the dangers posed to the polity by the purveyors of fake news and disinformation, and vowed that the Federal Government would soon fish out those behind the shenanigans.

     “Fake news, disinformation and hate speech are the antics of the naysayers, those who are pathologically opposed to this administration. That is why we are urging Nigerians to be more discerning and to double check any information emanating from the social media,” Mohammed said.

  • Aminu pays homage to Buhari in Daura

    Aminu pays homage to Buhari in Daura

    Gov. Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has expressed gratitude to God and Nigerians for the sustained prayers for the unity of Nigeria and the wellbeing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Masari said this in Daura on Saturday when he paid Sallah homage on President Muhammadu Buhari at his GRA residence in the metropolis.

    He said to God be the glory that the President was back hale and hearty, stressing that Nigerians would continue their prayers and enlightenment campaign on the importance of peace and unity.

    He said he was in Daura to felicitate and rejoice with the President on his return from medical vacation.

    In addition, “to assure the president of our support in his effort to unite the country,” he said.

    Masari called on Nigerians to place the interest of the nation at heart by giving it the priority it deserves, adding “we will  continue to give our unconditional support to the President for him to achieve his  agenda for the country.

    “We will not relent in promoting our unity in diversity for a prosperous Nigeria, “he said.

    He said the Katsina State Government under his leadership  had introduced a series of reforms in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health and empowerment programmes.

    Buhari thanked the governor for the visit and wish all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    NAN reports that Gov. Masari was accompanied during the visit by  the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, the governor’s commissioners, politicians and other well wishers.

  • Ganduje sues for peace, understanding among Nigerians

    Ganduje sues for peace, understanding among Nigerians

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, has called on Nigerians to use the Eid- El Kabir to promote unity, tolerance and peaceful co-existence irrespective of tribe, religion political affiliations.

    The governor made the appeal on Saturday in Daura when he paid Sallah homage to the emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk.

    He urged Nigerians to appreciate the importance of peaceful co-existence, adding that peace was paramount to the country’s existence.

    He described those who were in the habit of formulating troubles through divisive statements and uncomplimentary comments as “greedy and unpatriotic citizens.’’

    The governor said he was in Daura to pay homage to President Muhammadu Buhari and the emir, adding that Kano and Daura have similar traditions, customs and values.

    He said that since the inception of his administration in 2015, has created thousands of jobs and executed hundreds of projects that were beneficial to the people.

    Ganduje commended the administration of President Buhari, especially in its drive to free the nation from corruption, insurgency and other social vices which retards the socio-economic development of the nation.

    The governor was accompanied on the visit by his commissioners, friends and other top government functionaries and party stalwarts.

  • Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    Former Minister of Information Labaran Maku and other stakeholders in Nasarawa State, have called on Nigerians to leave in peace and tolerate one another to ensure unity peace and development of the country.
    They made the call their separate Sallah messages in Lafia on Saturday.
    They said that peace was the only ingredient that would bring about unity and development in any society.
    Maku, who is now the National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said the diversity among Nigerians should be a source of unity and not disunity.
    He said that the almighty God knows the reason why He created human beings with differences of tribe, religion and race.
    “God also knows why He chose to make all Nigerians despite our diversity to be citizens of the same country.
    “If God wanted all Nigerians to be the same tribe and religion, He could have created us as such.
    “So why will anyone hate the other person simply because he is of a different tribe or religion,” he asked.
    Maku, therefore, urged all Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another and work hard toward ensuring one indivisible country.
    Similarly, Yusuf Agabi, gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 in Nasarawa State, called on all Muslim Ummah and indeed all Nigerians to love one another.
    He said that the Nigerians should always manifest the lesson of Eid-el-Kabir, which implied sacrifice and love for others at all times, and not just during the period.
    He also called on Nigerians to continue to pray to God to grant President Muhammadu Buhari good health to enable him bring the country out of the current security and economic challenges.
    On his parts, Mohammed Okpede, Member representing Doma North at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, urged herdsmen and farmers to imbibe the spirit of the season and embrace peace.
    He said that both farmers and herdsmen needed each other for life to thrive smoothly hence the need for farmers to ensure that cattle routes were not blocked and herdsmen not to deliberately destroy farm produce.
    He, therefore, urged Fulani and other community leaders to preach peace among their subjects in order to give peace a chance the way it was in the past.

  • Buhari hails Super Eagles’ victory over Cameroon

    Buhari hails Super Eagles’ victory over Cameroon

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s Super Eagles over Friday’s impressive win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Read also: ‘Super Eagles victory a wonderful Sallah gift for Nigeria’

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined millions of football-loving Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora in applauding the senior men’s football team for their disciplined, skilful and entertaining display against the defending African champions.

    While noting the exhilarating victory, he said that Nigeria is on the verge of qualification for the World Cup in Russia 2018.

    The President urged the players to sustain the momentum as they approach the crucial second leg of the tie in Yaounde, on Monday.

    Buhari also enjoined Nigerians who always see football as a unifying platform, to continue to pray and support the team to guarantee victory next week and make qualification doubly sure.

