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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari, Obasanjo’s restless emotions

    Buhari, Obasanjo’s restless emotions

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) is an all-rounder in nuances. So, he has etched his personality on Nigeria’s political space, but too many times in paranoia. On the bright side, Obasanjo displays multiple identities such as a triple former Nigerian leader and elder statesman of international fame; a retired Nigerian Army General of the combatant breed; a writer, a traditionalist, a farmer. On the flipside, Obasanjo is oddly the gadfly in Nigeria’s politics, self-styled omniscient of Nigeria; an incestuous character and sadist in social circles, to rewind him mildly.

    A country, with a living octogenarian in the mould and experience of Obasanjo, should not suffer the pains Nigeria is forced to bear at the moment because it taps from his positive treasures for nourishment. But the odd blend of virtues of good and evil in Obasanjo has usurped the sapience of tapping from him because his old age sadly stirs up his bad side, more often.

    When he wrote former President Goodluck Jonathan, an open letter, that political son of his knew he was heading for the political slaughter slab. Jonathan provoked Obasanjo by daring to classify him, the elder statesman he knows, a “garage tout.”  But, he may not be too distant from this description. Anyway, Obasanjo was provoked and genuinely too.

    Today, Obasanjo praises President Buhari, with the lower jaws of the teeth in his mouth. But within the same mouth, crucifies him over problems he could not solve as Nigeria’s democratic President for eight years. He haughtily declares that the existing problems need immediate solution, which is reason for the change as symbolized by Buhari and not “excuses.” So, Obasanjo keeps offending Nigerians by postulating that Buhari should have solved them in 17 months?

    Now and shamelessly, Obasanjo goes to bed, but keeps wakefulness or night vigil, seeking to know the financial status of the country and beats his chest that until he is informed about Nigeria’s finances, every other step of Buhari’s government is wrong.

    So, Buhari deserves the most acerbic of condemnations from an elder statesman, who has occupied Aso Villa countless times before him. Why for Christ’s sake would Buhari have the guts of not venerating his (Obasanjo) dearest political godsons like former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and the equally prickly former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode by exposing them to EFCC scrutiny? But PMB never initiated the probes on these suspected looters of Nigeria’s wealth.

    And in his usual manner of damaging thinking, OBJ believes every organ of government should be accountable to him, even as he is out of government. With enormous physical energy, as a soldier, he does not believe in his waning status or senility and bestrides the polity, claiming intellectuality, attacking every other person who seats on the presidential seat in Aso Rock, as doing everything wrong, except him.

    But for the eight years he was in the saddle, Nigerians sighted nothing as democratic dividends. He rather joined the league of the country’s looters, most conspicuously, with his OBJ library launch, an occasion government appointees were cajoled or coerced to source money from their establishments to donate in appreciation of President Obasanjo. And they did just that!

    Let Obasanjo explain to Nigerians how his Library launch openly netted about N5billion when Nigeria’s naira had worth much more than its current value today.  Obasanjo once counted GSM, (Global System of Mobile Communication) as one of his achievements, because a recharge card seller could get N20 (Twenty Naira) from the sale of N1, 000 unit of recharge card from any network.  But Nigerians are the minutely, most exploited users of GSM in Africa.

    Again, Obasanjo is so far the only Nigerian privileged to preside over the affairs of Nigeria for 11 years, the longest any man has ever served on Nigeria’s topmost job. But Nigeria has no outstanding achievement it can celebrate in Obasanjo in the manner South Africans fete Late Nelson Mandela, even in death or some other revered African Leaders.

    But today, he wishes Buhari purifies the land of the mess he planted, with his crook-cronies or proxies for 16 years, in just 17 months. And so, in Obasanjo’s distorted sense, Buhari should stop complaining but provide the change; the crest which he rode to power or else consider himself (Buhari) a failure.

    So, Obasanjo shamelessly feigns a good man and a patriotic Nigerian leader, in his blinding conviction that Nigerians believe his piousness and adulterated wisdom. It explains why the United Nations never found him fit for the Job of its Chief Scribe.

