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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Abiola: Adepoju hails FG for renaming Abuja national stadium

    Former Super Eagles Midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for renaming the Abuja National Stadium after Moshood Abiola.

    Adepoju said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

    President Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja announced the change of name of the National Stadium, Abuja to Moshood Abiola National Stadium during his inaugural Democracy Day celebration speech at the Eagle Square.

    The ex-international recalled how MKO Abiola, as he was fondly called, supported football in Nigeria, the Super Eagles and all other sports in general.

    Read Also: Adepoju’s Ibadan home razed

    He said no honour was too much for Abiola who was referred to as the Pillar of Sports in Africa.

    “I think it is a good development because Abiola, while he was alive, did a lot for Sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    “I recall how in Saudi 89 (FIFA U-20 World Cup), despite our loss in the final, Chief Abiola encouraged us and rewarded us with things I cannot forget,” he said.

    Adepoju called on other philanthropists and corporate organisations to keep supporting sports as government could not do it alone.

    NAN

  • June 12: Oyetola calls for peaceful coexistence

    Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has called on Nigerians to use the celebration of June 12 as a democracy day to promote unity and peaceful coexistence.

    Oyetola made the call during a programme organised to celebrate the Democracy Day on Wednesday in Osogbo.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Gboyega Alabi, said the June 12 celebration should be regarded as a period of sober reflection on the selfless service and sacrifice made by past heroes to ensure that the country remained united and indivisible.

    Oyetola said President Muhammadu Buhari had done Nigeria proud by declaring June 12 as a democracy day.

    “Our President has done us proud. He has set a new agenda for socio-economic transformation of the country.

    “The declaration of June 12 is an affirmation of the fact that the present administration believes so much in things that can promote unity and peace the country.

    “As we are celebrating the maiden Democracy Day, we must do everything possible to strengthen the peaceful coexistence and unity of the nation” Oyetola said.

    The governor also said that the state government was doing everything possible to nip in the bud all forms of criminality in the state.

    “We are working round the clock to improve on the security architecture so as to make our security agencies more efficient and productive,” Oyetola said.

    Meanwhile, human right activists in the state under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Groups thronged the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to mark the June 12 celebration.

    Mr Waheed Lawal, the State Coordinator of Justice Now Foundation , while addressing the crowd hailed President Buhari for declaring June 12 a national holiday.

    Lawal urged the President to declare MKO Abiola and Kingibe as ex-president and former vice-president.

    He also appealed to the President to approve the entitlements due them as former president and vice-president, respectively.

    “This is the first time since the history of our struggle for actualisation of this historic date in our national history as a people that the government will be celebrating June 12.

    “We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the people of Nigeria, civil societies, human rights and other pressure groups for sustaining the tempo of agitation for a national recognition of this day as democracy day in Nigeria” Lawal said.

