The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Cleric to Buhari: do something tangible for Nigeria

    Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria Prophet Solomon Alao has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption now that he has been re-elected.

    The cleric said: “Corruption is item number one the President has to fight, because that is why Nigerians voted for him for a second term. They have confidence in Buhari that he would do more in fighting corruption.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns latest violence in Kaduna

    “He also has the chance to fix the power sector, if the power sector is fixed, the economy will be good. Having done that, I believe if he signs the constitution amendment bills, Nigeria will be great again.”

  • Lawmakers okay tax on luxury goods

    The National Assembly has urged the Federal Government to consider increasing taxes on luxury goods to boost revenues, it said on Tuesday while considering the country’s spending plan for 2019.

    Nigeria has been trying to raise government revenues in the face of lower oil prices after the country recovered from a recession that slashed public finances, weakened its currency and cut spending on capital projects.

    Africa’s largest economy, which has one of the lowest tax rates on the continent, relies on crude oil sales for much of government revenues.

    In the past, the government has mulled the idea of raising taxes on luxury goods to 15 per cent from the current rate of five per cent, to boost its tax to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 15 percent from six per cent between 2017 and 2020.

    But collection has been a major challenge in a country where many small business are not registered. Also, economists say the timing of a tax hike would be closely watched as companies and consumers face cost pressures in a time of slow growth.

    In elections in February, President Muhammadu Buhari won a second four-year term that will start in May. He has pledged to revive the economy and boost growth through spending on roads and railways.

    Read Also: Lawmakers shun audit reports

    The Senate said the government was budgeting for a deficit of N1.86 trillion  ($6.1 billion) in 2019 to be funded via borrowing, privatisation proceeds and loans secured for specific projects.

    It expected the country to generate N172.47 billion  ($564 million) from privatisation proceeds. The parliament did not identify the assets for sale. Last month, the government said it planned to cut its stake in oil joint ventures this year.

    Nigeria is budgeting N8.83 trillion  of expenditure for 2019, based on oil output of 2.3 million barrel per day production at assumed benchmark price of $60 per barrel. The plan is under consideration by parliament.

    The government has said it would borrow N1.649 trillion to help fund the budget, half of which is targeted to come from offshore sources.

  • 9th NASS: Elders Forum tasks Buhari, APC on zoning speakership

    As part of efforts not to repeat the revolt and the rebellious act that characterized the emergence of the leadership of the outgoing National Assembly leaders in 2015, a group, the North Central Elders Forum (NCEF), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the position of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives to the North Central.

    NCEF Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Gwaska, disclosed this while addressing reporters in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Gwaska said APC should imbibe the traditions of party democracy which appropriates the spoils of office when elections are contested and won for the purpose of running an inclusive government and to accommodate divergent interests within the party.

    According to Gwaska, who is also the Sarkin Yaki Lafia, the North Central is too strategic to be relegated in the sharing of power equation in Nigeria.

    He queried the insinuations that the South West is being considered by the leadership of the APC for the Speaker which he said is very unfair to the North Central.

    He added that the zone since the Second Republic has continued to play a strategic role in representative government and has been the bridge between the northern and the southern part of Nigeria.

    The NCEF chairman added that the North Central deserves the nation’s number for position based on the number of votes it contributed to the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns Kaduna violence

    He said the NCEF believes in the ability, maturity and the exposure of the deputy House Leader, Honorable Idris Wase, representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State to be the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives to be inaugurated in June 2019.

    Gwaska stated that Wase has the support of the elders of the zone he has gathered enough legislative experience in the House which will make him to relate very well with the Executive arm of the government headed by President Buhari to move Nigeria forward, give accelerated development to Nigeria and give the deserved dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

    He said: “The North Central has demonstrated its loyalty and strength to the APC both in 2015 and 2019. In 2019, we contributed 2,441,013 votes to President Buhari compared to South West’s votes of 2,036,450. To forestall the rebellion act that upset the apple cart in 2015 which produced the Senate President and the Speaker from North Central and North East respectively which never had our backing, the national leadership of the APC must ensure that it does not inflict a sufficient damage on itself, which consequences can be better imagined in the course selection and election of principal officers of the 9th House of Representatives.”

