The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • AfCFTA treaty won’t affect manufacturers’ interest, Buhari assures

    MANUFACTURERS got an assurance on Wednesday from President Muhammadu Buhari that the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) treaty would not affect their interests.

    He assured the manufacturing and business community that proper safeguards would be put in place to block adverse malpractices.

    The President gave the reassurance when he hosted the leadership of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), led by its President Babatunde Ruwase, at the State House in Abuja.

    According to him, this will be done in the next phase of AfCFTA negotiations.

    He said: “The consultative approach Nigeria took on the AfCFTA is just another example of our desire for sustainable and inclusive growth.

    “The team visited all the geopolitical zones. We met farmers, commodity traders, manufacturers, bankers and stock brokers. And we listened and made note of their views.

    “Our studies revealed that although the services sector was doing ok, other key job creating sectors such as manufacturing and processing were still lagging behind.

    “This is evident by the fact that intra-African trade only accounts for 14 per cent of Africa’s total trade. As a continent, our consumption is mostly of goods imported from outside the continent.

    “We viewed this as both an opportunity and a threat. It is an opportunity as Nigerian manufacturers can aggressively expand to meet the huge demand across the continent.

    “It is a threat as one can abuse the rules of origin to flood the market with imports from outside the continent thereby destroying jobs here at home.

    “Nigeria’s engagement in the next phase of the negotiations is to ensure proper safeguards are put in place to support African manufacturers. We shall continue to count on your support to ensure this goal is achieved.”

    Admitting that the Apapa gridlock still remains a challenge, he said that he was saddened that businesses have had to suffer as a result of it.

    The President said that the Federal Government was doing its best and working with the Lagos State Government to bring an end to the problem.

    He also assured the group of his administration’s continued commitment to supporting the private sector to flourish and create jobs across the country.

    He added: “In the last four years, we have invested heavily in infrastructure development. We supported our development banks to provide loans to traders and small enterprises.

    “We signed executive orders to support local content consumption. We also focused on enhancing ease of doing business to facilitate investment.

    Read Also: Buhari assents to two bills

    “Thankfully, there was alignment with the monetary authorities and this significantly contributed to the successes we are seeing today.”

    Ruwase listed the importance of the CAMA bill and the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) as he urged the President to sign them into law.

    On Apapa gridlock, the LCCI chief commended Federal Government’s effort in decongesting the gridlock, saying the move had brought a partial relief.

    He pleaded with the President to sustain the effort, stressing that the challenge is not over yet.

    Ruwase said: “We commended your intervention to resolve the traffic gridlock around the Lagos ports in Apapa. We have experienced partial decongestion of the roads but the problem is still not over. We urge you to please sustain your interest in this matter to ensure that it is fully resolved.”

    He also urged the President to prevail on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deepen its consultations with stakeholders before major monetary policy decisions are taken.

    He commended the President on the signing of AfCFTA, saying it will promote continental economic integration as well as the growth of member countries.

    He also commended the constitution of the National Action Committee (NAC) on the implementation of the agreement, pointing out that the group would be looking forward to speedy execution of programmes and projects that will foster the atmosphere for competitiveness among Nigerian businesses.

    “We commend Your Excellency for signing the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). We believe it would promote continental economic integration and economic growth of member countries.

    “We appreciate in particular the extensive consultation with the private sector which preceded the signing of the agreement.

    “We also commend the recent setting up of National Action Committee on the implementation of the AfCFTA. We look forward to speedy execution of programmes and projects that will create the environment to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses within the context of the AfCFTA.”

    Ruwase had during his visit to President Buhari on the October 26, last year, sought for expeditious consideration of the PIB. He also drew his attention to some abandoned Federal Government properties in Lagos, among other issues.

    The LCCI had also visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in his office on many occasions in the past four years.

  • Fed Govt: why new minimum wage implementation is delayed

    Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has described as unrealistic the percentage increas being demanded by workers’ representatives in the Joint National Public Negotiation Council (JNPNC).

    The HoCSF blamed the delay in the payment of the 30,000 new minimum wage to workers of the payroll of the Federal Government on the rejection of the staggered increment being proposed by the federal team.

    She feared the kickoff in the payment might be delayed further if senior civil servants refuse to back down on their demand.

    President Muhammadu Buhari directed the implementation of the new wage for civil servants, earning below N30, 000 before the signing of the minimum wage bill into law on April 18.