    Unfortunately for him, every Nigerian knows that beneath Obasanjo’s harmless countenance and pretensions about loyalty and patriotism, lies the darkest facade of a heart completely blacker than charcoal, and extremely difficult to dislodge.

    He erects for himself the image of a saint and perceives any other person around him, especially those in governance as sinners. But if there is any single misfortune in Nigeria’s leadership, it is more expressed in Obasanjo than any other Nigerian leader.

    Verily repugnant too, OBJ today positions himself to speak harshly about a government in power and without a second thought, advises President Buhari to deviate from the path of blaming previous administrations and sort out Nigeria’s economy.  But this is democracy and not any military administration where leaders act with fiat. OBJ is piqued because his administration (from 1999-2007) is also included in the bunch Buhari has classified as Nigeria’s failed leadership, which has raped Nigeria. He said the same thing about Late Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan, all presidents he imposed on Nigeria.

    Read Obasanjo’s emotions in these words; “The blanket adverse comments or castigation of all democratic administrations from 1999 by the present administration is uncharitable, fussy and uninstructive.”

    To whisper his wasted years in power, Obasanjo again adds, “Politics apart, I strongly believe that there is a distinction between the three previous administrations that it would be unfair to lump them all together. I understand President Buhari’s frustration on the state of the economy inherited by him. It was the same reason and situation that brought about the cry for change, otherwise, there would be no need for change,  if it was all nice and rosy.”

    This same man (Obasanjo) backs sale of national assets to raise money to get Nigeria out of its economic recession because he initiated the idea of selling National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) through what they call privatization. To handover this sensitive national asset to his wife, Late Stella (May her soul rest in peace), Obasanjo changed the name from NEPA to Power Holding company of Nigeria (PHCN). And eventually sold by Jonathan in 2013, Obasanjo should ask himself whether Nigerians are experiencing improved power supply.

    That ideas like sale of national assets in any guise do not work in Nigeria’s context, but coming from OBJ, every Nigerian should see it as perfect and he advises Buhari to think in this direction. But vehemently, he opposes in part, the move for a foreign loan because the amount is too huge.

    He frankly appreciates Buhari’s burden or concern for the suffering masses of Nigeria and the need to alleviate same. But to acknowledge that Buhari would not have to “shit” money to solve Nigeria’s problems is what this elder statesman would simply not accept, because it would impose, according to him, 30 years of servitude on Nigeria. If Nigerians had impact from the $16 billion, he claimed his administration spent on power generation, national grid would not have been below 2, 500 megawatts (MW) Buhari inherited and has pushed it to now slightly above 5,000 MW.

    Obasanjo says “No administration can or should be comfortable with the excruciating pain of debilitating and crushing economy. Businesses are closing, jobs are being lost and people are suffering.”

    But is there anything new? These are problems Buhari inherited and OBJ himself knows that only Buhari believes in the change mantra. Obasanjo knows that majority of the people around Buhari like himself are frustrating this change and humanly, it is not possible for Buhari to be in every office in Nigeria to have things done accordingly.

    In the First Akintola William’s Annual Lecture, Obasanjo admits of his frustrations in auditing accounts of the National Assembly, he  confesses  is peopled by crooks and “unarmed robbers.” But he expects that Buhari should perform miracles with the same characters in place, maliciously checkmating his good plans for Nigeria for their selfish ends.

    Obasanjo was an abrasive president, who could cause the abduction of an incumbent governor (Anambra’s Chris Ngige) or order the sack of his party’s national chairman, (then PDP’s Chief Audu Ogbeh) after a dinner with him. But Buhari is sincerely a different politician who would not just float the law to massage his ego.

    A Senate made up of characters Obasanjo has infinitely kept questioning are the same clan of parliamentarians who have rejected Buhari’s proposal to borrow $29 billion, monies they can vouch for its judicious applicability with Buhari’s eagle eye.

    That’s how wisdom dangles. While Obasanjo believes that President Buhari should borrow money, but not in the magnitude of the $29 billion he is demanding, Senators of Nigeria see no reason for it. It will do OBJ a great deal of respite, if he observes more and speaks less under a Buhari Presidency, who remains a Nigerian leader for the Nigerian masses.

