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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari to youths: Don’t lose hope on Nigeria

    Despite the economic challenges in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged Nigerian youths not to lose hope.

    He gave the advise while receiving the National Planning and Implementation Committee on the 2016 National Youth Open Water Swimming Competition at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Speaking specifically to Nigerian athletes, he urged them to be up and doing in order to show Africa and the rest of the world that Nigeria’s size and number is not for nothing.

    According to him, the size of Nigeria, it’s natural resources and population have put the country in a very difficult position, not only in Africa but throughout the world.

    He said “Everybody expect Nigeria to perform because of our quality human and material resources. We just have to be up and doing in order to show Africa and the rest of the world that our size and number and not for nothing.

    “We should prove that we can produce competitive individuals and we are able to manage ourselves, he added.

    ‎He also urged the youths to be more competitive in their various human endeavour so as to justify the country’s size and resources.

    Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation Senator Kabiru Gaya ‎said that the objectives of the competition include to raise a pool of responsive young Nigerian swimmers; to discover hidden talents and breed future stars and professionals to represent Nigeria in international swimming competitions; to promote cohesion, national peace, unity and security among youths.

    He also noted that there are various developmental projects under the Buhari-led administration aimed at improving the lives of the Nigerian youths.

    He listed them to include Buhari’s unbridled commitment to the anti-graft campaign; the multi-billion naira youth empowerment fund; N-Power Youth Entreprenuership Development and Empowerment Programme for over 500,00 youth; market women empowerment; massive boost and investment in agricultural development in rice

  • The elite should stop insisting on old ways of doing things – Buhari

    The elite should stop insisting on old ways of doing things – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday called on the Nigerian elite to stop insisting that things should be done the ‘old way’, which have impoverished the nation over the years.

    He made the call while speaking at a meeting with a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, on the margins of the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in Dakar, Senegal.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also said his administration is on the right track to improve the image of the country by entrenching accountability and probity in governance.

    He told the 11-man Nigerian delegation of association leaders resident in Senegal and Cote D’ Ivoire, that the last 16 years of poor handling of the nation’s resources and infrastructure have continued to impact negatively on the country.

    He said: “This administration is pleased we won the election, we are pleased Nigerians are cooperating with us. But the problems are so enormous that we need the cooperation of Nigerians, particularly the elite.

    “They (elite) should reflect on the condition of the country, and stop making expensive demands because things cannot be done the old way,’’ he said.

    On the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, the President assured them that the Federal Government will continue to promote good neighborliness and improve the negative perception about Nigerians abroad.

    “Nigerians are known for their competitiveness and I am very passionate about Nigeria. I will continue to preach good neighborliness and work hard to improve the numerous human and material resources in the country,’’ he stated.

    In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian community, Cote D’ Ivoire, Alhaji Adebayo Yahaya, commended the President for his bold and unflinching fight against corruption.

    “Nigerians are praying for your success, don’t relent, do not lose hope, the almighty God is behind you,” he said.

    Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian community, Senegal, Mr Osas Edigin, told the President that Nigerians in the country have enjoyed excellent relationship with their hosts.

  • Buhari hails victorious Super Falcons

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday congratulated the Nigeria’s Super Falcons on their victory over the senior female football team of Cameroon at the final game of the women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Yaounde.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, described the hard-earned victory over the Indomitable Lionesses as very sweet and well-deserved.

    He commended the Nigerian women for their “indomitable spirit, resilience and team work” which he noted spurred them to victory in spite of a vociferous home crowd.

    Buhari said that the Nigerian team by achieving the feat of being African champions for the 8th time has lifted the spirits of sports-loving Nigerians.

    He enjoined other Nigerian sports men and women to emulate the exemplary attitude of the Super Falcons who placed the interest of the nation above personal interests.

    Buhari also assured that the Federal Government will not relent in doing its best to promote sports within available resources.

    He saluted the technical competence of the coaching crew, which enabled the Nigerian players to overcome their hard-fighting opponents throughout the competition.