    Negotiation between the Federal Government and the JNPNC broke down two weeks ago because of differences in the method to adopt for the consequential adjustment for civil servants on grade level seven and above.

    Read Also: N30, 000 minimum wage: Group mobilises for warning strike

    The federal team in the technical committee is proposing 9.5 per cent increase for workers on levels 07 to 14 and five per cent for those on levels 15 to 17 but labour is demanding a 30 per cent salary increase for workers on levels 07 to 14 and 25 per cent for workers on levels 15 to 17.

    Mrs. Oyo-Ita said in Abuja yesterday that the President Buhari-led government remained committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Monday, that HoCSF urged Labour to review its demands.

    She said: “President Buhari is keen on the implementation of new minimum wage and that is why the committee set up on the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage has been meeting unions within Labour unions and public service to arrive at a consequential adjustment.

    “There were a few, not very realistic demands, from the unions and so as not to continue delaying the implementation of the well thought out and dear policy of the President, we have to go ahead and seek his approval for the implementation while we continue discussion on the consequential adjustment.”

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), the umbrella body for senior civil servants has said that its members would not accept the government circular on the implementation.

    It insisted that it will be left with no choice than to call its members out on a national strike if the government failed to meet their demand.

  • Fed Govt, Labour minimum wage talks deadlocked

    The minimum wage battle is far from being over, despite the signing of the bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have not agreed on the implementation of the wage structure.

    Workers on levels 01-06 will automatically enjoy the N30, 000 minimum wage, but the Federal Government is yet to accede to Labour’s demands for workers from levels 07-17 and above.

    A fresh negotiation, which was held yesterday in Abuja, got stuck as both parties failed to agree on wage percentage.

    The deadlock  has also delayed the payment of the N30,000 to junior workers in the Federal Civil Service.

    But workers in the 36 states have to wait a little longer to benefit from the new wage because the outcome of national negotiation will serve as a template for  bargaining with governors.

    The two parties have, however, decided to reconvene for talks on August 14 and 15.

    The Federal Government only asked labour to come with “an open mind”  to the next meeting.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on April 18, 2019 assented to the new National Minimum Wage Bill.

    Barely four months after, the implementation of the wage policy has been stalled because the government and labour could not reach a compromise at the negotiation table.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that  the Federal Government and labour’s Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council resumed negotiation behind closed doors for about four hours yesterday in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

    The government’s 10-man team was led by a Permanent Secretary in OSGF, Adekunle Lawal. Labour’s 10 negotiating leaders were headed by Comrade Simon Achebe, who is the acting chairman of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council.

    Read Also: New Minimum wage: Katsina to engage state NLC

    It was gathered that the basic disagreement centred on the percentage of wage increase for workers on levels 07-17.

    Labour insisted on  29% wage increase for those on levels 07 to 14 and 24% for top civil servants on levels 15-17.

    The government’s team insisted on 9.5% to 10% for workers on levels 7-14 and 5% to 5.5% for levels 15 to 17.

    A source, who who pleaded not to be named, said: “Again, the negotiation by the two parties was not far-reaching at all. Labour only made 1% concession from 30% increase for levels 07 to 14 to 29%. Also, it shifted from its demand for 25% wage increase for workers from levels 15- 17 to 24%.

    “The Federal Government stuck to its offers of 9.5% to 10% for workers on levels 7-14 and 5% to 5.5% for levels 15 to 17.

    “After about four hours, there was no headway. The government’s team advised labour to “come with an open mind” to the next meeting.

    “The meeting was deadlocked. The two parties will reconvene on August 14 and 15 for resumption of negotiation.”

    Asked of what becomes of the negotiation at the state level, a labour source said: “Nothing concrete can be done now because the outcome of the talks at the federal level will serve as a template for negotiation in the 36 states.

    “It is after the conclusion of our negotiation that the Joint Negotiating Council in each state will have to open discussions with state governors on percentage increase across board.

    “labour has directed its state chapters to await the final outcome with the Federal Government before beginning talks with state governments. So, no implementation of minimum wage yet in the 36 states.”

    Workers on levels 01-06 at the Federal Level have not been paid the new wage.

    “Junior workers with the Federal Government have not been paid N30, 000 minimum wage, “a member of the negotiating council said.

    Item 34 of the Second Schedule gives the National Assembly powers to “prescribe a national minimum wage for the Federation or any part thereof.”

