The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari told to ignore Obasanjo

    A Lagos-based entrepreneur and computer expert, Chief Livinus R. Okwara.has reacted to the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation.

    Okwara described Obasanjo’s letter as self-serving, urging Nigerians not to attach importance to it.

    He said: “Obasanjo is pursuing a personal agenda. Since he failed to realise his third-term agenda, he has been trying to remain relevant. I advise our president to ignore him.”

    It would be recalled that Obasanjo had cautioned Buhari to address the multifarious challenges, confronting the nation, especially insecurity, warning that it could derail nationhood and development, if not addressed.

    Read Also: I’m committed to a safe Nigeria – Buhari

    Expectedly, eminent people, including politicians, retired military personnel and other Nigerians, have been reacting to the letter.

    Okwara, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), faulted Obasanjo for lacking the moral standing to criticize Buhari.

    He said: “If Obasanjo had done well in his eight years of governance, Nigeria would have overcome the current challenges he is talking about.”

    He said Buhari was tackling corruption, insecurity, infrastructure deficit, among other problems facing the nation.

    He urged Nigerians to support the president to succeed.

     

  • Group to Buhari: We’ll hold you responsible for killing of northerners

    The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) has said northerners will hold President Muhammadu Buhari and his government responsible should any one of them fall victim of the consequences of the concerns they raised about the safety of Fulani herdsmen in the southern part of the country.

    Spokesman of the group, Abdul-Aziz Suleiman said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that while they welcome the assurance by the President, they were not lost in the fact the lives of their kinsmen was under threat in the southern part of the country.

    He said “CNG wholeheartedly welcomes the assurance given by Mr. President and his government to protect and guarantee the safety of all Nigerians anywhere they are including the threatened herdsmen in the South.

    “We however wish to remind Mr. President and the government that Northerners would hold them fully responsible should any one of them fall victim of the consequences of the concerns we raised.”

    Suleiman said it was amazed at the denial of southern leaders that they did not declare war on the herders as a result of the killing of the daughter of an Afenifere chieftain by unknown assassins.

    The group, in conjunction with the Northern Elders Forum had asked Fulani herdsmen to immediately return to the north as their security was no longer guaranteed in the southern part of the country.

    The statement reads: “recall that on July 11th 2019 in response to reactions that trailed our earlier submissions, we issued a statement acknowledging the committed concern of the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Elders Forum in bringing an end to the tensions instigated around the farmers’/ herders problems.

    “In that response, we indicated our acceptance of the invitation for discussions by the leadership of the two forums as a result of which a meeting with the Northern elders was fixed for Tuesday, 15th July 2019.

    “We went to the meeting with a prepared position which we presented to the leadership of Northern Elders Forum in which we highlighted the utterances made by the southern leaders including decisions taken by some notable political, religious and cultural leaders of the South.

    “We capped our submission by pointing out the dangerous war bells sounded by the southern leaders that tended to instigate violence against the herders living in the South following the killing of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Mrs. Olakunrin Fasoranti.

    “We then politely called the attention of the elders to the imminent attack the Fulani were exposed to in the South while the federal authorities remained silent on the matter.

    “We made a request to the elders by precisely saying that based on the our observations and the fact that the instigation of hatred against the Fulani persists, we feel obliged to advice the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum to consider calling on the Fulani to forego their right to live and flourish anywhere in the south and relocate to their various states in the north to ensure their safety noting the inherent return value of such denial.”

    According to him, Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, responded by acknowledging the concern, saying “We are worried about their wellbeing. If it is true that their safety can no longer be assured, we rather have them back in areas where their safety is guaranteed.

    Read Also;  Boko Haram kills Colonel, five soldiers in Borno

    “The bottom line is that their safety is far more important than their stay there. This is a country we all wish to keep together and not at the expenses of other sections.”

    He said further that “surprisingly, barely 24 hours after the story was published, two events took place almost simultaneously. Leaders of southern groups such as PANDEF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and a certain Middle Belt forum issued a joint statement tending to deny having made inflammatory remarks capable of instigating violence against the Fulani in the South or that the security of the herders in the South was not in danger as to have warranted concern from the North.
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  • Buhari to end unnecessary importation to create more jobs

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration will leave no stone unturned towards creating more jobs for Nigerians.