    When asked what the elders would do about the aspiration of Honourable Umar Bago from Niger State who is also aspiring to be the Speaker, the NCEF chairman said the elders will reach out to him (Bago) to support the candidature of his elder brother (Idris Wase).

    He added that the zone will settle for nothing except for the position of Speaker in the spirit of equity and fair play.

     

     

  • I’m going slowly to survive – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that he doesn’t care about those who call him ‘Baba go slow’

    According to him, he doesn’t want to make the mistake he did as a military Head of State when he was so much in hurry.

    Now, he said he is going slowly to survive.

    The President was responding to questions during a town hall meeting with the Nigerian community in Dubai.

    “So, whoever calls me ‘Baba go slow’, I’m very cautious of historical antecedent. Since I was in a hurry, I was locked up, I’m going slow so that I can survive.” Buhari stated

    According to him, one of the reasons Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom left the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was because he could not stomach what he (Buhari) explained to him on the farmers/herders clashes in his state.

    Buhari said that he explained to Ortom that the cattle rearers and settlers problem in Nigeria was older than himself (Buhari) not to talk of him (Ortom).

    Buhari said “But those of you who are neighbours to cattle rearers, Nigerians cattle rearers use to carry only sticks and their machetes to cut foliage for the cattles. But these are cattle rearers with weapons like AK47.

    “But the problem is that you can hardly identify the difference between cattle rearers from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria Chad, Cameroon and other cattle herders. They look the same but I was accused of not doing anything about those operating locally but I took the governor on this and this is one of the reasons he left our party for another party.

    “Because I told him the cattle rearers and settlers problem in Nigeria is older than myself not to talk of him and at first republic, there were cattle routes, they put infrastructures and even veterinary.

    “But the so-called politicians because they are so much in a hurry to make money they acquire some of these lands and turned them into their private farms.

    “So, if you are a cattle rearer or you know about cattle like myself, the herders now pass through anybody land to find water for their cattles to drink. I told Audu Ogbeh, the minister of agriculture to look at the Gazette of the first republic to get the cattle routes and get the grazing routes and re-establish them so that we can reduce this incidence. Some of you here know the efforts we are making.” he added

    On what to expect on his next level, Buhari said “I’m sure you are informed group of Nigerians. You know we campaigned on three issues in 2015: security, economy and fighting corruption. I explained so many time where we are, what we have been able to do with resources available to us from that time till now.

    “The next level is to consolidate whatever we have done initially and 2023 it makes common sense that in order to manage an outfit, whether a nation-state or organisation, you have to secure it.

    “We all know how many local governments the Bko Haram were occupying. People among you that are from the North-east know now that they are not holding any local government. They were holding 17 out of the 774 local governments; they are not holding any now.

    “They have reverted to indoctrinating young people, mostly girls and arm them with explosives and send them out on soft targets like churches, mosques, market places motor parks and so on and after blowing up the place they will say Allah Akbar.

    “We told them they don’t know what they are saying because God made everything good. You can’t kill innocent people and say God is Great.

    “You either don’t know what you are saying or you don’t believe it. We are trying our best not only in physically in dealing with the combatants but in trying to rehabilitate those left behind in the internally displaced persons camps and we have a commissioner there who is supposed to look after them.

    “I hope he had the time to look after them. So, the next level is to consolidate on our success. Now to the north-west, the bandits there and the conflicts between herders and farmers and so on and so forth.” he said

    The President disclosed to the group that his administration has taken action on the illegal mining taking place in Zamfara State which is being linked to the banditry in the state.

    He said “We have taken action about it. We said that all mining activities should be closed and the expatriates participating, should go back to their countries, we have enough problems. So let them go back.”

    On health of workers and occupational hazards in oil and gas industry, Buhari said “There are standards, there are rules. I used to be in the petroleum sector for three and a quarter years under Gen. Obasanjo, there are rules.

    “You can’t take Nigerians on paper, it’s when it comes to practical application of what is on paper, this is where you have problem with Nigerians.

    “But when you look round, there are rules, there are committees and it depends on the leadership of a particular institution or place. If the leadership has the time and commitment to do his job, then there are rules and regulations by which he can go and efficiently run that organization or institutions.

    “But a lot of Nigerians, they will commit to memory all the paperwork, and then they will proceed to do what they like personally. So I assure you that the health of workers is clearly defined in each of the institutions especially the dangerous ones like oil rig operators and so on.