    The struggle for a new minimum wage has been a major issue since 1978.

    The past minimum wages are: N125 (1981) by ex-President Shehu Shagari; N250 (1989/1990) by ex-President Ibrahim Babangida; N3, 000 (1998) by ex-Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; N5, 500(2000) by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; and N18, 000 (2011) by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the N30,000 minimum wage.

    The Labour Act of 2004 states that any establishment which employs fewer than 50 workers does not have by abide to the National minimum wage.

  • Drones, CCTVs to fight insecurity in Southwest

    STATES have won their battle for more muscle to tackle insecurity.

    They are to be licensed to use drones for monitoring forests and other hideouts of criminals in their domains.

    President Muhammadu Buhari broke the news on Wednesday to Southwest monarchs who were at the State House in Abuja for talks on how to restore security in their region.

    He assured the traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, that his administration was doing everything possible to tackle security challenges.

    With the Ooni were: the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunmade, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Saliyu Momoh and the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju.

    There were also the Alake of Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Matanmi and the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba  Adewale Shotobi

    The President said the Federal Government would continue to partner with states in kitting the police.

    Buhari said: “Working with the state governments, we intend to beef up the equipping of the police force with advanced technology and equipment that can facilitate the work of the security agencies.”

    The President disclosed that he would be issuing directives to the appropriate federal authorities to speedily approve licensing for state governments requesting the use of drones to monitor forests and other criminal hideouts.

    “We also intend to install CCTVs (Close Circuit Televisions) on highways and other strategic locations so that activities in some of those hidden places can be exposed, more effectively monitored and open to actionable review,” he said.

    According to the President, the Federal Government will continue to do everything necessary to protect the lives of all Nigerians and ensure that every Nigerian in every state is safe, and that all citizens can live in peace and harmony, regardless of ethnicity, religion or region.

    He said: “As a government, we remain committed to the ideals of our democracy, particularly entrenching the rule of law and the sanctity of life.

    “We will enforce the law, prosecute law breakers and secure an atmosphere of tranquility for all Nigerians wherever they choose to live and also protect our communities from all forms of crimes.

    “This is both in our interests as an administration and the interests of the people who voted us into office. We need security to deliver on our many programmes to the people. There can be no prosperity if there is no security.

    Read Also: How to rescue Southwest from criminals, by Omatseye

    “This is not only a message of hope but a call to action to all of us as we seek ways to secure our country.

    “On our part, as the Federal Government, we are ready to deal decisively with anyone that is fomenting this spate of criminal activities by every means necessary.

    “We intend to deal severely with those evil Nigerians inciting violence for political ends.”

    Speaking after the meeting with the President, Oba Ogunwusi confirmed that drones and CCTVs would soon be deployed in the Southwest to boost security.

    The royal father told reporters that the President has agreed to fast-track the monitoring of the forests in the region with the use of modern technology.

    He also said CCTVs would be mounted on the highways in the region.

    Oba Ogunwusi said: “Another milestone we achieved is that Mr. President will fast-track very rapid monitoring of our forests by using the technology of modern standard, the drones. The various security agencies will rally round the Inspector-General (IG) and see how it can be properly deployed.

    “Another thing is that they will install CCTV along our highways. The IGP said they are very aggressive about clearing our highways now.

    “We believe that with all these, there will be a reduction in the tension in the Southwest because the Southwest is very sensitive in Nigeria.

    “We don’t pray for crisis or war or uprising because it will snowball into a lot of things; that is why we are all represented from the six states that make up Southwesten Nigeria.

    “We thank God that Mr.  President is listening and so far so good, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

    When asked if the monitoring of the CCTV was factored into the discussion, he said: “Absolutely. This time around, it is a fruitful interactive session. It is not the normal let’s talk the talk; we are talking the work and we are going to walk the talk.

    “Because we as traditional rulers we know our people, we know the good, the bad and ugly, and that is why the government is taking it to another level by involving us directly on how to implement their initiatives.”

    Police chief Mohammed Adamu and other key security heads were at the closed doors meeting with the President.

    According to the Ooni, policemen and officers will be recruited among indigenes and residents of the various communities in the region.

    According to him, there will be restructuring of the country’s security architecture.

    Oba Ogunwusi said: “Today, the Inspector General of Police was present and the entire security architecture will be restructured; we are very happy about that.