    NAN

  • The war against banditry and the Buratai winning formulae

    “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war” Douglas MacArthur.
    Nigeria is a great country. A country with high potentials and substantial economic resources that have somewhat translated into a considerable challenge for us as a people and as a nation. I recall that in numerous forums, I have always stated that Nigeria would have gone into extinct if President Muhammadu Buhari did not assume the helm of affairs in the country.
    Some agreed with me, while some insulted and castigated me. Those that abused and castigated were not in tune with the reality on the ground before President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as president. They were possibly cozied in the comfort of the four walls of their rooms and also perhaps were part of the rot in the system, while the ordinary man and woman in the street were victims of their shenanigans.
    The country was up in flames; there was so much bloodletting. From the Police Headquarters to the United Nations Headquarters, from Karu Motor Park to Emab Plaza in Abuja down to Chibok in Borno State. There was bloodletting everywhere. It got so bad that nowhere was safe, including the Federal Capital Territory.
    The civil police were stretched beyond imagination. The government of the day was clueless on the way forward, and Nigeria was on the brink. Yes, on edge. The situation in North East Nigeria was not anywhere different. Boko Haram insurgents took control of over 16 local government areas, and plans were rife for the establishment of their caliphate in these territories.
    Daily, the media was awash with tales of causalities, so much so it felt like that the media in Nigeria was part of the grand plot. It was such an emotional moment where day in day out, newspaper headlines would scream figures of casualties in different parts of the country.
    The irony of the whole thing was that vast amounts of monies were daily devoted to security agencies to confront the security challenges in the country, but guess what? These monies ended up in private pockets, and the nation was bleeding profusely. The political authorities could not do anything because they were part of the heist that was engulfing the country at the time. Until God in his infinite mercies came to our rescue.
    Enter May 2015. There was a radical change in the way things were done. In terms of accountability and the quality of appointments into critical sectors of the Nigerian security architecture. And that was the turning point in Nigeria. Worthy of mention is the way and manner the Nigerian Army took charge of the delicate security situation.
    Two things happened. There was a reintroduction of professionalism and accountability. And the once elusive peace returned to Nigeria. But it didn’t come without great sacrifices on the part of the Nigerian Army. I say this because Nigeria was bequeathed with a Chief of Army Staff that hit the ground running like a wounded lion. In some quarters, it was stated that the Nigerian Army was able to make substantial gains because the Chief of Army Staff is from North East Nigeria. But I disagreed because what was happening in Nigerian was not a function of the state of origin; it was a battle for the soul of Nigeria. And as they say, the rest is history and Nigerians can now sigh relief.
    The crux of this piece is primarily on how Nigeria has been able to overcome its security challenges in North East Nigeria, but it also goes beyond that to x-ray how the Nigerian Army was able to rise to the occasion when it mattered most in dealing with other security threats in other parts of the country, like the menace posed by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, the Indigenous People of Biafra, as well as the Niger Delta Avengers. And most recently, the up rise in banditry, kidnappings and cattle rustling in North West Nigeria.
    I stand to be corrected, what the Nigerian Army has achieved in the quest for peace in Nigeria under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai is unimaginable. I say this because, from all available analysis, there was a two-pronged approach that emphasized winning the war and restoring peace as against winning the war alone.
    The recent initiative by the Nigerian Army to commence resettlement of IDPs back to their communities in North West Nigeria provides us with a vivid example of how to win the war and restore peace at the same time. This is indeed strategic and a testament to the promise by the Chief of Army Staff to Nigeria when he assumed leadership of the Nigerian Army.
    If indeed this is not a masterstroke, I do not know what else to call it.  We must learn to call a spade a spade in Nigeria and give credit to who is deserving of it. And I would like to dwell on the war against banditry and kidnappings in North West Nigeria, and how the Nigerian Army has been able to rise to the occasion.
    The operations of the Nigerian Army in North West Nigeria has been commendable. They have strived to ensure relative peace so much so that those that were displaced as a result of banditry are returning to their communities with the efforts of the Nigerian Army. And if the other civil and political authorities can join hands with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian would indeed be a better place.
    This is on the heels of the fact that recently the Executive Governor of Katsina State Aminu Bello Masari commended the Nigerian Army for restoring peace in Katsina state. In his words, the governor stated that “In recent times the state was seriously disturbed with the increased challenge of insecurity by bandits and kidnappers, who unleashed ruthless killing on innocent lives in parts of the state, but now respite has come through renewed vigour and commitment to duty of troops of the Nigerian Army.”
    Governor Aminu Bello Masari also stated that that the renewed commitment of the Army and allied security agencies have accorded him a sigh of relief concerning the trend of kidnapping and banditry in the state. What more can be better than this?
    The vigour and commitment of the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been tested and indeed trusted since he came on board in 2015. This much has been reflected in the operations of the Nigerian Army in ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is protected at all times and in all situations.
    Religious and traditional leaders also have a role to play in their various domains because the country has been divided along with religion and ethnic lines due to the activities of some individuals who see the crisis as an avenue to exploit for monetary gains. The press also has a role to play as it has been suggested in some quarters that press coverage of terrorist activities gives the terrorists the psychological boost to continue to perpetuate evil.
    I recall that in times past it seemed like the media was looking forward to the detonating of a bomb anywhere in the country so they can sell their papers with sensational headlines, not minding the psychological implication of such. But the good news is that in this era, the press has not enjoyed such leverage as it concerns reporting activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP because of the two-pronged approach employed by the Nigerian Army.
    As stated earlier, the soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Having this in mind, it, therefore, suffices to state that the Nigerian Army must be involved in all peace enforcement efforts in Nigeria.
    The situation in North East Nigeria also suffices where Boko Haram/ISWAP have not been able to strike in Sambisa forest again. Today the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist carry out suicide bombings in their former stronghold to prove a point to their sponsors that they are still on the ground. But in truth, they are not.
    It is therefore important to state that the war against banditry in North West Nigeria is indeed an example of how to win the war and restore peace at all times. I commend the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for providing that leadership that is required that peace reigns supreme in Nigeria. This is indeed the winning formulae and also recommended for future purpose, for it must be noted that the soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.  Nigeria shall be great again.
    Aliyu wrote this piece from Gusau, Zamfara State.