    He said unnecessary importations into the country would be stopped to realise this goal.

    The President spoke yesterday while hosting the Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Timothy Olawale, and NECA President Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi at the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He said: “We have all it takes, locally, to meet our most basic needs. Our history of unnecessary importation of the most basic items meant we were exporting jobs to other countries at the expense of our citizens.

    “This administration is determined and taking steps to bring these jobs back to Nigeria. Our policies are simply designed for that.

    “There is no doubt the implementation of such policies will not be hitch-free. As you pointed out, there are challenges in some areas that need to be addressed.”

    President Buhari said Nigeria’s private sector had remained a platform for inclusive growth in the past four years.

    According to him, his administration is focused on creating an enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to flourish.

    The President said Nigeria had invested a lot of time and efforts to improve the nation’s ease of doing business.

    He added that the administration was implementing various policies and programmes to support job creation, Agriculture, transport,a mong others.

    “I assure you, we are looking into these and other methods to ensure we have a sustainable platform for businesses to succeed.

    Read also: PDP knocks Buhari over comments on insecurity

    “This journey is a long one that requires patience, understanding and perseverance. I would, therefore, encourage you to continue to engage government by providing honest and constructive feedback.

    “Together, we can build a Nigeria that we all will be proud of. On our part, as an administration, I assure you that we will continue to do our best to support you in your efforts as employers of labour and vital institutions in our country,” The President said.

    Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the NECA leaders said the government must put in place the necessary infrastructure and tackle other challenges to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

    Nigeria, through President Buhari, endorsed the treaty in Niger Republic early this month.

    Tackling the challenges, Olawale said, would make Nigerian businesses and industry more competitive to benefit from AfCFTA treaty.

    Asked if NECA was taking advantage of the newly signed AfCFTA agreement, Olawale said: “The AfCFTA agreement is laudable. There are lots of benefits inherent in it. We also know that it is capable of endangering capital inflow into the country.

    “However, before we start talking about benefits derivable from it, we must also talk of the likely damage it can do to an economy that is fragile like ours; which behoves on us as stakeholders and government to put all hands on deck to address those issues.

    “Those issues bother on those variables that will ensure the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and industry. We don’t want a situation where our businesses are not competitive due to the disadvantaged environment they operate from.

    “Of course, we are all familiar with the disadvantaged environment with regards to issue of agriculture among which is power and the issue of road network; that is, transportation for goods and services and accessibility to the different business environments.

    “What we are saying is that if all these issues are not addressed properly, to make our businesses competitive, definitely, we are going to be at the receiving end, to the extent that our nation will become a dumping ground.”

  • Buhari to critics of insecurity: you are not being patriotic

    Those politicizing insecurity are unpatriotic, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.

    The President’s remark came hours after former President Goodluck Jonathan said the security situation in the land was getting worse.

    It also came after former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave Buhari a wake-up call on the security challenges to avert a looming calamity.

    But, receiving representatives of the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) in the State House, Abuja, yesterday, the President branded those politicizing the isolated cases of insecurity as unpatriotic Nigerians.

    According to him, every country faces one security challenge or the other. He identified banditry and kidnapping as new security challenges in Nigeria.

    Buhari said: “Your contribution during the election is commendable. Let me use this medium to assure you that you would not be disappointed because this second term, I intend to renew efforts in securing the country, fighting corruption and strengthening the economy.

    “Every country has security challenges. While we have made significant progress in fighting against terrorism, we acknowledge that there are new and emerging challenges of kidnapping and banditry.

    “I assure you that we will not relent in our efforts to secure the country from criminal activities Those who politicize the isolated incidents of insecurity are not patriotic Nigerians.

    “I am confident that this administration will use all the resources at its disposal to protect the lives of all Nigerians and not just prominent Nigerians but all.”

    Restating his commitment to stepping up the fight against corruption, Buhari said that his administration would continue to be tough on the menace.