    “We were also told about community policing, so the policemen will be recruited from the community, those that were born there, brought up there and they won’t be able to move them around.

    “So, we can use that strategy to avert a lot of tension going around the Southwest in particular now. We were able to achieve that milestone.”

    He, however, warned that it will be wrong to allow politicians hijack the community policing.

    The Oba said: “If they want to start community policing and they give it to politicians, it is not going to work per say; that is why they are involving us. Because, we know the people that are born within our community; we know how to recommend them for this kind of employment; we know the good ones that will be willing to serve their community.

    “So, by virtue of doing that, we will have crime reduction in our communities because every community has its own peculiarity.

    “So, what government is doing now is a different ball game entirely in Nigeria, it’s never been done before. So we should all work, cooperate with the government and see how they will implement them.

    “Because the problem has been if you take police officers to the North, within six months they will shift them to another place in the South. They are not domiciled there and so any time they get there, they depend on the vigilantes, community heads, the Mogagis, the Baales, and all the districts heads, so why can’t you give the jobs to the families of the Mogagis, the Baales, and all the districts heads?

    “So, it is a different rejigging and I can assure you the government is very serious now.”

    Oba Ogunwusi stressed that any identified bad Fulani must leave the Southwest. He was apparently referring to the call by some groups that Fulani should leave the Southwest. The Ooni attributed the call to the growing tension in the region.

    He said: “Well, it’s because of the tension but this time around the traditional rulers have arrived at a resolution to ensure that will not happen. It is the bad ones that should be focused on.

    “We all live in Nigeria; it is the bad ones that have come in from different borders that are porous, those are the ones we will focus on to separate the corn from wheat.

    “We are saying it is the bad ones that should leave, the bad ones can never stay. Even, Mr. President is with us on that. Even the Fulani clan does not want the bad ones to spoil their name. So, many people are hiding under Fulani to do evil now, so the bad ones must go.”

  • Ministers: Old wine in new bottle

    SIR: I don’t want to start this piece with the issue of exclusion of young people below the age of 35 years and women. Dwelling on this will add more salt to the injury and of course space will not permit me to do so. President Buhari had publicly promised Nigerians that he would include more youths and women in his Next Level administration, but the list submitted to the National Assembly is a disappointment. Surprisingly, the absence of youths from his nominees shocked many Nigerians and sent a wrong signal to even the author of this article.

    Since his inauguration on May 29, Nigerians have been anxious to see who would make the list of his ministerial nominees to enable them assess their qualities and credibility; whether the over echoed Next Level agenda is realistic or not.  Though, it was not a surprise for President Buhari to spend 56 days before releasing the list of the nominees, as it took him six months to form his cabinet in 2015, many Nigerians had given him knocks over this in the first tenure, particularly on selection of ministers who handled the economy, security, youth and other sensitive appointments. At the end of the exercise, he admitted that he did not know most of his appointees at the time.

    This time around, President Muhammadu Buhari, assured Nigerians that he would only appoint people he knew. Ordinarily, looking at the abysmal performance of the last batch of Buhari’s ministers and the barrage of criticisms the government received, many Nigerians thought the status quo would be changed. Of course, the Buhari administration wants to address the myriad of problems that have become cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s development, and hence requires capable hands. There are urgent needs for trained technocrats who are armed with technical know-how to revive the economy, security and other major sectors. However, the new ministers      fall short of standard and may likely not deliver the much-talked “Next Level Agenda. Many political observers are visibly shocked and surprised on how Buhari could opt for people who have questionable characters. The appointment of some former governors and senators who have milked their states dry and are under the investigation of anti-corruption agencies raise the credibility question. How can Buhari who abhors corruption nominate some politicians who are corrupt?

    Also, Nigerians have been reacting to the list of ministerial nominees especially with the return of some ministers who are elderly and performed woefully in their first tenure. Some of them are politician that have been disconnected with their communities’ due to corruption. Previous administrations had tried and brought technocrats that performed wonderfully in their portfolios such as Nasir El-Rufai, Oby Ezekwesili, Shamsuddeen, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, late Professor Dora Akunyili and others. Though many Nigerians are of the believed or opinion that the like of Ali Pantami, Festus keyamo and Sharon Ikeazor are brilliant and would likely shine in the Buhari second term. It is believed that these people are younger and have fresh ideas to drive the Next Level agenda of the present government.

