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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Senate approves N14.6bn contract refund to Bauchi State

    The Senate Thursday approved promissory notes and bond issuance worth N14.6 billion to Bauchi State.

    The fund was approved for the state as reimbursement for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government by the state.

    The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Promissory Note Programme.

    The approval brought to 24, the number of states with outstanding claims for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government and approved by the Senate.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, in his report, noted that although the Senate had initially excluded Bauchi and Kogi States, the committee, however approved refund for Bauchi, leaving out Kogi.

    The Edo North Senator did not give reason for excluding Kogi State from the refund approval.

    After the approval, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, wondered why Kogi State was excluded when President Muhammadu Buhari sought the approval for the issuance of the notes to offset inherited local debts for both Kogi and Bauchi States.

    Read Also: Breaking: Senate confirms Emefiele for second term

    Lawan said, “We have one more state left. The Senate should pass and approve for Kogi. These are funds spent by these states. Kogi shouldn’t be left out.”

    He therefore appealed that the President’s request of refund for Kogi State should be considered and approved by next week.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki however said that Lawan was in the right position to initiate the approval for Kogi State.

    Saraki said, “Senate Leader, I have noted your comment. I am only presiding. You are the only person to make it happen.”

  • Buhari’s victory has demystified Obasanjo – Oba of Lagos

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu on Wednesday said the election of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second -term in office was a clear proof that no man, but God gives power.

    Akiolu made the statement when participants of the Senior Executive Course 41 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, visited him in his palace in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)reports that the visitors who were on study tour of the state were led by Dr Nasirudeen Usman, NIPSS Acting Director of Studies.

    Akiolu said the president got his second term mandate from God through the people of Nigeria.

    He said the claim by former President Olusegun Obasanjo prior to the election that Buhari would not win the election because he did not support him had been neutralised by the president’s triumph.

    Akiolu said Obasanjo had always arrogated to himself the divine power to determine the country’s leaders, adding that Buhari’s victory in the last election had demystified him.

    Akiolu said he had always believed Buhari would win the election and that he was glad that the former president had been proved wrong at the end of the day.

    ”I had said that Buhari would win even before the election, unfortunately, the number one person creating problems in this country is former president Obasanjo.

    ”He arrogated to himself the powers of the Almighty Allah by saying it was the support he gave to Buhari that made him win the first term.

    ”Obasanjo said Buhari would not win the second term, but did Buhari not win? Did I not say Obasanjo will be disappointed by the time the results were announced.

    Read also: Court declares Rilwan Akiolu bona fide Oba of Lagos

    ”The president’s victory clearly shows power belongs to God only and no man can decide who leads the country”, he added.

    Akiolu urged Nigerians to support the president to deliver the goods as he begins his second term in office.

    He said the problems of insecurity, unemployment and other challenges of the country would be better tackled if citizens joined hands with government to address them.

    The monarch urged politicians to put the issues of the last elections behind them and work together for the progress of the country.

    Akiolu advised Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections to drop his case against Buhari’s election.

    He predicted that Atiku’s case will amount to nought at the end of the day, adding that he strongly believed Buhari had the mandate of Nigerians and would finish his term in office.

    ”If anyone of you here is close to Atiku, tell him he can never succeed in what he is doing now.

    ”Buhari will complete his term in office, but Buhari too has to listen, to the people, pray to God and be honest in what he is doing ”, he said.

    The monarch commended the visit of the NIPSS Executive course participants to the state, saying the state would benefit from the study tour of the delegation.

    The Oba said he was particularly glad that the focus of the tour was to understand the challenges affecting healthcare delivery system in the state with a view to providing solutions.

    Akiolu stressed that qualitative healthcare system was key to improved life expectancy, adding that there was a link between it and development.

    He advocated increased budgetary allocation to the health sector in line with World Health Organisation standard .

    Akiolu described the NIPSS as a good initiative that had helped shaped policy formulation in the country .

    The monarch said he was once a participant in a course at NIPSS as a police officer and that he still lived with the experience till date.

