The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari’s cabinet: Security screens states nominees

    The Presidency has ordered tighter security around President Muhammadu Buhari’s  nephew, Alh. Mamman Daura.

    The enhanced security is also for the Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari and some other members of the President’s Kitchen Cabinet, following protests over the cabinet, which is yet to be formed.

    Security agencies, who are screening nominees from the states, are said to be trailing the sponsors of the attacks on Daura  and Kyari.

    It was also learnt that the President is finalising the consideration of ministerial nominees with three shortlisted per state for broader perspective.

    Besides, preliminary background checks on some of the nominees are still on going.

    But it was unclear last night whether or not the President will have a 36-man cabinet or a 42-man team.

    The presidency is said to have been disturbed about personal attacks on Daura and Kyari.

    Besides street protests against Kyari in Abuja, there was also the invasion of Daura’s home in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    The protesters, who officials believe were sponsored,  had assumed that the two leaders and other members of Buhari’s kitchen cabinet could  stop their candidates from being ministers.

    It was gathered that the presidency was bitter that the jostle for ministerial tickets has become “personal assault.”

    A President source said: “The Presidency has directed that security be strengthened for Daura, Kyari and other close associates of the President, who are being targeted.

    Read Also: Buhari vows to end farmers/herders clashes

    “The challenge most lobbyists are having is that the President is keeping the list of his incoming cabinet to himself. Not even APC leaders or governors have access to the list.

    “Some may have dropped names but the President is always keeping quiet. It is difficult to read his mindset. So, attacking Daura and Kyari was unfortunate. They do not have any role to play in compiling the list of those who will be members of the Federal Executive Council.”

    Responding to a question, the highly-placed source added: “ Security agencies are investigating those behind the unwarranted personal attacks on Daura and Kyari and others being assumed to be in charge of the cabinet list, who are said to be sponsored. “I believe these agencies will unmask them.”

    Another source told The Nation that the final consideration of likely ministerial nominees is being done by the President.

    Most states have as many as three nominees from whom the President will pick  one.

    Said the source: “ The list in most states comprises three nominees, but the President has adopted broader perspective in considering the nominees, including some former ministers.

    “ Preliminary background checks on some of the nominees are ongoing. But before the President sends the list to the National Assembly in July, the checks would have been concluded and the best chosen for cabinet appointments.”

    It was unclear if the President will retain the 36-man structure or allow six more ministers for each of the six geopolitical zones to make 42.

    A Presidency source said: “ The constitution allows either 36 or 42 ministers.

    “It is the prerogative of the President to determine what is best for the nation.”

    Section 147(1-3) directs the President to appoint at least 36 ministers unless the constitution is amended.

    The section reads:  “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

    “Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

    “Any appointment under Subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section 14(3) of this Constitution:

    “Provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

  • Ex-agitators seek Amnesty overhaul

    Ex-Niger Delta agitators have called for an overhaul of the Amnesty Programme.

    The ex-agitators, under the aegis of United Ex-Freedom Fighters Forum, noted that the programme has been derailed from its original purpose and direction.

    The group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the disappearance of empowerment equipment worth N60 billion from the amnesty office.

    According to the Coordinator, Mutu Dumex, the amnesty programme has been derailed and it is no longer achieving the purpose t was set up for. Dumex said the programme was failing in its responsibilities as it was yet to pay fees of over 2,000 students and their stipends in the last 13 months.

    He noted that for the programme to succeed, it must be driven by a younger and vibrant person who understands the intricacies.

    They, therefore, urged President Buhari to appoint a younger and vibrant coordinator for the programme as part of the overhaul.

    Read Also: Amnesty: ex-militant graduates hit 20,000

    Dumex said: “We call for a complete overhaul of the Amnesty Programme to reposition it to the lofty goals it was set for. Successive leaders of the programme have derived from the dreams set out for the programme by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. We need the head to be removed. Considering his age, he has not been able to move around troubled areas in the region.

    “We need somebody who understands the mechanism in controlling the youths. We need a gallant and vibrant youth with deep understanding of the situation in the region to head the amnesty programme.”

    Dumex added that since the leadership of the amnesty programme has failed to investigate the N60 billion empowerment equipment theft, the forum will “implore the ICPC, EFCC and the DSS to carry put a comprehensive investigation and forensic auditing of the scheme’s current administration.”

  • APC support groups to Buhari: beware of enemies masquarading as supporters

    SOME supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the auspices of the Assembly of APC Support Groups, on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of those masquerading around him as supporters.

    They warned that such people might be out to portray his government in bad light.

    According to the groups, such ‘masqueraders’ who they claimed are close to the President, have been trying to give the impression that President Buhari was not in charge of the government, but working on the dictate of a few persons.