    Moreover, the way and manner with which the list was submitted without portfolios has robbed the policy analysts or experts the opportunity to know how the ministers will drive the policies direction of the government. With the increase of the number of ministers, the ministry of power, housing and works needs to be split and assigned to the people that have good performance record to foster development. The education is system is rotten, security is one step forward and three backward, corruption is everywhere and it indicates that the Ministry of Justice has performed below expectation. There are reported cases of human rights abuses both at home and abroad. These require fresh ideas to turn things around in the country.

    In all this,  The President should take the lead as he is the one who knows the way and should define new directions and show his team the way. Remember, it is time to implement the Next Level in both the concept and practice. By so doing, the potentialities of Nigeria will be fully harnessed to bring socio-economic development to the country.

     

    • Idris Mohammed is a public affairs commentator and he tweets via @idpyar

  • Oil soars to $65 on huge inventory draw

    A day after another bullish oil inventory estimate from the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported another solid decline in inventories, which added fuel to  price rally yesterday.

    Brent crude traded at $65.09 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) tarded at $58.39 a barrel, both up from previuos day’s close.

    Nigeria’s N8.91 trillion Appropriation Act 2019 was hinged on an estimated oil daily production of 2.3 million barrels; oil price benchmark of $60 per barrel and an exchange rate of N305 to the dollar.

    The Senate had jerked up the budget by N80 billion, up from the N8.83 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to lawmakers last year.

    The EIA said crude oil inventories had shed 8.5 million barrels in the week to July 26, to a total 436.5 million barrels, which was at the five-year average for this time of the year.

    This compares with a 10.8-million-barrel inventory draw a week previously that helped WTI move a lot closer to the $60 mark in combination with other factors, chief among them geopolitical concerns focused on the Middle East.

    Analysts had expected the EIA to report an inventory decline of 1.82 million barrels for the week to July 26.

    The EIA went on to report a 1.8-million-barrel decline in gasoline inventories for last week. This compares with a 200,000-barrel decline in inventories a week earlier.

    In distillate fuels, the authority reported a 900,000-barrel fall, which compared with an increase of 600,000 bpd a week earlier.

    In production, the EIA reported an average gasoline production rate of 10.4 million bpd for last week, up from 10.1 million bpd a week before that. Distillate fuel production averaged 5.2 million bpd, slightly down on a week earlier.

    Refineries processed a total of 17 million barrels daily last week, unchanged on a week earlier.

    Oil prices have been trending higher over the past week or so mainly on the back of updates from the Middle East that suggest tensions between the West and Iran are not going away anytime soon. The latest, out yesterday, was a statement by the commander of Iran’s Navy that it will hold joint military drills with the Russian Navy in the Persian Gulf.

    The announcement comes as the United Kingdom (UK) seeks to create a united European fleet to send to the Gulf to guard vessels from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after the latter seized British-flagged Stena Impero earlier this month.

  • JUST IN: Buhari, Olu of Warri meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with the Olu of Warri, Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The royal father arrived the Villa around 2.10pm

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 3pm.

    The Olu of Warri had led similar delegation to President Buhari on the 23rd of February, 2018.

    At that meeting, the group had tabled the challenges facing the people before the President.

    On the 26th of May, 2017, the Olu of Warri had also visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Villa where he commended the Buhari Government’s commitment to Niger Delta development.

    On that visit, Olu of Warri, had declared “The federal government is doing everything possible, yes, they have been promising but this time around we are seeing signs of seriousness. For instance the Export Processing Zone, EPZ project started by Jonathan, he did the groundbreaking but since then, nothing happened. But since the recent visits of the Vice President, we have seen seriousness.

    “For some time now there has been peace in the Niger-Delta area because the people have seen seriousness in the government. So if the government keeps up the pace, there will be more peace it will be better for everybody. More oil will be produced and there will be more money, development will come to the Niger-Delta area. We will support them in achieving that.” he had stated

    The meeting with the President was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • JUST IN: Buhari, LCCI leadership meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met with the leadership of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 11.30am.

    The LCCI led by its President, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, had visited President Buhari on the 26th of October, 2018, where he sought for expeditious consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill, drew Buhari’s attention to numerous abandoned Federal Government properties in Lagos, among other issues.

    The group had also visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in his office on many occasions in the past four years.