    Speaking, Usman said the visit was to pay respect to the monarch as it was the norm for participants to visit distintiguished personalities anywhere they went.

    He said the NIPSS participants were on the study tour of the state to study and assess its universal health care delivery system.

    ”Your Royal Highness, you will agree with us that universal healthcare system is quite an issue in the country.

    ”We have been in the state since the beginning of the week to engage stakeholders in the health delivery sector, to interact with them and find out the challenges facing the sector.

    ”At the end of the day, we will present a copy of our report to the state government with the expectation that it would implement our recommendations to improve healthcare in the state”, he said.

    Usman said the Federal Government had over the years supported the institute to help in formulating policies for national development.(NAN)

  • Lawan: Battle for Senate President not a do-or-die affair

    Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday said his battle for the Senate Presidency is not a do-or-die affair.

    He also unfolded plans to devote three months to budget consideration if he is elected as the Senate President.

    He said he will ensure the 9th National Assembly returns the nation to January-December budget timeline.

    He said an effective budget cycle will be put in place in a manner that President Muhammadu Buhari will assent to budget on or before December 31st.

    Lawan unfolded his plans when he met with Bureau Chiefs in Abuja against the backdrop of fierce contest for Senate Presidency.

    He said: “The simple answer is it is not. We contested for this thing in 2015 and it was the will of God that I will not be Senate President and you will bear me witness that that did not stop me from going to the National Assembly to participate in activities of the Senate.

    “I continued to represent my people as a committee Chairman on Defence and I conducted myself as such and eventually I was elected the Senate leader and I continued to serve as Senate leader to date.

    “Most of us believe that God Almighty that created us also has designed our lives from cradle to grave and I believe in that.

    “So, it is not a do or die affair and I believe that should we not make it, that will not stop us from working to represent our people, do our oversight, to legislate for the good governance of this country, to support the Senate and the National Assembly and to support Mr. President to deliver the campaign promises of the APC as a political party.  We are going to do that regardless. So, it is not a do -or- die affair.

    On budgeting crisis in Nigeria, Lawan pledged to resolve it with a three-month consideration plan.

    Read Also: Every senator will count under my watch – Lawan

    He said out of the three months, a month will be devoted to budget defence by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He added: “Even though the budgeting issue varies from time to time, sometimes the crisis may be for three months, four months and sometimes seven months.

    “We believe that we can turn this around with the right attitude and it takes the two sides of government in this case the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.

    “Our approach in the National Assembly will be that we will talk amongst ourselves, we will tell ourselves that we want to pass a budget within three months.  If we agree on that, then we will also have to agree on how we will achieve that.

    “First, we should not leave the Shores of Nigeria for anything unless it is health problem. We must stay around, ensure we have a timeframe for budget defence.

    “When I say timeframe, I mean we will devote one whole month for budget defence, not plenary unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

    “We will approach the Executive arm of government and discuss things with them.

    “For Mr. President, there will be nothing more that will gladden his heart than having a budget passed within three months and I am sure it is the same for Nigerians.

    “It will be a huge relief if we can achieve it. So, we will tell the Executive arm of government that no Minister, no chief executive officer of any MDA should leave this country unless it is absolutely necessary and inevitable without defending his or her budget or the budget of the ministry.

    “That one month window should be the only window for budget defence. If any Minister or any chief executive officer fails without cogent reasons to defend the budget of the ministry, then that window will be shut and the National Assembly should treat that proposal as it deems fits with all the necessary safeguards to ensure that there is no abuse.

    “After the budget defence, we should have two solid months to have all the analysis we need,  all the subcommittee will meet for their defence with the sub-committees in the House and the Senate and it is our hope and desire that before the Christmas break of the National Assembly,  the budget should be sent to Mr. President  for assent.

    “We believe that this is doable and achievable. All we require is the will. I am sure every one of us in the 9th Senate and House of Representatives will have this kind of feeling that what we need to give to Nigerians is to set this budget issue right.”

    He went on: “In fact, we should attempt to make the budget cycle  1st January- 31st December because this is important for our businesses in this country and outside Nigeria.