  • President Buhari has high regard for Tinubu – Femi Adesina

    President Buhari has high regard for Tinubu – Femi Adesina

    Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Muhammadu Buhari in this interview with Vanguard Newspaper navigates through and sometimes around some knotty issues that have recently bestirred the polity. He spoke on among others, the alleged intraparty wrangling between the President and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the role of the President in the All Progressives Congress, APC’s victory in the Ondo State governorship election, and the criticism raised against his boss by President Olusegun Obasanjo among others. Excerpts: By Bashir Adefaka

    How would you assess the government you serve in after more than one and a half years in office?

    Well, Nigeria is not where it was when he entered office. When you want to assess his government, assess it based on the promises he made. You know the tripod promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of security, reviving the economy and fighting corruption.

    In terms of security the country, as heaven is as far from hell, that is where we are now, which is far from where we were on May 29, 2015.

    We know that by 2015 the entire country was almost overrun and nobody was sure what would happen the next day, the next week, the next month. But we know where we are today that the insurgency is virtually defeated, completely under control. What we are passing through is a mopping up process and the worst we can see is over by the grace of God.

    So, in terms of securing the country, the President has kept to his promise. Roads that had been closed for three years have reopened. Emirs and traditional rulers that had fled their palaces have returned and are using the same palaces. Gombe had not had NYSC orientation for two years.

    They had orientation in Gombe this year. So, you just need to talk to the people in the North East and they would tell you that it is a new dawn. They couldn’t farm for almost five seasons. They are back in their farms. Those who fled their villages are back into their villages. We know that there are still skirmishes here and there. There are cowardly suicide bombers here and there but it will be over. So, the President has kept to his promise of securing the country. Other fronts of insurgency like Niger Delta will be settled. Issues like kidnapping, armed robbery, the government is attending to them. This government has a capacity to secure the country and is putting that capacity to work.

    And on anti-corruption, no matter what they say, “Oh, it is one-sided and all that,” what we all know is that the anti-corruption war is well and alive and it is a war that will be fought to a logical conclusion. Nigeria will never be the same again because the cleansing process is real and that cleansing will permeate every nook and cranny of the country.

    The third area is the economy. It is still sticky but it is work in progress. I tell you, as clear as night follows the day, the government will put the economy of this country on a fresh foundation.

    (Cuts in)So you mean there is light at the end of the tunnel?

    Oh, definitely. Even now a new foundation of a diversified economy is being laid for the country. We had had promises of diversification of the economy for five decades. This is the first time real practical steps are being taken to diversify the economy. Do you know what is happening with agriculture now? So much so that in two years time Nigeria will not import rice again and we will be able to even export.

    How do you mean?

    I mean we spend about two billion dollars annually importing rice. In about two years we will not import rice and we will be able to export. So, that is part of the new foundation for the economy. The solid minerals sector is another foundation that is being laid for the economy of the country. The gestation period for solid minerals is long; in fact, the minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said it is up to 20 years, but that foundation is being made. And by the time Nigeria enters into the boom of solid minerals, people will remember the Buhari administration and give it kudos. So, it is promise made, promise kept and promise still being kept.

    So, people crying over hard life should be patient with the government?

    That is just it.

    Loyalists of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are saying the President has betrayed their leader? Why?

    No. Don’t forget that I don’t speak for APC. I speak for the President. That question probably will be taken by the APC spokesman. But what I can say on my own end is that the President whom I speak has utmost respect for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    From what I have seen so far, the President has high regard for Asiwaju Tinubu.

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    Asiwaju’s loyalists are saying that after helping to install Buhari as President that he has been betrayed?

    You are a journalist and a political watcher. You can say whether somebody installed another person. I am sure as a political watcher you know it. You know that getting to political office is usually a combination of factors. Each person has a role he plays and so, I don’t think anybody can come out to say, “I installed this person.” No, it is a wrong word. That person would then be playing God. Asiwaju Tinubu is a political force to reckon with. He played his own part in the emergence of President Buhari and that is why the President has high respect for him.

    What was the magic wand the President applied that gave the APC victory in Ondo?