    Read Also; Buhari’s SSA confirms President’s possession of secondary school qualification

    Over the years, the Chamber has continued to play a significant role in the economic growth of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

    The non-profit making organisation was established for the promotion and protection of Trade and Industry and to represent and express the opinion of the business community on matters affecting trade and industry in the city of Lagos, the Lagos Port Complex, Lagos State and where applicable, the whole Federation.

    The group’s meeting with President Buhari on Wednesday was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

  • BREAKING: Senior WAEC official confirms Buhari’s secondary school results

    President Muhammadu Buhari opened his second day of defence on Wednesday before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by calling a senior official of the West African Examination Council (INEC) as his first witness of the day.

    The official, Oshindeinde Henry Adewunmi, who is now in the witness box, said he is the Deputy Registrar Charge of School Examination in Nigeria.

    The petitioners – Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – are challenging Buhari’s election at the last presidential election on among other grounds, qualification.

    Read Also; Why I won’t name my successor, by Buhari

    The petitioners are claiming the President did not have a school certificate for him to be qualified to run for election.

    He confirmed the copy of the University of Cambridge school certificate tendered by Buhari on Tuesday was what he certified.

    The witness, who said he has been with WAEC for 30 years, confirmed that by the result, Buhari sat for eight subjects and scored five credits.

    He gave details as English C5, History C3, Geography C6, Hausa C5, Health Science C6.

    The witness said a person with such certificate cannot be said not to have attended secondary school.

  • Buhari’s CoS Kyari to court: Atiku wasn’t born Nigerian

    President Muhammadu Buhari opened yesterday his defence in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    President Buhari, whose legal team is led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), tendered about 26 sets of documents and called three witnesses, including his Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari.

    Others were the President’s mates at the Provincial  Secondary School, Katsina, Katsina State, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (retd.) and Suleiman  Maiadua (a retired civil servant),  who said they graduated with Buhari in 1961.

    The PDP and Atiku closed their case in the court on July 19 after calling 62 witnesses.

    The petitioners proposed to call 400 witnesses to prove their case against Buhari’s victory. They were allocated 10 days.

    Among the documents tendered yesterday were copies of Buhari’s academic credentials, including a certified true copy (CTC) of the confidential result sheet of the University of Cambridge, West African School Certificate 1961 from Provincial  Secondary School, Katsina.

    Kyari, as the President’s third witness of the day, said as at November, 25, 1946 when Atiku claimed that he was born in Jada, Adamawa State, Jada was part of Northern Cameroon, which was also referred to as French Cameroons

    Kyari said by the French policy of assimilation, every child born in Jada, whose parents are from Jada,  was automatically a Cameroon citizen before the 1961 plebiscite was conducted.

    The President’s CoS also confirmed that before the plebiscite, Atiku’s parents also qualified to be Cameroonians.

    Kyari’s evidence confirmed the position of the APC, in its reply to the petition by Atiku and the PDP, that the party had on candidate in the last presidential election, having fielded Atiku,  a non-Nigerian by birth, and that the votes recorded by the party qualified as wasted votes.

    The APC had argued that by Section 131(a) of the Constitution, a person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth to be qualified to contest for President.

    Read also: APC accuses Atiku of felony, says former VP acting like alternate President

    The party noted that Atiku was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, now Adamawa State, then in Northern Cameroon (and French Administered Territory) “and is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon.”

    APC added that “the first petitioner (Atiku) had no right to be voted for and returned in the February 23 election, having regard to the clear provision of Section 131(a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which unequivocally stipulates inter alia, that for a person to be qualified for election to the office of President, he must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

    “The 1st petitioner is not a citizen of Nigeria by birth and ought not to have even been allowed, in the first place, to contest the election.

    “From available records, the 1st petitioner was born on the 25th November, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon, and is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon.

    “His father was Garba Atiku Abdulkadir, who died in December, 1957. Prior to 1919, Cameroon was being administered by Germany.

    “But following the defeat of Germany in World War I, which ended in 1918, Cameroon became a League of Nations mandate territory, which was split into French Cameroons and British Cameroons in 1919.

    “British Cameroons was administered by the British from neighbouring Nigeria. In 1961, a plebiscite was held in British Cameroons to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

    “While Northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, Southern Cameroon chose alignment with the mother country. The transition took place on June 1, 1961. It was as a result of that plebiscite that Northern Cameroon, which included Adamawa, became a part of Nigeria, and by derivation, the first petitioner (Atiku)  became a citizen of Nigeria, but not by birth.”