    They staged solidarity for the President on the streets of Abuja yesterday.

    The rally was a reponse to an earlier protest on Monday by another group on the platform of Concerned APC Stakeholders, alleging that a cabal had hijacked the government and asking the President to take over the “driver’s seat” of his government as he the one elected by Nigerians.

    Matching from the Unity Fountain to the main gate of the Presidential Villa, the group said “blackmailers” were out to tannish the image of the government, adding that the achievement recorded so far by the government was made possible because the President was in charge of his government.

    They displayed various placards listing the achievements of the current administration and declaring that no one else is in charge of the government except President Buhari.

    In a letter submitted to the Presidency, the rally’s convener, Dr. Paul Dowells Essen, said: “The sabotage within the corridor of power is becoming more alarming with the recent sponsored campaign against Mr. President under the guise of protesting against Mamman Daura, Ismaila Isa Funtua and Abba Kyari.

    “We are members of the governing APC; we are pro-democracy, we are pro-Buhari and we believe in your leadership qualities and strength of governance as you continue to sail the affairs of this entity called Nigeria.

    “As a people, we agreed to stand and defend democracy, which we did for 16 years before clinching to power. The sacrifice of every individual is commendable, before, during and after the elections.

    Read Also: Buhari vows to end farmers/herders clashes

    “We observed that, the two persons mentioned in a protest against you, Mamman Daura and Ismaila Funtua are not government appointees. They are patriotic Nigerians and must not be related with the governance of the country as Mr. President is fully in charge of the government.

    “Your Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is doing well. He is discharging his duty diligently. Of course, those who want his office are not ghosts and they are not PDP members. They are of the APC.

    “While it’s the right of every individual to aspire, it should be done with every sense of respect for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Calling on the President to ignore those who earlier protested against some of his personal staff, the group said if Buhari “is not on the driver seat, we would not have enjoyed N-power, Conditional Cash Transfer, the MarketMoni.

    “Mr. President Sir, you are on the driver seat, not on the passenger seat as speculated by few members of our party acting the script of a man who claims to be your supporter, your coordinator, and even the coordinator of government affairs. This shows that, the enemies are within, you must be careful such persons around you sir.

    “The infrastructural architecture of Nigeria is reviving with massive road construction across the country, the anchor borrowers program which has not only increase local production of rice, but has ended the importation of expired rice into the country. Your government is rapidly eradicating poverty, empowering women etc.

    “Your Excellency sir, because you are in charge of your government, we have defeated Boko Haram and have suppressed other insurrection. The implementation of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, engaging kidnapping and banditry in a fierce battle and we are winning the war the arrest of Evans in Lagos, and multitude of kidnappers along Kaduna road and Zamfara State to mention but few.

    “Your Excellency sir, our democracy must be sustained, somebody is trying to paint your image in a bad light after  achieving so much in the last four years. We cannot fold our arms and allow few individuals ruin the Country by blackmailing Mr. President in a view to box him to the corner.”

  • Breaking: Buhari, Lawan meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with Senate President Ahmad Lawan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Lawan arrived the forecourt of the State House around 3.25pm.

    He was still in the President’s office at the time of filing this report.

    Details shortly…

  • Presidency, PDP differ on parties’ position on INEC server

    The Presidency and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday reacted differently to position of 60 political parties on the raging controversy on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) server.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency welcomed the endorsement of the February 23 presidential elections as free, fair and credible by the presidential candidates and chairman of the 60 parties.

    But the opposition PDP accused the INEC of raising the parties to cover its track. It spoke through a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan.

    The Presidency urged the opposition to accept the loss with grace and maturity, assuring that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch would look into the Electoral Act as advised by the parties at their joint news conference.

    The statement by Shehu reads: “We are encouraged by the patriotism of the presidential candidates expressed in clear and matured language. We are convinced that, regardless of our different political persuasions we can work together to improve electoral integrity in Nigeria.”

    Towing the line of the parties, the Presidency said:  “Despite the temporary setbacks experienced at the beginning, INEC managed to produce an election in which the voice of the ordinary people counted. Democracy is founded on the will of the people and INEC did well to ensure this outcome was achieved in the 2019 elections.

    “The success of democracy does not only depend on electoral laws, but also on behaviour, character and attitude of politicians.

    “Do-or-die politics is a threat to the success of electoral laws and democracy. And you don’t need to kill in order to serve the people.”

    The Presidency assured members of the joint forum of the 60 political parties and chairmen of parties that the President will not spare any effort in signing the Electoral Act into law after looking into it.

    The PDP knocked INEC for allegedly sponsoring an “amorphous” group to support the denial by the Commission of existence of a central server.