    “We should have 12 calendar month of budget presentation because that will translate into massive infrastructure development, provision of services across the country for citizens. So, this is the way we intend to go”.

    Responding to a question, Lawan said: “Our mission is to have a Senate and the National Assembly that work for Nigerians.

    “What do Nigerians want today? They want to have an improvement in the security of their lives; an economy that works for everyone and they want corruption brought down to its knees. Nigerians want to live in peace with one another.”

    Concerning transparency and the independence of the legislature, Lawan added: “I believe that we have to work together with the Executive with mutual respect and address the challenges that confront Nigerians today.

    “Where we differ, we are going to resolve such issues in a very credible and respectful manner.

    “We are not going to go into the market square to throw stones recklessly and we believe that there is interdependence between both arms and such would be respected

    “We believe the openness which has been introduced by National Assembly should be continued and that would make us to function as representatives properly.”

  • ‘Fair distribution of socio-economic amenities will reduce fear of marginalisation’

    Equity and fairness in the distribution of socio-economic amenities and infrastructural facilities across the country will reduce the fear of deprivation and margination, Secretary to the Federal Character Commission, Mohammed Tukur, has said.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is working to ensure that every part of the country receive equal distribution of these socio-economic amenities and infrastructural facilities.

    He stated this during a two-day workshop on “Gender mainstreaming and National Gender Policy” organised by the commission in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Tukur said: “This present administration which has been re-elected is doing so much to ensure equity, fairness in the distribution of socio-economic amenities and infrastructural facilities, thereby reducing fear of deprivation and margination in the country.”

    He said gender inequality in accessing socio-economic and political opportunities has remained key policy problem in Nigeria.

    He said this led to the development of the National Gender Policy by the federal government.

    According to him, the policy has a long-term goal of reducing inequalities in the opportunities and outcome of social, economic and political development for both men and women in the country.

    Tukur said: “The National Gender Policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was developed at a watershed moment where government is recommitting itself to the implementation of the National and International Conventions and Laws in support of gender equality, the empowerment of women and women’s rights.

    “As you are aware, gender inequality in accessing socio-economic and political opportunities amongst others has remained key policy problem in Nigeria. Efforts at addressing these issues prompted the development of the National Gender Policy.

    “The long-term goal of the NGP is to reduce inequalities in the opportunities and outcome of social, economic, political, cultural and legal development for both men and women.

    Read Also: ‘NASS will not allow marginalisation of indigenous companies’

    “Indeed, the Federal Character Commission is one of the key institutions of government that is charged with the responsibility of mainstreaming gender with its principle aimed at ensuring fairness and equity.”

    He urged participants at the workshop to deliberate extensively and develop a set of guidelines that will integrate affirmative action on women’s representation within the federal and states, Civil Service as well as other government agencies.

    “I therefore, urge you to deliberate extensively and develop a set of guidelines that will integrate affirmative action on women’s representation within the Federal, States, Civil Service, Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies and all political appointments at the national and state levels,” he added.

    Director, Socio-Economic and Infrastructural Department, Dipo Akinsola, said the workshop was organised to enhance the capacity building of staff of the commission for operational effectiveness and efficiency.

  • My relationship with NASS leadership not the best, Buhari tells Saraki, Dogara

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he has reviewed the relationship between the Executive arm of the government and the outgoing 8th National Assembly and concluded that it was not the best, and that the country deserves more.

    The president made this known when he hosted the leadership of the National Assembly led by Senate President Bukola Saraki to iftar dinner (breaking of fast) at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday evening.

    President Buhari said the nation deserved better than what it got and hoped for a better working relationship between the two arms of government with the forthcoming 9th National Assembly.

    He said: “Relations between the Executive and the Legislature were not the best in the 8th National Assembly.

    “I sincerely hope each one of us will do his utmost to ensure there is a better working relationship between these two arms of government in the 9th Assembly so that we can serve the people better.’’

    He stressed that the principal task of the National Assembly “is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy.

    “I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people.”

    The President congratulated the members-elect on their success in winning their constituency seats and opined that “this is a great burden and a great responsibility placed on you by your people.