    He also commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its continued support and provision of excellent hosting facilities

  • Photos: Buhari after Eid El Kabir prayers in Daura

    Photos: Buhari after Eid El Kabir prayers in Daura

    President Buhari after observing Eid El Kabir prayers at the Daura Eid Ground in Daura Katsina on Friday

    President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura
    President Buhari acknowledging the crowd shortly after observing Eid El Kabir prayers at the Daura Eid Ground in Daura Katsina on 1st Sep 2017
    President Muhammadu Buhari
    President Buhari in a group photo with some of his aides shortly after observing Eid El Kabir prayers at the Daura Eid Ground in Daura Katsina on 1st Sep 2017
    President Muhammadu Buhari
    Corp members in a group photo with SSA to President on Media & Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu after receiving Salah gift from the President shortly after observing Eid El Kabir prayers at the Daura Eid Ground in Daura Katsina on 1st Sep 2017
  • Flood: NEMA sends team to Benue

    Flood: NEMA sends team to Benue

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed a team to provide humanitarian services to residents in Benue that were affected by recent flooding in the state.

    NEMA Director-General Mustapha Maihaja, made this known in a statement signed by Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations, in Abuja on Friday.

    Maihaja said that the immediate redeployment of the humanitarian team followed the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari to provide immediate assistance to flood victims in the state.

    He said that the humanitarian team had been reinforced with another contingent headed by Air Commodore Paul Ohemu, Director, Search and Rescue.

    He said that this was in addition to the officers of the North-Central Zonal Office of NEMA in Jos.

    NEMA boss said they were to deliver immediate humanitarian assistance to the affected persons in the various locations and to assess the situation for further support.

    He said that seven 30-tonne trucks had been despatched to the state and were due to arrive Makurdi on Friday.

    Maihaja sympathised with the affected people and assured that NEMA would work closely with the state government in providing them with the necessary assistance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Thursday President Buhari directed NEMA to deploy personnel and resources to provide succour to victims of flooding in Benue.

    The flood allegedly displaced over 100,000 people in 12 local government areas of the state.

  • Shettima pleads with Borno people over vehicular restriction

    Shettima pleads with Borno people over vehicular restriction

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Friday apologised to residents in the state for the vehicular restriction on Eid day in Maiduguri metropolis.

    Shettima gave the apology in Maiduguri through a statement issued by Malam Isa Gusau, his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy.

    The governor also called for renewed prayers to end insurgency, facilitate rebuilding and safe re-settlement of people displaced by Boko Haram insurgents.

    “I understand and share the pains of the restriction of vehicular movement on Borno citizens, particularly the elderly, children and women who have to trek to the Eid grounds from their distant homes.

    “Vehicular restriction is imposed as part of security measures to prevent any breach that could cause harm on the citizenry.”

    He said that festivities were meant for celebrations and was painful when State Security Council imposed ban which subjected citizens to some forms of difficulties.

    “Vehicular restrictions are normally imposed as last option after members of the State Security Council exhausted consideration of all other alternatives available to them,” Shettima explained.

    The governor, currently in Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj, expressed deep concern over the troubles the elderly citizens, women and children encountered in trekking long distances to worship.

    Shettima said that he appreciated the efforts of the military, police, members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), vigilance groups and hunters to put an end insurgency in the state.

    He said that the security operatives under President Muhammadu Buhari  had remained gallant and dedicated in their determination to improve on the security situation in the state.

    The governor expressed optimism that subsequent festivities would not require measures that would subject citizens to difficulties.

    He also commended the residents for their tolerance, understanding, courage and support to government’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The governor called on the people to support government and security agencies in the counter-insurgency campaign to usher in a new era of enduring peace, social and economic prosperity.

    He urged the people to sustain their empathy and support to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    He advised them to remain steadfast in prayers for the success of the ongoing rehabilitation of communities and restoration of means of livelihood to communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Shettima also called on displaced persons to support and be hospitable to humanitarian workers providing services at IDPs camps and liberated communities.

    “Humanitarian workers are in Borno to help those in need of food, medical attention, shelter and livelihoods in order to share the responsibilities of the Federal and state governments in Nigeria.

    “The activities of the humanitarian aid workers are funded by donors who parted with scarce resources after concerted advocacies by humanitarian stakeholders including the United Nations (UN), Nigerian Government, foreign donor countries and the state government.

    “While recognising and understanding the trauma faced by displaced persons and challenges of meeting their basic needs, the recent misbehaviour towards humanitarian workers in one of the IDP camps in the state was uncalled for’’.

    The governor warned that such unruly behaviour would not be allowed to repeat itself, noting that interventions of government and humanitarian agencies should be regarded as deserved privileges which should be reciprocated with cooperation and mutual respect by displaced persons.

    Shettima reiterated his administration commitments to the reconstruction and rehabilitation programme to fast track safe re-settlement of displaced persons and provide means of livelihood to enable them to engage in productive activities.