    Bukar Raheem writes from Kaduna State.

     

  • Buhari, Amosun meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Amosun arrived the Presidential Villa around 4 p.m.

    Journalists waiting to know the purpose of the visit dispersed when many staff in the President’s office closed for the day.

    The governor was believed to have followed the President to his official residence.

    As at the time of filing this report, Amosun did not pass through the main entrance on his way out of the President’s office.

  • Buhari to attend Climate Change Conference in Morocco

    Buhari to attend Climate Change Conference in Morocco

    President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22, in Marrakech, Morocco, from November 14-16.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, will participate in the official opening plenary on November 15 where he will deliver his national statement during the High Level Segment of COP 22.

    The Presidential address is expected to highlight, among other key issues, Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and policy actions aimed at tackling climate change through environmental sustainable efforts.

    He will also rally international support for the clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta and the resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin.

    While in Marrakech, the President is scheduled to attend the Africa Day Commemoration at COP 22 with the theme, “Moving from Commitments to Action with Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and African Renewable Energy Initiative.”

    He will also attend the Summit of African Heads of State on the sidelines of the Climate Change conference.

    COP 22, which will be attended by representatives from 197 countries including world leaders, environment ministers, government officials as well as a wide range of representatives from civil society and the private sector, is the first meeting of State Parties since the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement on November 4, 2016.

    The legally binding international Agreement on climate change, among others, addresses issues of global warming, including its impact on food security and agriculture.

    It would be recalled that President Buhari signed the Paris Agreement on September 22, 2016 at the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

    Buoyed by that commitment, the Nigerian delegation is optimistic that COP22 will provide a platform to promote and enhance delivery of the purpose-driven environmental sustainable agenda of the Federal Government.

  • Buhari, Ekweremadu, others meet over South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed-doors with some Federal lawmakers from the South East at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The group, South East Caucus in the National Assembly, presented some of the concerns and challenges of the South East to the President.

    Among the delegation are the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Chairman of South East Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Sam Egwu, Hope Uzodinma, Andy Uba and Chukwuka Utazi.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Ekweremadu said: “For us from the South East, we believe that dialogue is better than any other form of engagement. So we decided to visit the President and present to him some of the concerns of the South East including the issues of roads, general infrastructure: the rail, airports.

    “We also discussed the issue of security with him and of course the issue of IPOB. We had a good conversation and he promised to look into the issues.” He said

    Abaribe said that the delegation also sought for more federal appointments, adding that the South East is shortchanged more than any other zone in the country.

    He said: “This is the South East caucus in the Senate and we came to see the President because of the issues we have in the South East.

    “We had a fruitful discussion with the President. He has promised us that he is going to look into the problems of South East.

    “We know that there are problems everywhere but we also believe that the South East is the zone that is far much shortchanged at this time than other zones.

    “We also talked about the issue of appointments from the South East, especially with respect to the National Security Council. The President also told us that governors of the South East have also engaged him on the same problems we engaged him on.

    “There is a concerted effort from the people of the South East to be sure that we engage with this government meaningfully.

    “We are reassured with the response we got from the President and we look forward to further interaction with him in this manner.” He said