    As a political watcher because I am a political watcher, it could be that the people knew that APC was still the way to go. That shows that they still believe in the party and they still trust the President. You know a lot of people said, “If Buhari is involved, then, we trust the President, we trust that it will be right, it will be fair, it will be transparent and there will be integrity in it.” So, it is something that also worked for APC in Ondo State.

    So for you the Ondo victory means the people have not deserted Buhari?

    Those saying that President Buhari’s popularity has waned are not being scientific. I wish they can back it up with scientific proof. You will be amazed if you carry out a scientific exercise, the vote of confidence in the President will be overwhelming because, despite the tough time people know that serious work is going on and that with a bit of patience, better days will come for the country. And the number of people who are willing to wait for things to turn round are more than people who are not willing to wait. I have said that before.

    Do you think the admonition by former President Obasanjo to President Buhari to focus on his job indicates a withdrawal of support by the former president for your boss?

    It is only former President Obasanjo that can emphatically say if he has withdrawn support for President Buhari. He didn’t say he withdrew support. He just gave an advice and President Buhari respects Chief Olusegun Obasanjo very highly. And if he gives an advice, President Buhari would look at that advice very critically.

    But did the advice go down well with the President?

    I have not discussed that with the President. I speak for him and I can only say what he has told me. He and I have not discussed what former President Obasanjo said but I know that with the kind of respect that President Buhari has for the former President, he would look at what he said very critically.

     

     

  • Buhari congratulates Gambian President-elect

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the President-elect of The Gambia, Mr Adama Barrow, on his victory in the country’s presidential election.

    The President also saluted the spirit of statesmanship displayed by the out-going President of the country, Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, by conceding defeat.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja, Buhari noted that such uncommon gesture was crucial in calming fears of unrest in the West African nation.

    While expressing delight at the gallantry shown by Jammeh, President Buhari enjoined President-elect Barrow to be magnanimous in victory.

    He also commended Gambians for peacefully exercising their democratic right to freely choose their leader and called on all stakeholders to maintain the peace.

    According to him, he looks forward to a smooth transition of power and working with the incoming President of The Gambia to deepen existing cordial relations between both countries.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Opposition candidate Adama Barrow, won the Gambian presidential polls with 263,515 votes, the Gambian electoral commission said on Friday.

    The commission’s chair, Alieu Njie, said he was followed by out-going President Yahya Jammeh with 212,009 votes while Mama Kandeh, the third candidate in the running, came third with 102,969 votes.

    NAN reports that Jammeh, who had ruled the country for 22 years, had since accepted defeat. (NAN)