  • Omo-Agege gets backing for deputy senate president

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has appealed to senators, President Muhammadu Buhari and party leaders to endorse Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as sole candidate for the deputy senate president.

    The President-General, Joe Omene, who addressed reporters at Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, said the Southeast has had its fair share in the leadership of the senate so Omo-Agege from the Southsouth should be supported.

    According to him, the likes of Senators Adolphus Wabara, Ken Nnamani, Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim and others, have been Senate President, before Ekweremadu. He wondered why Senator-elect Uzor Kalu is now contesting for deputy senate president.

    He said: “It is on this ground we are appealing to all Southsouth senators, irrespective of party affiliations, to come together to ensure the position does not go out of hand. This is not the time to segregate or divide, but to unite to achieve a common goal of the people and growth of the Southsouth.

    “We also know that Mr. President and the party leadership will not fail us in this struggle because it is obvious that Omo-Agege has been tested and his loyalty is not in doubt, it was this we saw that all Urhobos, Deltans and Southsouth are calling on him to come and represent them in that capacity of deputy senate president.

    Read Also: Southsouth APC picks Omo-Agege

    “We are, on behalf of the Urhobo people at home and in Diaspora, appealing to Uzor Kalu and others to pull their weight behind Omo-Agege for the deputy senate president for one good turn deserves another. Tomorrow we will still be there for either Southeast or Southwest, and we have to also reciprocate.”

    But Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, under the auspices of the Niger Delta Democrats, yesterday protested the endorsement of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for deputy senate president.

    The group said the endorsement was a deliberate suppression of public will that must be resisted.

    The spokesman, Comrade Raphael Aliu, said Omo-Agege’s inability to endure the weakness of others would create division in the new Senate.

    Comrade Aliu noted that Nigerians are expecting a deputy senate president who is humble and ready to work with others harmoniously, and not a “self-serving individual who would seek to dethrone the leadership to foster his personal interest against the wishes and expectations of other senators”.

    He said: “We appeal to the senators to disregard the unpopular endorsement of the controversial individual, and choose a more reliable principal officer of their choice who would be loyal and build group confidence through simplicity, cohesiveness, cooperation, commitment and stability.

    “Leadership strength is measured by the weakness of others that you can endure. Inability to endure the weakness of others is the reason for all the rancorous sessions and conflicts in the eighth Senate.

    “Nigeria cannot afford to experience another round of mace snatching with disdain. If such an individual, who has harassed our democracy is given a sensitive position, a damaging precedent would have been sent by the Buhari administration.”

  • ‘Buhari should not sign Chartered Bill’

    The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella body of all Social Workers in Nigeria, has kicked against the substitution of “Nigeria Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2019” for the Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners Bill, owned by the Institute of Social Work of Nigeria, (ISWON).

    NASoW, in a statement by its National President, Mashood Mustapha, urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign any other bill apart from the Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill which will give total control of Social Work profession in Nigeria to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    Mustapha said the association was surprised that the National Assembly, instead of transmitting the original Nigeria Council for Social Work Bill to President Buhari for his assent, abandoned and substituted the Nigerian Council Bill by giving “Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill 2019” accelerated hearing and concurrence passage and sent to Buhari for his assent.