    “Then, anybody who is wounded as a result of mismanagement or bad instruments, there are enough laws to prosecute that institution and get money or payment for those who have been wounded. It is up to the ministries responsible to maybe develop how they can go round and ensure that people are going by the rules.” he added

    On treasury looter, Buhari said “I ‘bark but I cannot bite, Baba go slow,’ I have once ruled this country, some of you know that once upon a time I came in uniform and what I did was to arrest from the president downward. The president, Vice President, the governor’s and ministers, other than the president and the Vice President, the others, I put them in Kiri-Kiri, and I told them they are guilty until they can prove themselves innocent.

    “And you know subsequently what happened- we put about six tribunals base on the geopolitical zones, and those who were ministers and governors were asked to justify what they have in the banks and physical on the ground relative to their legitimate earnings. There were only two Nigerians then to my knowledge who were found to be very Honourable, both of them are dead now: Biliaminu Usman, a junior minister, from Jigawa State, and Adamu Chiroma, a minister of finance and governor of central bank.

    “They were incredible Nigerians. But you know what happened, eventually, I myself was arrested, I was put in detention for three and a quarter years, luckily for me, I was not stupid, I didn’t take anybody’s money, so there was no bad publicity for me because they couldn’t find anything against me.

    Read also: Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: Expect more successes in economy, security

    “Eventually I was released, and that was why I made up my mine since the bulk is partisan politics, I joined the partisan politics. You also know what happened, I tried three times, and I managed to succeed the fourth time.

    “And the three times I tried, 2003; 2007, and 2011, I ended up in Supreme Court. All the time, I was claiming that I was actually the person who won the election but I was rigged.

    “But because I was in the opposition, I never won any of the cases until God brought technology- Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and so on.

    “The fourth time, before they realize it, I won the election. So there was nothing anybody could do.”

    The President explained that even though some Nigerians see him as ‘Baba go slow’, he did loot the country.

    “I may be ‘Baba go slow’ but I didn’t loot.  People have to be proven guilty before they are locked up. All that I have to do is to tell the police, and DSS that somebody has so many houses, he has so many investment and his salary is this.

    “Recently, the EFCC placed an advert in some of the national newspapers and showed how much was recovered in term of fixed asset and money.”

    He added “But what this administration did is to encourage Treasury Single Account (TSA), where government revenue goes to. If you see how the money goes in, then when it goes out, you can follow it.

    “Before everybody was doing his own thing. You had ministry with 20 accounts. The office of the Auditor General of the Federation or the Accountant General cannot follow it.

    “So, when we came we said there must be TSA,  all government revenues must go there and from there you can trace where it has gone to. It’s a very unpopular decision but I feel relieved that people have to account for whatever they manage.”

    The President said that his administration is investing more on research and development.

    He said the Government is coming up with a policy to take the full advantage of the resources of the country to get first class equipment in Nigeria institutions and to train and retrain teachers.

    On diversification, he said “What we did is to try to encourage agriculture. Fertiliser made available at the half price it used to be. We encouraged people to go back to land. The response was excellent.

    “We have virtually achieved food security, we have stopped the importation of rice. The money we have saved in foreign exchange in hundreds of millions of dollars, not even in naira. We are putting that into the infrastructure.

    “As you know the roads, some of them were not rehabilitated since what used to be the PTF.  From Abuja to Onitsha, from Abuja to Port Harcourt, back and other roads. Equipment in hospitals and other institutions. I was forced to go to public so many times. What Nigeria was earning between 1999 and 2014 from crude. Production was 2.1m barrel per day, the barrel of Nigerian crude was $100 per barrel, it went up to $143.

    “So, Nigeria was earning 2.1m times $100, times 16years. But look at the condition of our infrastructure when we came; the roads, the rail was killed and you know there was no power.

    “I think one of the leaders of those administrations made a slip tongue by saying that they spent $16bn, not naira on power. But, where is the power and where is the $16bn. Maybe eventually by the end of this term will get at it.

  • Buhari to Nigerians in diaspora: Expect more successes in economy, security

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Dubai declared that the next four years of his administration will be a harvest and consolidation of successes in the three-point agenda of fixing the economy, fighting insecurity and corruption

    Speaking at a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian Community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Buhari pledged more government investments in research and development, as well as technology and educational institutions.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also promised that the prudent economic management, diversification of production and revenue bases of the administration in the last four years will be sustained for better prospects for all Nigerians.