  • Buhari has short-changed north—Ango Abdullahi

    Buhari has short-changed north—Ango Abdullahi

    The spokesman of Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi has said that the north has so far been short-changed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
    Professor Abdullahi who was guest of Kaduna-based Liberty Radio Hausa programme, ‘’Bakon mu na mako’’ on Sunday noted that the north is not properly represented in the appointment of Ministers and in the distribution of capital projects in the 2016 budget.
    According to him, the north voted for Buhari irrespective of party affiliations and not necessarily for the All Progressives Congress (APC), because the Jonathan administration reneged on the power shift arrangement which brought President Olusegun Obasanjo to power in 1999.
    ‘’Buhari has been contesting election in the last 12 years. He contested on the platform of ANPP, contested again on the platform of CPC in 2011. In 2015, the north rallied round him because it was aggrieved over the decision of PDP to field Jonathan in spite of the obvious constitutional breach that another four year term for him would have imposed on the country.
    ‘’So, given the fact that northerners had resolved that power should shift to the north in 2015 and Buhari’s past record and personal integrity, the north rallied round in his support irrespective of party or religious affiliations,’’ Professor Abdullahi stated.
    The NEF spokesman said that the north was not given positions in the Federal Executive Council that are commensurate with its voting strength. He pointed out that the Ministries that have direct bearing on the economy, are not in the hands of northerners, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture is the only exception.
    Professor Abdullahi further said that the north only got 30% out of the capital projects that have been earmarked in the 2016 appropriation bill, adding that the North East, North West and North Central got 3%, 9% and 19% respectively.
    ‘’Imagine, the north east which was ravaged by Boko Haram only got 3%. In terms of recurrent expenditure which is mainly paying salaries and servicing the day-to-day running of government, the north is also short changed because as at 10 years ago, 0nly 18% of federal civil servants are northerners,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria more divided than ever, political scientists tell Buhari

    Political scientists in the country under the aegis of the Nigeria Political Science Association have said that the country was more divided now and polarised along sectional lines more than anytime in the history of the country since the Nigeria civil war.
    The association said President Muhammadu Bunari must take immediate steps now to address issues leading to the polarised nature of the country by urgently putting the issue of nation building on the front burner of governance in the country.
    National President of the body, Professor Shuaibu Ibrahim said at a news conference in Abuja that the government must immediately reintroduce the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies which was established by the Babangida regime to lead in the cultivation of democratic values that lacking among the country’s political leaders.
    Prof. Ibrahim said even though there are calls for the restructuring of the country, there has been no consensus on the type of federalism that the country need in other to optimally achieve unity in diversity, a situation which he said undermines the nation building process.
    He said: “One of the most contentious issues in Nigeria today is the structure of Nigerian Federalism. While there appears to be a consensus that the current structure of the federation where the states and local governments depend on allocations from the federal government to pay even the salaries of their staff is unsustainable, conversations around the nature of our federalism or the direction in which it should be restructured, seem politicized.
    “The lack of consensus on the type of federalism that the country needs in order to optimally achieve unity in diversity in turn, accentuates suspicion and undermines the nation-building process.
    “One of the consequences is that we have groups and individuals rapidly withdrawing from the Nigerian state and retreating into primordial identities and often regarding the state as their common enemy.
    “The government needs to realize that the country is deeply polarized, perhaps more divided today than at any other time in its history since the end of the Civil War. For this reason, the government urgently needs to put the issue of nation- building on the front burner. This simply means deliberately using state instruments to re-build trust and give a sense of belonging to the different constituents of the federation.”

  • Empty treasury: I almost absconded, says Buhari

    Empty treasury: I almost absconded, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday disclosed that he almost absconded from his office when he met an almost empty treasury on resumption.

    He disclosed this during a Presidential parley with senior executive course 38 (2016) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Noting that daily oil production of 2.1 million barrels was recorded between 1999 and 2015, he said that there was virtually no savings on ground despite the huge income during the period.

    Infrastructures, he said, were also in dilapidated states.

    To make matter worse, he said that oil prices in the international market, which sold for over $100 per barrel fell below $30 per barrel under his tenure.

    Digressing from his prepared speech, Buhari said: “For 16 years and eight consecutive government’s of the other party and you know that there was unprecedented revenue realized, the oil projection which can be verified was 2.1 million barrels per day.

    “1999 to 2015, the average cost of each Nigerian barrel of oil was $100 per barrel. When we came it fell to less $30 per barrel and it is now laying between 40 and 50.

    “Actually I felt like absconding because 27 out of 36 states in Nigeria cannot pay salaries and we know they have no other source than to depend on salaries.

    “And I asked any savings? I was told there was no savings, And I asked what have you done on agriculture, power, rails, roads. Nothing. You know more than I do because you move around. I have not been moving around since after elections but you do, how many of the Trunk A roads are still good enough? How many power do we have although there are some elements of sabotage.

    “I was told the money was used to import food and fuel. I didn’t believe the answer and I still don’t believe it. Until now substantial number of people in the East eat garri and groundnut, in the West pounded yam, cassava, vegetables, in the north tuwo which is made from any of the grains, millet, sorghum.