    Read also: I am upset with the level of poverty in Nigeria – Buhari

    “Our citizens are faced with challenges of poverty. Your principal task is to cooperate with the Executive so that together we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy.

    “I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people.”

    He assured the leaders that his doors remained open “to all of you who have genuine concerns or advice to improve the quality of governance and service delivery to our people.”

    The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki assured the President that the National Assembly would maintain focus on national interest at all times.

    In addition to the President of the Senate and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the event was attended by the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker, the majority and Minority leaders and the majority and Minority Whips and their deputies.(NAN)

  • Kwara APC elders urge Buhari to retain Lai Mohammed

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Consultative Forum in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed in his next cabinet.

    Spokesperson of the group Dr. Hezekiah Oyedepo said Mohammed had carved a niche and justified the confidence reposed in him in various offices he had occupied.

    The minister hails from Oro in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, Oyedepo noted that the minister worked in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure the victory of the APC in Kwara State in the just concluded general elections.

    He noted that the former APC National Publicity Secretary, within his stint as a minister, attracted numerous projects to the people.

    He added that his credible performance as an appointee of government and at party level was sufficient to earn him reappointment in the next cabinet.

    Oyedepo pleaded with the party leaders to prevail on the President to see that Mohammed retains his position in the Federal Executive Council.

    “Due to the demonstrable and inherent usefulness of our son, Lai Mohammed to his party, the Federal and State Government, the fact that God has used him to deliver Kwara State from the clutches of the wicked into the fresh air of APC, Lai Mohammed should be retained as a minister.

    “Sound management thinking, which dictates that you do not change the star of a winning team midway expects no less.

    “We appeal to the authorities, particularly the President, Vice President, National Chairman of APC, APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all other authorities concerned to retain our son as a member of a new cabinet to be constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari in the next cabinet.

    “Alhaji Lai Mohammed is our son, an illustrious son for that matter. We cherish him in Irepodun LGA of Kwara State. We are proud of him and proudly associate with his achievements,” Oyedepo said.

     

  • Buhari to Saraki, Dogara, others: our relationship not the best

    The relationship between the Executive and legislative arms of government in the outgoing dispensation has been everything but cordial, President Muhammadu Buhari said last night.

    President Buhari who reviewed the rapport between the two arms concluded that the relationship “wasn’t the best”.

    He spoke at Iftar dinner (breaking of fast) with the National Assembly leadership led by Senate President Bukola Saraki at the State House.

    The President said the nation deserved better than it got in the outgoing dispensation, expressing hope for a better working relationship between the two arms of government with the 9th National Assembly.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President was quoted as saying: “Relations between the Executive and the Legislature were not the best in the 8th National Assembly. I sincerely hope each one of us will do his utmost to ensure there is a better working relationship between these two arms of government in the 9th Assembly so that we can serve the people better.

    “The principal task of the National Assembly is to cooperate with the Executive so that together, we can fashion policies that will lift our people out of poverty and out of illiteracy. I appeal to the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to subordinate all personal interests and ambitions to the imperative of working for the common good of our people.”

    Read Also: Nigeria deserves more – Buhari

    The President congratulated the members-elect on their success in winning their constituency seats and opined that “this is a great burden and a great responsibility placed on you by your people. Our citizens are faced with challenges of poverty”.

    He assured the leaders that his doors would remain open “to all of you who have genuine concerns or advice to improve the quality of governance and service delivery to our people.”

    Senator Saraki assured the President that the National Assembly will maintain focus on national interest at all times.

    With the Senate were House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadsu; Deputy Speaker Lasun Yussuff; Senate Majority Leader Ahmed Lawan; House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate Minority Leader Abiodun Olujimi and House Minority Leader Leo Ogor; as well as Majority and Minority Whips of both chambers.

     

  • President chides elite on youth education

    The elite got a wake-up call from President Muhammadu Buhari. They should change attitude towards the education of youths.

    Frowning at the inability of the elite to address the welfare and educational needs of the less-privileged, the President urged the elite to do everything to ensure basic education for every Nigerian child.