    He said “The Next Level is to consolidate whatever we have done till 2023 and it makes common sense that in order to manage any outfit, whether a nation, state or organisation, you have to secure it.

    Read also: Buhari committed to ending criminality, banditry – IGP

    ‘‘We all know how many local governments Boko Haram were occupying. People from the North-east know that they are not holding any local government today. They were holding 17 out of the 774 local governments before we came in 2015; they are not holding any now,’’ the President said.

    At the interactive session, the Nigerian leader noted that a key objective of his administration which had yielded positive results, in the last four years, was the campaign for the nation to return to agriculture.

    He said the nation cannot afford to lag behind again in agriculture.

    ‘‘What we did was to encourage agriculture, and fertiliser was made available at half the price.

    ‘‘We encouraged people to go back to land. The response was excellent. We have virtually achieved food security; we have stopped the importation of rice.

    ‘‘The money we have saved in foreign exchange is in hundreds of millions of dollars, not even in naira. We are putting that into infrastructure,’’ the President said.

    Responding to a question about the pace of anti-corruption war, the President said: ‘‘Whoever calls me Baba-go-slow, I’m very conscious of historical antecedents. You know what happened to me the last time… people [now] have to be proven guilty before they are locked up.’’

    Reflecting on the 2019 APC presidential campaign and the outcome of the polls, the President said: “I was very impressed by the turn out of every state to see and hear me. The crowd is more than what you can buy or force to come. Nigerians voluntarily came out.’’

  • PDP tasks Buhari on rising insecurity

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on the rising insecurity, particularly killings, kidnapping, banditry and acts of terrorism in various parts of the country.

    Lamenting the frightening dimension insecure has assumed across the country, the PDP, in a statement Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, particularly bemoaned the situation in the northern states.

    Ologbondiyan said the party is heavily grieved by the pain, anguish and horror Nigerians have been subjected to in the hands of marauders in the past three years.

    The main opposition party blamed the situation on the Muhammadu Buhari administration for its failure to provide adequate security in the country, despite the huge resources at its disposal.

    The PDP challenged the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to account for the whereabouts of the “political mercenaries” it imported into the country from neighboring countries, particularly from Chad and Niger Republic during the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

    This, the PDP said, is predicated on fears in the public space of the possible involvement of these foreigners, who the PDP said, assisted the APC to unleash violence on Nigerians during the last elections.

    The party insisted that the influx of these foreigners into Nigeria during the period, heightened acts of banditry in the county.

    “Nigerians could recall that the PDP had raised a red flag on the dangers of the heavy importation of unscreened aliens by the APC to involve in its presidential election campaign rallies.

    Read Also: INEC’s silence on PDP access to server worrisome, says BMO

    “The PDP and other well-meaning Nigerians had expressed fears that such aliens could be used by unpatriotic elements to unbridle violent acts against Nigerians”, the party added.

    The PDP further lamented that the Federal Government has failed to exert enough commitment in protecting the lives of Nigerians and curbing the daily bloodlettings and kidnappings of citizens in Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Kogi, Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, Bauchi and other states.

    The opposition party said it has been proved right by its insistence that President Buhari and the APC never believed in their own campaign promises.

    It further noted that by every indication, the President Buhari-led Federal Government has no solution to the security challenges plaguing the county, which the PDP said, has festered under the President’s incompetent watch.

    “This is the very reason Nigerians are anxious for the retrieval of our stolen presidential mandate, which they freely gave to Atiku Abubakar, at the tribunal, so that our nation can have the benefit of a purposeful government that is alive to its responsibility of ensuring the security and wellbeing of the Nigerian people”, the PDP added.

  • Buhari committed to ending criminality, banditry – IGP

    President Muhammadu Buhari has so much concern, commitment and the zeal to put Nigeria to order in the area of security especially to curtail the Zamfara state security challenges, the Inspection general of police, Muhammad Adamu has disclosed.

    Adamu revealed that it is in view of the escalating situation that the president has moved to conquer criminality and banditry across affected states

    IGP Adamu, who was in the state to assess security situation explained that he is in the state to have first-hand information by discussing with the people at the grassroot.