    Ologbondiyan said PDP’s investigation revealed that the group was hurriedly “conjured” by the leadership of INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to Ologbondiyan, the main objective of the group was to assist INEC in distorting facts and making misrepresentations on a matter that are already subjudice.

    He said: “This was an attempt to help clean up INEC’s blunders on the existence of the server, sway judicial pronouncements and influence public opinion on extant matters in court.

    Read Also: PDP knocks INEC, group over server

    “The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the press release by this nebulous group emerged after INEC’s several blunders while the Presidency has already admitted that the claim by the PDP and millions of Nigerians that INEC had a server wherein it stored results of the 2019 elections, constitutes the fulcrum of contention in the Presidential election.

    “Nigerians are already aware of the existence of the server, which was duly budgeted for, set up in various INEC offices and in which data from the elections, including results, were stored. Moreover, the ruling of the Court of Appeal preventing the PDP from inspecting the server does not in any way obviate the existence of the said server.

    “Furthermore, PDP counsels that instead of engaging in this unnecessary media trial, INEC should have listed its nebulous group as witness in the election tribunal.

    “We also challenge INEC to confront the indictment contained in the reports of the European Union and other international agencies which showed evidence that the 2019 general elections were marred by irregularities and violation of rules by the Commission.”

    He urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to be apologise to Nigerians for not living up to expectation in the conduct of the last general elections.

    According to him, the electoral umpire should own up to its alleged failures.

  • Finance Ministry to sell recovered assets

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Ministry of Finance to sell all recovered and liability-free assets in six months.

    Some politicians and former government officials had their assets seized in the course of the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration.

    Speaking Tuesday while briefing the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriation, Planning and Economic Development,  ex-minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said the Federal Government was determined to improve its revenue generation this year.

    He said: “The Ministry of Finance, working with all the relevant authorities, has been authorised to take action to liquidate all recovered, unencumbered assets within six months.

    “The Department of Petroleum Resources has been directed to, within three months, complete the collection of past-due oil licence and royalty charges, including those due from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) (a subsidiary of NNPC), which it had agreed to pay since 2017.”

    Udoma told the lawmakers that the President directed that work should be concluded on the deployment of the National Trade Window to enhance customs collections efficiency from the current 64 per cent to up to 90 per cent over the next few years.

    He attributed the government’s inability to meet its revenue target last year to the non-implementation of some one-off items.

    According to Udoma, these items include the N710 billion from Oil Joint Venture Asset restructuring and N320 billion from the revision of the Oil Production Sharing Contract legislation/terms which have now been rolled over to this year.

    Speaking on the production quota agreed to by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Udoma said there is no quota set for condensates.

    “Mr. President has directed the NNPC to take all possible measures to achieve the targeted oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day.”

     

  • Maritime: President seeks more women participation

    President  Muhammadu Buhari is determined to provide platforms that will encourage more women participation in maritime to boost economic growth,  First Lady Aisha Buhari said on Tuesday in Lagos.

    She spoke at an event to mark the 2019 Day of the Seafarer. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chose the theme: Onboard with Gender Equality, which resonates with its theme for this year’s World Maritime Day.

    Dr. Buhari stressed the need to promote gender balancing in the seafaring career. She said the president is aware of the economic benefits that come with encouraging women in the sector.

    Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Dr Buhari commended NIMASA’s efforts to encourage women in the maritime sector. She noted that it was in line with the president’s aspirations for the sector.

    Read Also: Buhari appoints acting alternate chairman of NNPC governing board

    Dr Buhari said: “Under the current leadership of NIMASA, we have seen significant strides aimed at making women active players in the blue economy industry. Mr. President is desirous of seeing more women play active role in the maritime industry. This celebration focusing on women seafarers is, therefore, apt.”

    She urged all government agencies, especially those in the maritime sector, to ensure the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5, which is aimed at attaining gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

  • 2019 polls: Presidency welcomes endorsement by 60 Presidential candidates

    The Presidency on Tuesday welcomed the endorsement of 2019 Presidential Elections as free, fair and credible by 60 presidential candidates and chairmen of their parties.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had won the election ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    The opposition party had headed to court over the matter.

    But the Presidency on Tuesday urged the opposition to accept the loss with grace and maturity.

    It was reacting to the press conference of the Joint Forum.

    The Presidency had assured that President Buhari would look into the Electoral Act as the candidates had advised.

    Read Also: Presidency: Obasanjo invited to Democracy Day celebration

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, reads “We are encouraged by the patriotism of the Presidential Candidates expressed in clear and matured language. We are convinced that, regardless of our different political persuasions we can work together to improve electoral integrity in Nigeria,’’

    The Presidency said it is in agreement with the Joint Forum that “despite the temporary setbacks experienced at the beginning, INEC managed to produce an election in which the voice of the ordinary people counted. Democracy is founded on the will of the people and INEC did well to ensure this outcome was achieved in the 2019 elections.’’