    The President spoke on Monday night at the State House, where he explained that the various schemes in the Social Implementation Programme (SIP) were geared at lifting the living standard of Nigerians.

    “When I drive around the country, what upsets me most is the status of our poor people in this country. You see young people, Almajiris with tore dresses and plastic bowl. They are looking basically for what to eat.

    “The question of education (to them) is a luxury. I think Nigerian elite, we are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no matter how poor they are.

    “So, I welcome the Vice President initiative of the School Feeding Programme. If you check in your localities, the enrolment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least, one good meal a day. This is the position of this country.

    “But, culturally some of us are quietly merciless; we don’t care about what happen to others; we just keep on moving forward.”

    He also urged his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to cautious on the implementation of the TraderMoni scheme, which is administered by the Vice President‘s Office.

    The President said he would not want any harm to happen to Osinbajo while given out TraderMoni loans to traders.

    Only last week, the vice president unveiled the second phase of TraderMoni and MarketMoni in Awka and Onitsha, Anambra State.

    Beneficiaries of the schemes get loans funds ranging from N10, 000 for TraderMoni and N50, 000 for the MarketMoni, from the Bank of Industry (BoI).

    Spoke while hosting Osinbajo, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), security chiefs and others to a breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Buhari urged the vice president to be careful with the way he moves from one market to the other.

    He said: “This MarketMoni, I warned the vice president I don’t want him to be mobbed, especially the way I see hefty women coming and confronting him, he should be very careful.

    “These are very good initiatives. Initially, I was quite reluctant but I must admit that they are very good programmes and they endear this government to a lot of poor people because of these N5, 000 or N10, 000 being given to them as loans.

    Read Also: President chides elite on youth education

    “They are fantastic programmes and I have to admit quite honestly that the vice president was ahead of me by insisting on them.

    “But he knows me if he insists I will say `okay go and do what you like.’ He did it and I’m very pleased as he is being very successful,” he said.

    Speaking for the cabinet members, Osinbajo thanked the president for inviting them, both Muslims and Christians, to the breaking of fast with him.

    “Mr President, I must say that there are some reasons I had always look forward to the Ramadan session. But some of those reasons are now being seriously challenged.

    “The first of those reasons is that during the Ramadan, meetings are usually very short. But, unfortunately last Wednesday, Mr President seemed to have destroyed that very good notion by taking us through the longest FEC meeting in the history of the FEC.

    “So, we shouldn’t expect anymore that meeting will necessary be short during the Ramadan.

    “The second is that some of my friends are far less troublesome during the Ramadan. People like Lai Mohammed, Abba Kyari, Adamu Adamu, they are usually very ‘well-behaved’ during the Ramadan. But I’m not even sure that that is true anymore.

    “So, it is an opportunity for us to remind ourselves over the core mandates which is the welfare and security of majority of our people,” he said.

  • Defence Headquarters Dissociate self from calls to oust Buhari from Power

    The Defence Headquarters has dissociated itself from a group calling for a revolution to oust President Muhammadu Buhari from power.

    It called on all security agencies in the country to immediately go after the people behind the faceless group for appropriate legal actions.

    A statement signed by the Deputy Director Defence Information, Navy Captain Muhammad Ahmed Wabi said the Armed Forces of Nigeria remained unflinchingly loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the current democratic arrangement.

    The statement reads ; ” the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to dissociate itself from the rascality and unpatriotic intentions as espoused in a document being circulated by a faceless group named Nigerian Continuity and Progress (NCP) calling for support of a revolution to oust the current democratically elected government and in its place establish an illegitimate interim government.

    Read also: Buhari not committed to true federalism, says PDP

    “The AFN outrightly condemns the undemocratic and demonic actions of the author of the document.

    “Accordingly, members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the content of the documents being circulated by NCP and equally condemned in totality, the call to derail our hard earned democracy.

    “It should be noted that the AFN is very mindful of its constitutional responsibilities and will not be misled into any act that will undermine democracy as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 as amended.