    “They eat it in the night and warm it in the morning and eat it and take fura danono in the afternoon. How many of those people can afford foreign food?” he queried.

    “Then they say I should check out the petroleum, the legislature dedicated 445,000 barrels per day for internal consumption and that is just 60 per cent of our requirements. I said okay what of the 40 per cent? The marketers that are bringing it just present documents, papers are just stamped and monies are taken away.

    “This is the type of things that the Nigerian elites are doing for our own country. When you go back look at your colleagues and encourage them to be truly Nigerians,” Buhari stated.

    In his prepared speech, the President said that he was glad that the Course 38 Participants took up the challenge he threw at the Management of NIPSS last year to look at strengthening institutional mechanisms for poverty reduction and inclusive development in the 2016 Course.

    He said that he was happy the report was submitted to him.

    “I have carefully noted the report, most especially its findings and policy recommendations. I recall with pleasure that when I was given this task, six months after this administration came into office, the selection of the theme was not only apt but also timely.

    “Today, poverty reduction and inclusive development have become pillars of this administration and very close to my heart,” he added.

    The President said that he had looked forward to receiving the report because it touched on one of the fundamental problems confronting the nation.

    “The Report comes at a time when our economy is experiencing a downturn and all efforts are being made by this administration to get our country moving again.”

    He insisted that the current economic recession in the country is not the making of his administration, but a consequence of bad management of the economy in the past couple of decades.

    Buhari also maintained that recession is not limited to Nigeria, stressing that there are far worse cases than Nigeria.

    He added: “Whatever the scale of the problem the important thing is how one tackles it. Accordingly, this administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to our economic structural imbalance.

    “Let us have faith in our great nation that we will come out of this recession vibrant and strong. I am glad that the report presented today has given us reason to keep faith in our ability to overcome our challenges.

    “There is no doubt that poverty for decades has been a major challenge to us as a nation despite the country’s enormous wealth. Several policies and programmes that have been implemented over the years, as rightly observed by the Report, have not broken the cycle of poverty in Nigeria.”

    “From the findings of the research by the Participants, it is evident that strengthening our institutions is key to reducing poverty and engendering inclusive development,” he said.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Director-General of NIPSS, Jonathan Juma, said that a lot can be done by the institute if more budgetary support is given to it.

    “For the Institute to operate as an “apex institution” and be at the forefront of relevant researches for national development, it is required to recruit and retain top level academics, very senior technocrats and other experienced specialized experts.” He said

    He said that the national institute is operating below its conceived capacity due to its inability to attract a full complement of requisite staff who would conduct research across broad strategic areas of national life and also impact new knowledge.

    He said: “The financial situation of the national institute is precarious. The payments for utility services are in arrears and worse still, we have to live with threats of litigation from numerous creditors. Operational vehicles in the institute’s fleet have aged and are a source of constant embarrassment .

    “We have looked inward and appealed to the generosity of individuals and corporate Nigeria for support and we are glad that some have responded positively. However, a decisive presidential intervention for a sustainable funding of NIPSS is urgently required,” he stated.

  • Niger Delta stakeholders give 16-point demands to Buhari

    Niger Delta stakeholders give 16-point demands to Buhari

    Niger Delta Stakeholders, under the aegis of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, on Tuesday presented 16-point demands to President Muhammadu Buhari at a closed door meeting in the Council Chamber of the State  House, Abuja.

    The demands were presented by the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete Spiff, on behalf of the stakeholders.

    The 16 point-demands, which the leaders believed if achieved would restore hope and confidence in the region, include:

    “The presidential amnesty Programme: the decry that out of the five components of the disarmament and retrieval of weapons from the ex-militants, only the disarmament and demobilization component is being implemented. Tensions over the fate of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme is as a result of lack of genuine exit strategy. They want the Programme reviewed to reappraise its core mandate to provide a robust exist strategy, in order to transit recipients into jobs, effectively integrate them and few the of dependency on stipends, so that their new-found skills would be of benefit to themselves and larger community.