    Led by Olanipekun, Kyari confirmed being the CoS to President Buhari and two documents earlier tendered by the lawyer.

    He confirmed a letter written by General Alani Akinrinade, which the court had earlier admitted as Exhibit R5, in which  he described Buhari as a distinguished international fellow.

    The witness also identified the curriculum vitae, which the court had admitted as   Exhibit 6.

    Kyari adopted his written statement, which he urged the court to adopt as his evidence in the case.

    Under cross-examination by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lawyer Yunus Usman (SAN), Kyari confirmed that in the school certificate result tendered by the President and marked as Exhibit R19, Buhari has credit in five subjects,  including English Language.

    Kyari said he has known Buhari for about 40 years and had been his CoS since August 27, 2015.

    He said Buhari communicates ,officially, in English language, because English is the official language in Nigeria.

    Usman asked Kyari to read a portion of a document, an exhibit before the court, where. Atiku congratulated Buhari for winning the APC presidential primary and expressed optimism that he (Buhari) would provide the country with quality leadership.

    Under cross-examination by the lead petitioners’ lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Kyari confirmed that Atiku was vice president for eight years and he (Atiku) contested to be the presidential candidate of the APC in 2014.

    The witness said although he is 67 years old,  he did not personally know Atiku’s grandfather and father.

    When shown Buhari’s Form CF001 (record of personal information, which a candidate submits to INEC before election), Kyari said the President’s certificates were not listed.

    When shown Exhibit P1 (Buhari’s CV attached to Form CF001) by Uzoukwu and asked to confirm if Buhari’s certificate were listed, the witness said the document did not contain certificates, but the  educational institutions attended by the President.

    Kyari, who said he has never been in the military, confirmed that he stated in paragraph 7(6) of his deposition that Buhari has Diploma in Strategic Studies, but said the certificate was not included.

    When asked by the petitioners’ lawyer  if he has copies of the Buhari’s certificates with him in court, the witness said no.

    Kyari was not surprised that he received Buhari’s certificates from Cambridge University, 18 July 2019, marked as Exhibits R19 and 20, after Atiku and the PDP filed their petition and after he had deposed to his statement.

    Kyari said he is from Borno but not a Cameroonian.

    Tarfa, who. was the first witness, said he was the President’s mate in the Army and that they were enlisted on April 16, 1962.

    He said they were enlisted after passing the examination and that they were taught in English.

    Under cross-examination Tarfa said the main language of instruction in the Army is English language.

    Tarfa identified some of those with who they enlisted in the Army as Brigadier Ola Oni, Brigadier Duro Ajayi, Col. J. C. Ojukwu, the late Brigadier, Abdullahi Shelem and the late Maj. Shehu Yar’Adua,

    When asked by Usman whether they were asked to hand over their certificates when they enlisted in the Army, the witless said nothing of such happened.

    Usman: “You submitted al your school certificates to the Nigerian Army when you were enlisted?”

    Witness: “There was nothing of such.”

    Under cross-examination by Uzoukwu, Tarfa said as the Commmannder-in-Chief, Buhari has authority over all military formations.

    Maiadua said he retired as a civil servant and has never been in the military. He said a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdulahi, was their mate in secondary school.

    Maiadua identified Buhari and Abdulahi in a photograh taken by all his class mates at the Katsina Provincial College when they passed out in 1961. It was tendered before the court.

    At the conclusion of Kyari’s testimony, the court adjourned the hearing till today for the second respondent to continue his defence.

    The Supreme Court had fixed August 20 for the hearing of an appeal filed by Atiku and PDP against the PEPC’s decision.

    The appeal is against a ruling in which PEPC held that Atiku and PDP do not have a reply to an application filed on May 14, 2019  by the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking among others, the dismissal of their (Atiku and PDP) petition challenging Buhari’s victory at the last presidential election.

    When the appeal  was mentioned yesterday, the lead lawyer to the appellants, Paul Erokoro (SAN) said he regretted that he filed a fresh “application this morning” for leave to bring supplementary records from the lower court.

    Lawyers to the respondents – INEC,  Buhari and the APC – Usman, Olanipekun and Fagbemi said they were just served with the application and needed time to examine it and react.

    A five-man panel of the court, led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, adjourned the hearing till August 20.