    He said: “The association views this with suspicion, particularly the speed at which this was done and the glaring preference of the private business bill to a government controlled council bill.

    “Chartered Institute Bill is alien to Social Work profession because Social Workers do not need chartered certificates to take care of the vulnerable and the voiceless. The chartered nonsense is ridiculous because there is nothing like Chartered Social Workers, chartered Nurses, Chartered Doctors etc in humanitarian professions.

    Read Also: Buhari, governors join forces for Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    “NASoW is a registered organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria, founded on October 16, 1975, and it is the only recognised professional body for all Social Workers in Nigeria. NASoW is an affiliate member of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) – world umbrella body for social workers headquartered in Switzerland.

    “We are surprised that the National Assembly can concur to a bill that did not pass through due process and left the original bill that passed through the constitutional process and requirements. Social work profession suffers one of the highest brain drain in Nigeria due to unfavourable condition to practice.

    “We urge all social workers in Nigeria, especially registered NASoW members, to be steadfast and continue to render their services to their clients professionally as they have been doing. The association is confident that President Muhammed Buhari will not sign the Chartered Institute Bill in error.”

  • Aggrieved traders shut Ogun mall Buhari commissioned

    Scores of traders in Adire/ Kampala fabrics at the  Itoku market, Abeokuta,  have shut the newly inaugurated Adire/Kampala Mall inaugurated last month  by President Muhammadu Buhari in the twilight of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration in Ogun state.

    The Mall was built by Amosun’s led administration, who governed the state for eight years on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but the traders – 169 of them, forcefully shut the mall at the weekend on grounds that Amosun, allegedly, allocated it to only his cronies and people suspected to be members of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

    The traders who protested the illegal allocation of spaces  to people who are neither traders nor dealers in Kampala/Adire in Itoku market, also petitioned Governor Adedapo Abiodun and the Ogun State House of Assembly, praying the two to look into the lopsided allocations and  reverse it.

    Read Also: Traders kick as demolition of Agboju Market begins

    The aggrieved traders also vowed  to resist  the re-opening  of the mall  until  the alleged lopsidedness and injustice were addressed by the new government of Abiodun .

    The traders in the petition by  their legal adviser, Idowu Adepeju, from Idowu Adepeju and Co Chamber,  also accused former governor Amosun of giving the newly constructed  mall to people that were not traders at the market or those whose shops were demolished.

    They alleged that a sum of N10,000 was paid by each of them to obtain a form from the past government as a requirement for  allocation  of shops but lamented that no shops were allocated to them afterwards.

    The traders  called on the Governor and the  leadership of the State Assembly to review the allocation made by the immediate past government.

    The  petition reads: “My clients are  complaining of illegal allocation of the shops in the Adire Mall shopping Complex at  Itoku  market  to the members of Allied  Peoples Movement  by the Amosun-led administration on his last day in office, 28 th May, 2019.

    “The worst of it is that, many of the purported allottees were alloted four shops each, and they were not traders at all, neither were they known in Itoku market, while my clients (169 Kampala traders in Itoku market) were not allowed any shop at all.

    “Whereas, the same Amosun-led administration collected the sum of ten thousand naira from each of my clients.

    “It is this injustice that we passionately appeal to your excellency to correct.”

  • We didn’t reduce Buhari’s votes in Ebonyi, says INEC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Professor Godswill Obioma has denied collecting N300m bribe for the purpose of reducing the votes of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb 23rd general election in Ikwo and Ezza South Federal Constituency.

    Professor Obioma stated this while reacting to allegations by the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) for Ikwo and Ezza South Federal Constituency, Chinedu Ogar that he was arrested by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for collecting bribe to reduce the President’s and other APC candidates’ votes in the area.

    The REC described the allegation as ridiculous noting that Presidential votes were declared as collated.

    He pointed out that altered and mutilated results which were being investigated had nothing to do with presidential votes but Federal constituency votes.

    Read Also; Buhari sends delegation to Ilorin on condolence

    “After the elections, we observed that results from two polling units in Ikwo and 20 from Ezza South were altered and mutilated before they were brought to our office after announcement of the results of that constituency.