    “Law and Justice issues: in view of the insecurity situation in the Niger delta, a number of pending law and justice issues regarding some aggrieved groups and individuals are yet to be resolved. It is important to address these issues urgently as a step towards lasting peace.

    “The effect of increased military presence in the Niger Delta: the increased in military presence has resulted in invasion of communities, displacement of persons, harassment and other firms of human rights abuse. They want government to halt the the escalation of tension in the region.

    “Plights of internally displaced persons: they want relevant government agencies to take urgent measures to meet their immediate needs of those displaced by upsurge of insecurity in the region.

    “The Ogoni clean-up and environmental remediation: they want government to speed up the exercise. They want government to enforce zero gas flare deadline. They want the devastating effects of coastal erosion and lack of an effective shoreline protection for the coastal communities tackled urgently. They ask federal government to commission a region-wide credible assessment of the impacts of crude oil pollution of the environment in the region and undertake to enforce environmental laws.

    “The Maritime University Issue: want prompt take off of the Niger Delta university

    “Key regional critical infrastructure: they want completion of of East-West road, full implementation of the rail project that is designated to run through the Niger Delta region to Lagos.

    “Security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure. They want pipeline surveillance contracts given to the communities rather than individuals in a manner that is some benefits to their responsibility. Communities would the see their responsibility over the pipelines as protection of what belongs to them.

    “Relocation of Administrative and Operational Headquarters of IOCs: the headquarters of most oil companies are not located in the Niger Delta Region. As a result the region is denies all the developmental and associated benefits that would have accrued to the region from their presence. It has therefore become imperative for the IOCs to relocate to their areas of operation. This move old create a mutually beneficial relationship wi he host communities.

    “Power supply: they advocate a power plan that strongly ties power supply in the region to gas supplies, thereby giving all sides a stake in proved stability.

    “Economic development and empowerment: they want Brass LNG and fertiliser plant project including the Train 7 implemented, reviewing and updating the national gas master plan to integrate the economic interests and industrialization of the region, creating a Niger Dekta industrial corridor that would process some portions of the bat hydrocarbon natural resources, expediting work on the export processing zones, harnessing the huge rain-fed agricultural potentials of the area through the development of farms estates, fishery development projects and Agro-Allied industrial clusters etc.

    “Inclusive participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs. They want the federal government to enunciate policies and actions that will address the lack of participation as well as imbalance in the ownership of oil and gas assets.

    “Restructuring and funding of the NDDC: The restructuring will ensure it refocuses as a true interventionist agency to respond swiftly to the yearnings of the grassroots of the Niger Delta. Communities must be able to have a say in what projects come to them and also want full implementation of the funding provisions of the NDDC Act.

    “Strengthening the Niger Delta Ministry: they say the era of abysmal funding should end. The ministry should be adequately funded and strengthen to fulfill the purpose for which it was created.

    “The Bakassi Question, recommend a comprehensive resettlement plan including development for the host communities and displaced population to reduce the risk of making the into a stateless people.

    “Fiscal federalism, the region supports the call for true federalism and urged that federal government should treat the matter expeditiously.”

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu said that the meeting was largely a courtesy call to bring to the front burner the issues of the Niger Delta and the concerns from the Niger Delta Leaders and what they believed the federal government should do to bring down pressure, stress and militancy to the barest minimum if not eliminated.

    According to him, it was a fairly good and civilized dialogue between all the parties, noting that it was a beginning of a process.

    He said: “We had over a hundred representatives. So, it was a very well attended function. Opinions given were very honest, very frank to the point. But I think at the end of the day, we exchanged enough thought processes to go back to the drawing board to begin a process of work.”

    The Minister said that a lot of behind-the-scene talks have been going on which has boost oil production to 2.1 million barrels.

    “One, we put a lot of moment on the fact of these incidences that happen. But I think the time has also come as members of the fourth estate of the realm to begin to put a lot of emphasis on the successes that have been recorded.

    “The reality is that as of today and this morning, we are at 2.1 million barrels production. That’s substantial. That would not have happened without efforts that went behind through the royal fathers and leaders, through the militant leaders. A lot of behind-the-scene engagements had taken place and will continue to take place.