  • Two jewels

    Two jewels

    •Professors Ojaide and Sadik deserve the Nigerian Merit Award

    Two Nigerian academics will Thursday be bejewelled as the latest honorees of the prestigious Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM). They are Professor Tanure Ojaide and Professor Omowunmi Sadik. In line with the tradition, the awards go to two major categories, Science and the Humanities.
    Also, in accordance with the law and convention of the awards, the president, Muhammadu Buhari, will adorn the distinguished academics with the award. The NNOM is Nigeria’s top award for academics conferred by the Federal Government.
    The records and doings of the two professors remind us that Nigeria is not yet lost and we still have within us the seeds and potential of greatness. The irony though is that the two are not transmitting their knowledge here on our shores. Both incidentally are in universities in the United States. Professor Sadik is a chemist and director at the centre for advanced sensor and environmental Systems at the State University of New York, Binghamton. On the other hand, Professor Ojaide is the Frank Porter Professor of Africana Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina.
    According to Professor Etim Essien, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Merit Award, the honour does not carry any political baggage and lives up to its high regard as a symbol of intellectual rigour and industry.
    “The NNMA which is an agency charged to seek out the best intellectual and creative Nigerian minds, was set up to seek accolades at home, and help in directing their energies, to finding solutions to Nigeria’s problem and thus promote national development and enhance good national image internationally, “ he said.
    Professor Ojaide has been known as an award-winning poet of international standing whose works have not only challenged standard norms but reflect a deep Nigerian flavour, especially in the Niger Delta region where he grew up.
    He is also known for a rigorous body of critical work on imperialism, religion and some aspects of levity of the Nigerian culture. His major awards include the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for the African Region in 1987, the BBC Arts and Africa Poetry Award in 1988, the All-Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry in 1988 and 1997 as well as the Association of Nigerian Author’s Prize of 1988 and 1994. He has published about 20 volumes of poetry, about half a dozen works of fiction, a critical work and an autobiographical work.
    Born in 1948 to two Urhobo parents, he attended the University of Ibadan. He later taught literature at the University of Maiduguri before he was appointed a professor at North Carolina.
    Professor Sadik has received accolades for her work, including a 2005-2006 NSF Discovery Corps Senior Fellowship, 2003-2004 Distinguished Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard University, 2002 Chancellor’s Award for Premier Inventions at SUNY, 2001 Chancellor’s Award for Research in Science and Medicine at SUNY, 2000 National Research Council (NRC) COBASE Fellowship as well as Australian Merit Award.
    Professor Sadik has developed microelectrode biosensors for detection of drugs and explosives. She is still at work to develop technologies to recycle metal ions from waste. She has also turned the research work into a cause as she is co-founder of the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organisation, a non-profit organisation.
    Born in June 1964 to a family of scientists, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the University of Lagos before proceeding to Australia where she earned her doctorate from the Wollongong University.
    The two distinguished scholars will bring the number of awardees so far to 73 since its inception.
    The awards should also awaken our state and federal governments to the high value of education here at home. The lack of research grants and facilities and the brain drain of our valuable minds account for why our universities lag behind the best in the world and we honour our own who have done well outside our shores.

  • Buhari, Yari meet over security in Zamfara

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting centred on security situations in the state.

    About 40 persons were recently abducted by gunmen in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Yari disclosed that those abducted have been rescued and reunited with their families.

    He said: “As you are aware, some villages in Zamfara State have been under attacks by bandits and the President has carried out his constitutional responsibility by sending security men to the state.

    “So I am here to brief him on the security situation in the state. The operation is ongoing and is going on successfully. I am rushing back there to visit the troops in order to boast their morale.

    “I will be with them throughout the week. In this kind of situation, you have to be with the people in order to show them that you are concerned as a leader.

    “I believe the security agencies are doing their best and we will continue as government to give them the support needed to make the operation successful.

    “We are hoping that the military will remain there for longer time and we are ready to take care of their logistics.

    “The problem we have is that the state is surrounded by forests. The military men there are currently in about six camps. We hope they will stay there for a while.

    “We thank God that the 40 people are back with their families. We have retrieved them from their abductors and we have returned them to their families without any injury. We also did not pay any ransom,” he said.

  • People bombing pipelines not ordinary Nigerians, says Buhari

    People bombing pipelines not ordinary Nigerians, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday maintained that the people involved in the blowing up of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region are not ordinary Nigerians going by the sophistication of equipment they are using.

    By going into the sea for almost 70 kilometers to blow pipelines with ease, he said, has necessitated the need for some professional associations with high competences to talk to their members to ensure they were not deploying their skills in a negative way to the detriment of the country.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa after his investiture as the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), led by its President, Mrs. Joana Maduka.

    He said: “How can ordinary Nigerians go into the deep sea almost 70 kilometers to blow installations, they are not ordinary Nigerians. So you have to talk to your members.”

    Disagreeing with the delegation that Nigerian engineers are under utilized, he said that 99 per cent of those that constructed the four refineries in the country were Nigerian engineers.

    Stressing that the government has always taken engineers seriously in the task of nation building, he described Nigerian engineers as those whose capacity to learn is unparalleled.

    Regretting that none of the four refineries in the country are currently working, he blamed the country’s leadership for the situation and not the engineers.

    “Nigerian engineers are competent and cost effective. I respect you all, it takes a lot to be a competent engineers”. He stated

    Speaking earlier, Maduka pointed out that Nigerian engineering companies have performed laudably well in the last one year in the procurement and construction of a 600 megawatt power generating plant and a 330KV switching station, the biggest in the national grid.