    The President said”As you may be aware, the AU (African Union) at its deliberations last year, appointed me as African Anti-Corruption Champion for the continent.

    “This is because other countries have seen our dedication to fighting corruption and they are keying in to emulate our approach.”

    On plans to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, Buhari said the policies put in place to support farmers and small businesses were yielding positive results.

    According to him, the government has a plan to integrate farmers and owners of small businesses into the larger economy.

    He said: “We are keeping our currency steady and are adopting broad business policies to encourage private sector investment.

    “I want to reassure you that Nigeria is open for business as no country in the world can achieve rapid economic growth without significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”

    At another parley with executive members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), President Buhari assured all that security remained a top priority for his administration.

    He said the success recorded in degrading terrorists in the Northeast would be extended to the various parts experiencing challenges.

    The team was led by the NMA President Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President noted that offenders took advantage of the focus on the Northeast to commit crimes in other parts of the country.

    “If you cannot secure a country or institution, you cannot manage it,’’ he was quoted as saying.

    The President said efforts were still ongoing to improve employment level, following the success in getting many into the agricultural sector.

    Read Also: Obasanjo to Buhari: act now to keep Nigeria one

    He stressed that opening up the economy for investments and getting youths engaged will control crime.

    On health and education, Buhari urged states and local governments to play stronger roles in complementing Federal Government’s efforts, especially in getting more children into classrooms.

    He said: “The issues of health and education are constitutional. If there are too many almajiris in a state, then the government is not following the constitution.

    “The states also have elites who are educated enough to remind their governments about their responsibility to almajiris.’’

    The NMA President congratulated Buhari for winning a second term in office, attributing his return to efforts made by the government to reposition the country, especially the health sector, such as the establishment of a Cancer Centre in the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Dr. Faduyile praised the President for always considering the NMA in appointing competent hands for positions in the health sector. The medical association, said Faduyile, will continue to partner with the government to bring good health services to Nigerians.

    He spoke of the need to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) compulsory for all Nigerians, including those in the informal sector, as some special treatments, such as cancer, will require funds that might be beyond the reach of many.

    The NMA chief urged the government to further strengthen the primary health care system, institute a health bank where medical professionals can access loans for facilities, remove duties on imported medical equipment and give more attention to security.

    He canvassed that the budget on health should be improved from four per cent to 15 per cent.

    Danladi Pasali, who led the BCO delegation, said the visit was to congratulate the President on his victory in the February election, adding that Buhari has performed creditably well since he came into office four years ago.

    He expressed optimism that President Buhari would do more in growing the economy, securing the country and fighting corruption.

    Speaking with State House reporters after the meeting, a member of the organisation and Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, said the group was at the Villa “to identify with the good work that the President has been doing”.

    Stressing that the President had laid a good foundation in the last four years, she said it was for that reason that the BCO worked for his success in the election.

    She said: “We believe in him; we believe in the policies and the principles.  That is why we worked hard to ensure that he emerged again as the President of Nigeria for the second term and we believe that he is going to do more.”

    Also speaking, former deputy governor of Plateau State Mrs. Pauline Tallen implored all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties, to join hands with President Buhari to lift the country.

  • PDP knocks Buhari over comments on insecurity

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has flayed President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that killings and widespread violence in various parts of the country were isolated cases.

    Describing the President’s comments as unfortunate, the PDP said party it further exposed the “incompetence” of the Buhari Presidency as well as its insensitivity to the pain and anguish of victims of unabating violence under this administration.

    In a recent open letter to Preside Buhari by former Olusegun Obasanjo, the ex-President had warned of possible outbreak of war if the widespread insecurity in the land was not promptly addressed.

    Buhari had, in his reaction to the said letter, described the killings and violence in the country as isolated cases.

    However, in a statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition party noted that such underplay of serious security situation was a spat on the graves of the victims and assault on the sensibility of Nigerians.

    Read Also; Job creation: Buhari vows to end unnecessary importations

    The PDP further noted that the President’s comments came at a time many communities and families in the country were hurting and looking up to leaders for comfort and assurances.