    ‘The AFN remains unflinchingly loyal to the Constitution, as well as to President Muhammadu Buhari, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    ” Meanwhile, all relevant Law Enforcement Agencies have been advised to unravel those behind the seditious document for appropriate actions.”

  • FG moves inauguration ceremonies to June 12

    Elaborate activities marking the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term have been moved to June 12.

    The move, according to Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, is to accord June 12 its due as the Democracy Day.

    As a result, the handover ceremony on May 29 will be low-key.

    Buhari, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the February presidential election, defeated his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Atiku Abubakar with more than three million votes.

    The minister explained since June 12 has been adopted as the National Democracy Day, all activities lined up for the inauguration have been shifted to June.

    Mohammed said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2019, will be a low-key affair, as a number of the events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.”

    The decision to have a low-profile inauguration for the President, he said, was taken at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 8.

    According to him, world leaders would be invited to attend the events.

    He said: “However, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12.

    Read also: Inaugurating Buhari on June 12 cannot confer legitimacy on ‘rigged election’, says PDP

    “Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day, the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy in the country will now take place on June 12. The country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.”

    Details of the events slated for the two ceremonies, the minister said, will be unveiled at a world press conference slated for May 20 in Abuja.

    Pro-democracy activist Ayo Opadokun hailed the government decision to recognise June 12 as the Democracy Day.

    Opadokun told The Nation yesterday: “My position is not different from what NADECO has which we made serious remarks about.

    “We made our position clear during the last June 12 day. It is the right course of action that President Muhammadu Buhari has taken.

    “It is better late than never, that is what we fought for right from day one. At the establishment of NADECO, we told the local and international public that May 29 has no significance other than the exchange of baton.

    “And from the inside sources, we were told that it was adopted because the military was in a hurry to leave.

    “Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar wanted to go immediately after the election until he was told by the Attorney-General that if the presidential election was held, he must give three months leeway, to give room for whatever judicial action anybody will want to take concerning the election.

    “They did the calculation and it fell on May 29, it has no significance beyond that.

    “Unfortunately, President Olusegun Obasanjo took over, who was the beneficiary of the martyrdom of M.K.O Abiola. He was so unkind…. as not to recognise Abiola.

    “What Buhari did is the right course of action and far much more than that is expected. NADECO will make its position clear when the celebration is around the corners.”

    The United Progressive Party (UPP) Chairman, Chekwa Okorie, said: “June 12 as Democracy Day is fit and proper, especially for those who have watched through the political development since the event came up. We know that on June 12, for the very first time, majority of Nigerians participated in the electoral process of that period than at any other time.

    “Abiola, who won the election, incidentally, he was from the South, a Muslim and nobody considered where he came from or the religion he professed. He was overwhelmingly voted for by Nigerians across the boundaries. It was the real celebration of our democracy. But unfortunately, those who did not want our democracy to gain root locked him up until he died.

    “So, using June 12 as symbol of democracy is proper. One will know that it was Obasanjo that made May 29 Democracy Day. They all knew that Obasanjo would never want Abiola to be immortalised for reasons best known to him alone. But, we have idea why he should be the only one to be celebrated.

    “Having said that, the legal framework to make June 12 legal has not been perfected.

    “We expect that the President, who declared June 12 Democracy Day will go further to submit an executive bill which I don’t expect will have any delay because it is not a controversial bill.”

    Also reacting, Festus Keyamu, said: “According to the release of Federal Government, May 29 will still hold but will be low-key.

    “So, there is going to be a proper handover on May 29 but the real celebration of democracy day is going to be on June 12. That is what we expected all along, but after sometime; we expect that will be constitutional amendment.

    “May 29 is a constitutional matter as a handover day. I expect that before the year 2023, there should be a proper constitutional amendment so that the handover day henceforth will be June 12.

    “It should be a constitutional matter from now on. Why this happen now is that the time is not enough to amend the constitution to make June 12 the handover day.

    “June 12 is significant because it reminds us of the struggle we had to get out of military rule. It also reminds us of all the sacrifices people made to get us to where we are.

    “Each time we celebrate June 12 it reminds us conscious of our democratic experience, to keep us on our toes, not to do anything that will derail this democracy.”