    Adamu revealed that recent ban on mining is not unconnected with available intelligence report indicating relationship between the miners and bandits in Zamfara state, the ban imposed on mining according to him is an excruciating blow aimed at bringing banditry to an end in the affected States.

    “We have put in place every mechanism to end activities of banditry, hence the launching of operation pump ader. We assure you that banditry and criminality will soon come to an end in all the affected states.” Adamu said

    Governor of Zamfara state Alhaji Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari who was represented by the chief of staff to the government, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad in his remarks disclosed that 3,262 people were killed, 8,900 persons were displaced while over 18,000 hectares of farmland remained uncultivated because of the activities of bandits in the state.

    Read Also: Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    Yari revealed that colossal amount of money that could be channeled towards providing basic social amenities to the people of Zamfara state was expended in the area of intervention and assisting areas and victims of bandit attack in various communities.

    Yari disclosed that the government has assisted in providing logistics to security personnel’s in the area of accommodation and recruiting 8,500 local vigilante and pay them a monthly salary of N15, 000 and provided them all with uniform for easy identification.

    The commissioner for local governments in the state Hon. Bello Dan Kande while commending the federal government for the banning of mining in the state revealed the government questions why expatriates are indulged in mining in Zamfara state.

     

  • Navy takes war to kidnappers, others

    In its quest to ensure that kidnapping and hostage taking do not reign in riverine areas, the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Tuesday said it was taking the battle to the enclaves of the criminals.

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Oladele Daji stated this in an  interview shortly after assuming headship of the command.

    Daji, who took over the mantle of leadership as the 39th FOC from Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, said the NN had already identified the hideouts of these criminals and was battle ready to smoke them out.

    He was reacting to a question on the seeming resurge of kidnapping and armed banditry in the southwest especially in riverine areas of Ikorodu, Epe, Ogun and Ondo which fall within the command’s area of responsibility.

    Although the admiral denied there was spate in these vices, he however assured that steps were already on to flush out the criminals from their hideouts.

    “We are so lucky in the military because our roles and tasks have been defined and cut out for us. For the navy, we are guided by the vision and mission of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) as well as the Strategic Directives.

    “Just as the outgone FOC mentioned, the command has strived over the years to deliver on its mandate. What we are only coming to do is build upon, bring fresh ideas into some of the challenges we have in the maritime expanse.

    READ ALSO: Court bonds make fight against oil theft difficult – Nigerian Navy

    “Luckily for us, the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has been able to acquire more boats for us to patrol. This is not to say we have enough to cover our vast maritime space but with what we have and the strategy of using the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), we will ensure the assets provided for us are effectively used to accomplish the tasks ahead.

    “The data we have at the Naval Headquarters show that kidnapping is on the decline. Perhaps, there are one or two cases with prominence which make it seem as though it is on the increase. It is actually on the decline.

    “That notwithstanding, the FOC briefed me in his handing over. We are going to the source to rout them out. These people do not leave perpetually at sea, they have where they operate from. That is one of our strategy and I won’t say more than that.”

    In his valedictory remark, Ngalabak appealed to other security agencies, personnel to collaborate with his successor, who he said, would improve on existing foundations.

    He noted that under his watch, the command arrested about 26 vessels, 70 suspects and rescued a vessel hijacked by pirates.

     

     

     

  •  Buhari decries use of cyberspace to manipulate elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday decried the use of cyberspace for election manipulation.

    The President said nothing must be spared to guard against the abuse of the cyberspace for ulterior motives, warning that misuse of the platform could subvert the democratic rights of citizens and propagate violence.

    He said Nigeria has taken the lead in cyber policing in West Africa, working with regional and global partners.

    In his keynote speech at the 2019 Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai, the President said a certain level of regulation was needed to preserve the integrity of the digital economy.

    At the ninth edition of the AIM were world leaders from both the public and private sectors.

    The theme of the summit is: “Mapping the future of foreign direct investment: Enriching world economies through digital globalisation.”

    Acknowledging that digital globalisation is transforming the world almost every day with innovations and ideas, Buhari cautioned that the cyber world would remain a constant threat if left unregulated.

    The President, according to a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, decried the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence. He was not, however, specific.