    The party wondered if President Buhari and the leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) know the excruciating pain of orphans and widows in various parts of the country and who daily live in anguish over the death of their breadwinners in the hands of marauders, bandits and insurgents.

    The statement further reads, “Do the President and the APC know the torment of families whose loved ones are languishing in kidnappers’ dens; or the pain of parents whose promising sons and daughters never returned, but cut in their prime by killers?

    “Do the President and APC leaders know the terror of travelling on our roads and the torture of falling into the hands of kidnappers and bandits?

    “It is indeed sad that while our nation is mourning, leaders sit in their comfort and safety to make insensitive comments”.

    The PDP charged the President to immediately take decisive steps that will put an end to the killings and violence ravaging the country under his watch.

  • Job creation: Buhari vows to end unnecessary importations

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said that he will leave no stone unturned towards creating jobs for Nigerians.

    According to him, unnecessary importations into the country would be stopped in order to bring back jobs for Nigerians.

    He spoke while receiving the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Timothy Olawale and NECA President, Taiwo Ayodele Adeniyi, at the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari said “We have all it takes locally to meet our most basic needs. Our history of unnecessary importation of the most basic items meant we were exporting jobs to other countries at the expense of our citizens.

    “This administration is determined and taking steps to bring these jobs back to Nigeria. Our policies are simply designed for that.

    “There is no doubt the implementation of such policies will not be hitch free. As you pointed out that there are challenges in some areas that needs to be addressed.” he said

    The President also pointed out that Nigeria’s private sector has remained a platform for inclusive growth over the past four years.

    According to him, current administration is focused on creating an enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to flourish.

    To this end, he said that Nigeria invested a lot of time and effort to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business.

    He said that the administration is implementing various policies and programs to support job creation, Agriculture, transport etc.

    The President added “I assure you we are looking into these and other methods to ensure we have a sustainable platform for business to succeed.

    “This journey is a long one that requires patience, understanding and perseverance. I would therefore encourage you to continue to engage government by providing honest and constructive feedback.

    “Together we can build a Nigeria that we all be proud of. On our part as an administration, I assure you that we will continue to do our best to support you in your efforts as employers of labour and vital institutions in our country.” he stated

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, NECA insisted that the the government must put in place the necessary infrastructures and tackle other challenges in order to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

    Nigeria, through President Buhari, had endorsed the treaty in Niger Republic early this month.

    Tackling the challenges, Olawale said will make Nigerian businesses and industry more competitive and benefit from AfCFTA treaty.

    Asked if NECA was taking advantage of the just signed AfCFTA agreement, Olawale said “Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), agreement is laudable. There are lots of benefits inherent in it. We also know that is capable of endangering capital inflow into the country.

    “However, before we start talking about benefits derivable from it, we must also talk of the likely damage it can do to an economy that is fragile like ours, which behaves on us as stakeholders and government to put all hands on deck to address those issues.

    “Those issues bother on those variables that will ensure the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and industry. We don’t want a situation where our businesses are not competitive due to the disadvantaged environment they operate.

    Read Also: Open letter to Buhari: ‘Obasanjo spoke for himself, not Nigerians’

    “Of course we are all familiar with the disadvantaged environment with regards to issue of agriculture among which is power and the issue of road network, that is transportation for goods and services and accessibility to the different business environment.

    “What we are saying is that if all these issues are not addressed properly, to make our businesses competitive, definitely we are going to be at the receiving end, to the extent that our nation will become a dumping ground.

    “And even some of the factories that are even struggling presently may end up folding up. Of course we know the history of the textile sector and that can be replicated in any sector and we don’t want us to get to that extent. That is why we are saying government should put mechanism in place to address these issues so that we can be competitive and so that we can take our rightful place and maximize the benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), agreement,” he said

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  • Open letter to Buhari: ‘Obasanjo spoke for himself, not Nigerians’

    A good governance advocacy group, the Unity House Foundation (UHF), has stated that former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke for himself, not Nigerians, in his open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group, through its Convener, Kingsley Wali, in an interactive session with reporters on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, declared that Obasanjo’s letter was not in good taste.