    The Presidency restated that “the success of democracy does not only depend on electoral laws, but also on behaviour, character and attitude of politicians.’’

    The Presidency reiterated that “do-or-die politics is a threat to the success of electoral laws and democracy. And you don’t need to kill in order to serve the people.’’

    The Presidency assured members of the joint forum of the 60 political parties and chairmen of parties that the President will not spare any effort in signing the Electoral Act into law after looking into it.

  • Southwest governors for security summit on Tuesday

    The six governors of Southwest states are to be joined by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), heads of other security agencies and security experts for Tuesday’s security summit being organized by the governors.

    The summit, which will hold at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Multipurpose Hall, opposite University College Hospital (UCH) main gate, Ibadan, will gather ideas from the experts on how to find a permanent solution to insecurity in the region.

    The summit is being organized by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for the Governors.

    The summit was a response to the rising wave of kidnapping and armed robbery across the region.

    The governors took the decision in Abuja a fortnight ago after President Muhammadu Buhari held a security meeting with all the governors on the news to end violence, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity that is growing in the country.

    Read Also: Southwest governors endorse Fayemi for NGF chair

    DAWN Director General, Mr Seye Oyeleye, assured last week that the summit would not be a jamboree or a mere academic gathering that will end with mere fanfare. He said the outcome would be concrete ideas that are implementable by the six governors.

    At the summit, a police Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, Leye Oyebade, will present lead papers along with Prof. Femi Odekunle and Prof. Olutayo Adesina. Opeyemi Agbaje, Mrs Bamidele olateju, AIG James Olatunji  and the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investments Ltd. will lead panel discussions.

    Also expected are National Assembly members,  traditional rulers, socio-cultural groups including the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC) les by Aare Gani Adams, Mr Deji Osibogun, Yorubakoya, Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, Agbekoya and Majeobaje, among others.

    Oyeleye also told The Nation on Monday that  technical sessions will follow Tuesday’s opening ceremony.

  • Alleged certificate fraud: Appeal Court gives Buhari 5 days to respond

    The Court of Appeal Abuja division on Monday ordered President Muhammadu Buhari to respond within five days to the appeal filed against his qualification for the 2019 presidential election.

    The court also ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to within five respond to all issues raised on the educational qualification of the president in the election.

    Justice Datti Yayaya who issued the order, also directed that Buhari’s counsel, Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, to within the period file necessary processes in relation to the appeal.

    The appeal was filed by Agu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris.

    The decision of the appellate court was sequel to a motion on notice filed by counsel to the appellants, Mr Uchenna Ndubuisi.

    Ndubuisi prayed the Court of Appeal in the motion to abridge within which Buhari, APC and INEC will join issues with the appellants on the certifcate suit.

    Abubakar and Mr Temitayo Lasaki counsel for APC had urged the appellate court in their response to the motion to give them five days to enable them file their respondents’ brief of argument along with other processes so as to set the stage for hearing of the substantive appeal.

    Kalu, Ismail and El-Kuris had approached the appellate court to nullify and set aside the Judgment of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court .

    The lower court had declined to hear their suit instituted to challenge the educational qualification of President Buhari before the conduct of the 2019 general election.

    The appellants in their appeal are asking the appellate court to reverse the judgment of Justice Ahmed Mohammed on the grounds that the processes filed by Buhari and used to strike out their suit were not competent.

    While faulting the Judgment of the High Court, which was predicated on the grounds that the suit was statute barred, the appellants claimed that the Federal High Court erred in law and in its decison.

    This they said was because they did not challenge the primary election that produced Buhari as candidate of the APC.

    They therefore urged the Court of Appeal to assume jurisdiction over the suit and grant all the reliefs sought at the Federal High Court but which were refused.

    Among the reliefs were a declaration that Buhari submitted false information regarding his qualification and certifcate to INEC for the purpose of contesting election into the office of the President of Nigeria and that he should be disqualified.

    They also prayed for an order of court directing INEC to remove Buhari’s name as a candidate of APC .

    Also, an order restraining Buhari from parading himself as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election and also APC from recognizing Buhari as a candidate.

    Read Also: Buhari hasn’t sacked me, Ofili-Ajumogobia tells court

    The Federal High Court had on May 2 declined to grant the request of the appellants on the grounds that the suit was not filed within the time allowed by law and therefore sustained the preliminary objection raised by Buhari at the hearing.

    But not satisfied, the appellants are now asking the Court of Appeal to grant their reliefs because they are not challenging the primary election of APC as erroneously held by the lower court.

    They said they are challenging the qualification of Buhari to stand for the presidential election without demonstrating his educational certificates as required by law.

    July 8 was fixed for hearing of the appeal.