    She said that the role of an academy of engineering all over the world is to serve as Think Tank for the technological and economic development of a nation.

    “Countries like China, USA, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia are examples of nations that have harnessed the benefits of their engineering academies for economic progress. Fellows of the Academy of Engineering are Engineers who have reached the peak of their careers and are invited to join”.

    She noted that the anti-corruption efforts of the administration was a move in the right direction as it will bring about economic transformation of the country.

    The group also backed the move by the Buhari’s administration to fix all the infrastructural deficit in the country.

    She said: “This effort is very germane to the development of our nation. For this to be done effectively and efficiently, inputs are required from all cadres of engineering disciplines.

    “The physical indices of development of any country are engineering based like roads, railways, water supply, power, housing and other infrastructure. However, Nigerian Engineers are underutilized for the tasks and challenges of nation building.

    “For the country to attain sustainable growth status, the Nigerian engineers need to be adequately engaged in planning, policy formulation, consultancy and construction as well as industrial processes of production and manufacturing.

    “Furthermore, the fact is that Nigeria is grossly under-engineered as there are insufficient engineering professionals taking the population per capita basis. For example, in China, between 2000 and 2013, all the nine members of the Standing Committee (Ministers) of the Politburo were trained engineers.

    “Currently, about half of the cabinet ministers in Singapore are engineers and in China,  70 per cent of the cabinet are engineers”. She stated

    She disclosed that the Nigerian Academic Engineering is currently made up of 140 fellows.

  • Buhari denies rift with Tinubu

    Buhari denies rift with Tinubu

    President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed rumours that he and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership are at odds with the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    He described such rumours as unfounded and mischievous.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President was highly embarrassed by such “suggestions” and that the President was in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo gubernatorial election.

    He said any suggestions that the President and the party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth or any credibility, explaining that the President was impressed by Tinubu’s assurance not to work against the party in Ondo and he honoured his words.

    He also explained that President Buhari regards Tinubu as a priceless political asset to the party whose immeasurable contributions to the development and progress of the ruling party are known to all.

    Malam Garba Shehu advised rumour mongers to stop spreading the seeds of discord and animosity between the President and Tinubu or the party, adding that the President is proud of the Jagaba and his pivotal role in the party and the movement.

    He said: “President Buhari commended Tinubu’s spirit of comradeship in  promptly congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected Governor.

    “The President also noted that at a time his administration is preoccupied with governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the party are counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in APC,” he added.

    He appealed to APC members and supporters to ignore rumours that could harm party unity.

  • Akeredolu will transform Ondo, says Buhari

    Akeredolu will transform Ondo, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday congratulated the Ondo State Governor-Elect, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory in the Saturday, November 26 governorship election in the state.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also congratulated the Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun,   the Chairman of the Campaign Committee, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, and all party faithful who put in their best and braved the odds to ensure a successful outing for the flag bearer.

    He also rejoiced with the people of Ondo State, who aligned with his own belief that Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, with his pedigree, possesses the qualities to transform the state into the Ondo of their dreams.

    He said: “From the beginning, this election set out to be a different kind of election. The unity and resilience of the party was tested. I am happy we came out of this victorious.

    “This is a huge win. The mood today is against corruption, insecurity and for the restoration of the economy and the creation of jobs. This is where the party stands and I am happy that the electorate has read the situation correctly,” said the President.”

    He called on other contestants in the election to see the triumph of Chief Akeredolu as the wish of God and enjoined them to work together with him to make the state a truly progressive and economically prosperous one for all.

    The President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and the voters for the peaceful and successful conduct of the elections.

    The President urged Akeredolu, as prepares to assemble his team and bring the much desired CHANGE to the people, to put behind whatever acrimonies may have arisen from the electioneering process and reach out to all well-meaning people in the state and beyond to implement his vision.

    He also assured Nigerians that the APC-led administration under his watch is committed to playing by the rules, and there will be no let-up “until we see the great nation of our dreams in all spheres of national development.”