    It noted that the ex-President had an unfettered access to President Buhari to express his views, wondering why he opted for an open letter.

    UHF insisted that the action of former President Obasanjo was unstatesmanly.

    It said: “As a former President of this country, Obasanjo has unfettered access to President Buhari, which he ought to have explored. If it became obvious that the President did not want to see ex-President Obasanjo, he could then go public.

    Read Also; Obasanjo’s letter selfish, unpatriotic- Yakasai

    “Former President Obasanjo should have explored all opportunities of having conversation with the President and the administration at the highest level of consultation.

    “The open letter by former President Obasanjo was motivated by other things/factors, which he has refused to disclose.”

    The group also challenged the former President on his remarks on Boko Haram insurgency, declaring that contrary to Obasanjo’s claim, insurgency in the Northeast and parts of Northwest had been substantially tackled and reduced to the fringes of Lake Chad.

    It said: “During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, almost everywhere in the North, they were talking about Boko Haram insurgency, with the attacks stretched to Kano, Kaduna and Kogi States, as well as Abuja. People in Abuja then lived in fear of Boko Haram attacks.

    “Of course, we still remember the bombing of United Nations’ building, the Nyanya bombing and other deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents. Did those attacks happen under President Buhari? That answer is no. What is significant is that there is no life that is not important. Every life is important.”

    UHF also stated that President Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is making efforts to ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians, with the service chiefs and other security personnel being always put on their toes.

  • BREAKING: Buhari meets Lawan, Gbajabiamila in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Lawan and Gbajabiamila arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 3.30pm

    Before Wednesday meeting, the ministerial list of the next cabinet is yet to be passed to the Senate for screening.

    Read Also; TUC to Buhari: Include more women in your cabinet

    The National Assembly is also planning to hold security summit towards addressing insecurity in the country.

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

    Details shortly…

  • Breaking: Buhari, ECOWAS Bank boss meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with the President of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Bashir Mamman Ifo.

    The meeting started at the President’s office in the State House, Abuja around 11.30am.

    It was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

    Details shortly…

  • Soyinka: I didn’t say herdsmen have eroded Buhari’s achievements

    Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka on Tuesday denied saying the herdsmen’s challenge has eroded President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements.

    He was reacting to Monday’s report in The Nation.

    His statement reads: “I denounce, in very strong terms, the report in The Nation of July 15, 2019, regarding my exchange with school pupils who visited me in Abeokuta, on Sunday, July 14, as part of the organised events on my 85th Birthday. I am appalled that such a twisted and unprofessional account could be disseminated by a paper that has earned itself a high level of public regard, not only for its reporting, but for the galaxy of perceptive contributors on national affairs and other issues of public interest. It is a gross disservice to truth and conscience, and the pursuit of the journalistic profession as a whole.

    “At no time did I utter the words attributed to me by that paper, which sought to cite the plague of violence by nomadic herdsmen for the “erosion of Buhari’s achievements”. Indeed, at no time in that exchange did the “achievements” of Nigeria’s current government – real or fictitious – come under consideration. The headlining is especially gratuitous, fictitious, and dishonest.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari, Omo-Agege meet in Abuja

    “For the avoidance of doubt, a school pupil had requested my assessment of ALL past Nigerian governments. In order to enable these pupils develop as objective, all-round critics, constantly aware of the context in which opinions should be formed, I began by warning them that governance is a difficult undertaking. I went on to add that governing a complex nation space known as Nigeria is especially challenging. The Nation’s report has mischievously detached, then reattached that comment elsewhere in order to introduce achievements of his or her own conceiving. For good measure, comments on rampaging herdsmen were similarly displaced and relocated to provide Buhari’s government alibi for failures.  This is crude, mind-boggling, propaganda, unworthy of any but suborned professionals.

    “Such outrageous ploy is no different from the conduct of social media commentators – especially at election time – who, lacking the courage to propagate their personal opinions, impudently steal the identities of others – mine being a favourite — including pasted photographs, in order to participate in public discourse.  It is sad to see this unprincipled conduct being adopted by the print media.”