    “If you look at 7 big wins that we set up last week, part of the expectations by 2017 is to target a zero shut as a result of result of militancy. What that means is that it is going to be an ongoing engagement. It will never finish. Different from what teams were setting up to do negotiations after the president had looked at this and given a strata, we also be the fact that on a roll on basis, the Ministry of Petroleum is continuing a quarterly meeting involving the oil companies who fairly beaten up  a little bit today and the governors and the stakeholders which will happen once every 3 months.

    “The first one is going to happen in Uyo in December and we are going to rotate that between the states so that we will have a platform irrespective of the negotiation that’s going on to deal with the issues and continue,” he added.

    On his part, Chief Edwin Clarke disclosed that the meeting was arranged by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and all interest groups were represented.

     

  • Don’t link Buhari to Judges’ arrest-Presidency

    The Presidency at the weekend advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking President Muhammadu Buhari to the legal travails of some recently arrested Judges in the country.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari would be the last person to authorize anybody to induce a Judge to pervert the course of justice.

    He pointed out that the President had never used his personal familiarity with some court Judges to seek favours from them in 2003, 2007 and 2011 when he was challenging the fairness of the presidential election results, through the lowest to the highest courts in the land.

    The Senior Special Assistant also explained that, as a politician, Buhari had never once ever suggested to his lawyers to approach any Judge for assistance to win his cases.

    According to him, the President is living by this principle and has never deviated from it.

    On the fate of the Judges facing corruption allegations, he said the President doesn’t tell Courts how to do their jobs and that anybody accused of corruption is protected by law to defend their innocence.

    The purpose of the law, he said, is to punish the guilty and acquit the innocent, noting that the law projects the rights everyone.

    Malam Garba Shehu said the President doesn’t have any powers to force any court to convict anybody who is innocent, arguing that in a democratic society, that cannot happen without resistance by the people.

  • Ondo protests: Call Mimiko to order, AD urges Buhari

    Ondo protests: Call Mimiko to order, AD urges Buhari

    The Alliance for Democracy(AD) in Ondo State has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari not to be cajoled by the antics of the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko over the mayhem that occurred on Friday on the choice of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State.

    According to a Press Statement by the State Secretary of the AD in the State, Dr Sola Agboola, on Saturday, instead, the Governor should be held accountable for the organised mayhem which he regretted, “has even continued since Saturday morning.

    The AD alleged that PDP thugs and street urchins hired to carry out the acts of brigandage have been blocking roads in Akure, the State capital to sustain the ” lies
    concocted by Mimiko to the President that the State was on fire owing
    to the list pasted by the Independent national Electoral Commission
    (INEC)”.

    The AD while describing the situation as an irony and a sad pointer that Olusegun Mimiko who got into office via the instrumentality of the court could surreptitiously resort to violence even while before an appellate court to redress the matter, said that it amounted to deceit to resort to violence to seek justice.

    While describing AD as a peaceful party committed to the peace and
    tranquillity in the State, the Secretary wondered why Dr Mimiko should attempt to impose the wish of a tiny members of his party over those of the majority who are contented with the court and INEC’s verdicts.

    “In order to make his subterfuge work, the embattled Governor threatened the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo with deposition if he fails to incite the market men and women and force close the Main market in order to make his ploy seem real.

    “At the same time, hired thugs from outside of the State in cahoots with the some members of the drivers’ union, whose State Chairman is the Governor’s kinsman from Ondo, caused mayhem in order to whip sentiments for his minion, who regrettably is a lawyer.

    “We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to call Governor Mimiko and his protégé, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to order and hold them responsible for any infraction and breakdown of law and order. They are the authors of this organised mayhem.

    “The AD as a peaceful party abhors violence and destruction of public properties and we view with seriousness this shameful act of brigandage to force the hands of the law to do your wish by fire by force as Mr Mimiko is doing. The present mayhem is an organised one being perpetrated by the Ondo State Government and not that of the reaction of the people. Besides, that it came a day after the said incident happened and far into the midmorning when workers, market men and women, school children have gone to their respective offices and schools speaks volumes,” Agboola stated.