    ” I promptly reported that matter to the Headquarters who directed me to invite police to investigate the source of mutilation. In the last three weeks or one month Police have been carrying out investigation regarding that, it does not concern the Presidential election results at all. Mr President’s votes were not mutilated at all”

    Professor Obioma explained that he was invited by SPIP following an allegation that PDP connived with some INEC staff to reduce votes of APC.

    He noted that he has responded to the allegations raised noting that the allegations had nothing to do with him as a person but INEC as an Electoral umpire.

    His clarification followed accussation by Mr Ogar that the REC and some INEC officials in the state collected bribes from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to reduce his votes and that of the President.

    Ogar who lost the election to PDP’s candidate, Laz Ogbe is challenging the results declared by INEC at the tribunal.

  • NSE tasks COREN on engineering regulation

    The Abuja branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to intensify its Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM).

    The Chairman of NSE in Abuja, Mr Chinasaokwu Okoli, made the call in a statement by Mrs Ojonugwa Haruna, the COREN’s Head of Public Relations on Sunday in Abuja.

    He made the call during a courtesy visit to COREN President, Ali Rabiu.

    Okoli urged COREN president and his management team to exploit every opportunity available to the council to sharpen the operations of ERM.

     

    Read Also:Obaseki partners COREN to check inflated road contracts

     

    According to him, ERM is currently operating without powers to prosecute offenders and will therefore, not be taken seriously.

    He called on the president to work with a vibrant team that would help to promote the activities of the council and address issues among its members and other professional bodies.

    Okoli pledged the readiness of the NSE Abuja branch to offer necessary support to COREN and urged the president to be part of the branch’s Annual General Meeting slated for August.

    He said the visit was to register solidarity and support of the Abuja branch of NSE for the administration of Rabiu as the president of COREN.

    Rabiu commended the delegation for the visit, adding that with the accent of President Muhammadu Buhari to the amended COREN Act, the council was currently in a better position to empower its ERM.

    He said that COREN had inaugurated a 16-member strategic implementation committee to come up with a road map for the implementation of the act.

  • Buhari sends delegation to Ilorin on condolence

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a letter of condolence to the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, following the loss of his mother, Alhaja Aishat Nma Zulkarnaini-Gambari.

    In the letter, which was delivered by a government delegation led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kari, Buhari expressed his sympathies and that of the nation to the Emir, the Kwara State Government and people of the Ilorin Emirate over the loss of the very kind and generous person that was the deceased.

    Read Also: President Buhari’s next cabinet

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also noted that Aishat’s love and kindness had transcended the palace walls, reaching the poor and underprivileged.

    The delegation, which was accompanied to the Emir’s palace by the Kwara State Governor, AbduRahman AbdulRazaq, also included the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Sarki Abba, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi and the State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

    The Emir expressed his gratitude and appreciation for President.

     

  • Buhari to open EFCC’s Anti-Corruption Summit on Tuesday

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on  Tuesday, June 11, declare open a National Democracy Day Anti-corruption Summit.

    Mr Tony Orilade, EFCC’s Acting Head, Media and Publicity made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    Orilade said that the summit would hold at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja by 11 am.

    The summit is being organised by EFCC in collaboration with the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee.

    The summit is themed: “Curbing Electoral Spending: A panacea to Public Corruption”.

    Read Also: Okorocha denies rumoured arrest by EFCC

    According to Orilade, President Buhari will feature alongside the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; Liberia’s George Weah, and, Macky Sall of Senegal.

    “The Nigerian President and his African counterparts would at the occasion further lend their voices against corruption.

    “The occasion will also feature paper presentation on the “Use of Public Funds in Election Litigation and the Integrity of the Judiciary” by retired Justice Ayo Salami,” he said.

    Other paper presenters are: Kagame, who will speak on “Electoral Spending, Voter Inducement and Public Corruption: an African Overview.

    “Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be speaking on “Curbing Electoral Spending and Voter Inducement in Nigeria: The Role of Regulatory and Law Enforcement Agencies”, while Prof. Patrice LO Lumumba will offer a“Review of Anti-corruption Strategy in Africa and the Way Forward,” Orilade added.

    NAN