    He also lamented the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes, particularly when platforms are hijacked and manipulated by criminals.

    Buhari, therefore, called for collective efforts, led by the public and private sector leaders, to address the emerging threats of digital globalisation.

    He said:  ”Today, we have a cyber-world that is intangible but real. This borderless world is powerful, and it impacts the lives of billions of people, no matter how remote their physical locations are.

    “People work in it. People socialise in it. And people invest in it. This presents enormous opportunities. But it also remains a constant threat if left unregulated.

    “On the one hand, it has made the human race more productive and more efficient. Today, we have digital banking, virtual currencies and many social platforms that connect people and cultures.

    “On the other hand, we have seen platforms hijacked and manipulated as evidenced by the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes.

    “More recently, we are also witnessing the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.

    “In effect, the digital world has become the new frontier for both good and evil. Therefore, the challenge for world leaders must be to ensure that this space is inclusive, accessible and safe.”

    The President reflected on the digital revolution in Nigeria, buoyed by impressive statistics on mobile phone penetration, technology hubs and the advent of young entrepreneurs attracting investments of over 100 million dollars to the country.

    His words: “In Nigeria, our mobile phone penetration exceeds eighty per cent. This means the majority of Nigeria’s 190 million citizens are fully connected to this new digital world; especially our youth.

    Read Also: Buhari woos investors in Dubai

    “Sixty-five per cent or 170 million Nigerians are under the age of 25 years. These bright minds are the drivers of this emerging digital sector.

    “Today, Nigeria has close to 90 technology hubs and every day, new ones are coming up and they are all developing solutions for Nigerian, and indeed global problems.

    “Already, these young entrepreneurs have attracted investments of over $100 million dollars, a sizeable amount from overseas, including Silicon Valley.

    “As many of you from this region are aware, Nigerian start-ups always have a very impressive outing at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX). Many have won prizes.”

    Buhari told the summit that as leaders in the public and private sector, it was their responsibility to create the enabling environment for young people to flourish and reach their full potential.

    Sharing the Nigerian experience, Buhari said: “When we came in 2015, we immediately agreed that any future economic growth must be inclusive. As the Nigerian youth population is fully digitalised, it is clear that the idea of having an inclusive economy cannot be achieved without digital inclusion.”

    According to the President, the Federal Government plans to create the largest digital database in Africa, with over 30 million Nigerians and legal residents already captured in the country’s digital identity system.

  • ‘Emenike worked for Buhari’s success in Abia more than any other person’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Hon. Obilo Ogbonna has said no politician worked more than Chief Ikechi Emenike for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection.

    His statement reads: “One of the major drawbacks of politics in Abia State is the preponderance of charlatans or people without any known address, either first or second addresses.

    “One Ben Godson who has no restraint and is available for rent for a kobo has the temerity to mention the revered name of High Chief Ikechi Emenike in his so-called press briefing.

    “This so-called Ben Godson has no known address in Abia State. Every Abian will tell you that in the last elections, no one campaigned more than High Chief Ikechi Emenike in Abia State and he did so in company of his amiable wife: Ambassador Uzoma Ikechi Emenike who was fully on ground to accompany him on most of the tours.

    Read also: Rivers APC primaries: Supreme Court strikes out Abe’s case

    “This is apart from the numerous elaborate meetings and political gatherings he hosted in his Umukabia, Umuahia country home. How then could a journeyman Ben Godson arrive at a conclusion that Ambassador Emenike did not contribute to the fortunes of the Party in Abia State. By the way, when did Ben Godson and his sponsors begin to love President Muhammad Buhari and support APC?”

    “It is on record that when High Chief Emenike mobilised visionary Abians to support the candidature of President Muhammad Buhari, Ben Godson and some of his sponsors were agents of Governor Rochas Okorocha”.=

    “Now that Governor Rochas Okorocha is self-inflicted politically down, they have found a new anchor in Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who not only campaigned against President Muhammad Buhari in 2015 but said numerous unprintable things about him. Such characters  and their sponsors should certainly not be taken seriously”.

    “Abia politics in particular and its development, in general, will continue to be a mirage until the likes of Ben Godson and his sponsors are told in clear language that “politics is not synonymous with criminality and that politics is about decency, truthfulness, progress and should not be a meal ticket for charlatans.”