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Tag: Nigerians

  • 2019 elections result’ll reflect people’s will, Says Buhari   

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja said he understands the yearnings of Nigerians and strongly believed in the collective dream for a greater country, assuring that all will be done to ensure that results of 2019 elections reflect the will of the people.

    He made the remark while receiving Letter of Credence from Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Dr Jyrki Juhani Pulkkinen, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said Nigerians reserved the right to elect leaders at various levels in 2019, and all efforts will be made to safeguard the integrity of the process.

    Read Also:2019 elections: Be combat ready, police boss charges personnel

    “I respect the people’s feelings. I assure all that we will have a free and fair election next year.’’ he said

    The President congratulated Finland on its 101 independence anniversary, December 6, 2018 and commended the growing relations with Nigeria, especially in areas of Information Communication Technology (ICT), trade and education.

    In his remarks, Ambassador of Finland said the areas of mutual benefit in relations with Nigeria can be extended to electricity, smart technology and crises management initiatives, pointing out that he will work hard to improve the trade figures and exchanges.

    “We will like to contribute to Africa rising, and we know that Nigeria is the biggest country on the continent, so we are very interested in the growth of Nigeria,’’ he said.

    At the level of the United Nations, Dr Pulkkinen said his country will continue to support the restructuring of the multilateral institution to give greater roles to African countries like Nigeria.

    President Buhari, who also received letter of Credence from Ambassador of France, Mr Jerome Pasquier, said French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and the stopover in Lagos, was really impressive in bolstering both countries’ relations.

    The President said he was impressed with relations between France and its former colonies in Africa, noting that France continues to play positive roles in promoting security and economic growth in the countries.

    “France is investing so much in Nigeria and we are grateful,’’ he added.

    President Buhari, however, called for more support in the fight against terrorism as the networks keep expanding with fighters moving across borders to support insurgents.

    Responding, France Ambassador said President Macron will continue to support Nigeria, especially in the ongoing war against terrorism, with specific interest in gathering and sharing of intelligence.

    He commended the President for Nigeria’s role in resolving the crisis in Togo and Guinea Bissau.

    President Buhari equally received Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Czech Republic, Mr. Marek Skolil, assuring him of improved economic relations in areas like solid minerals exploration.

    Mr. Skolil said his country will continue to support Nigeria’s military in the fight against terrorism in the North East.

    “Nigeria is a very important country for us. We look forward to stronger ties, particularly with the armed forces,’’ he said

  • Tinubu to PDP: Nigerians will never return to Egypt

    Buhari Groups fixated, says PDP

    Frontline politician  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised Nigerians not to allow the nation return to the path of destruction on which he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) put it for 16 years.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart who spoke at a National Consultative Forum organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups in Abuja, accused the Atiku Campaign Organisation and the PDP of trying to blackmail the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police with the accusation of plots to rig the 2019 elections because “they know that they will not win”.

    He also accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of using the mandate of the APC to negotiate and give a lifeline to the opposition. “He left the PDP, joined us, got elected, got our mandate, our majority and sold it for a pot of pottage. God is honest, Saraki is not,” Tinubu said.

    The former Lagos State governor recalled how the rigging machinery of the PDP almost denied him his re-election in 2003 when INEC published what he described as “fake results” on its website, adding that the then Resident Electoral Commissioner insisted that what was published was not the real results for his election to be validated.

    He said it was a shame for the opposition party to be celebrating an American visa for its presidential candidate who, he said, has so many party membership cards enough to build a house. “That is why they are confused,” Tinubu said.

    He went on: “Come February, we will re-elect Buhari. It is not easy to put together a National Committee, but we are in the same family. As free-minded people, you are all free to be doing other things this morning, but you are here because you have the vision and the determination that Nigeria must continue the foundation and the progress of the future.

    “Working together to re-elect Buhari is a task that must be achieved. Why are they complaining? Buhari is too busy to exchange words with them because he building a foundation of a prosperous Nigeria that will magnify the economy and provide employment for everyone regardless of the status in the society.

    “A fervent man like him will not have time for the nonsense being thrown at him. I give you one message for them and there will be many such messages. Their candidate who is supposed to beat Buhari, has been in our party and many other parties. He has more party membership cards to build a house.

    “All you have to do is to go out there and tell him that a house built on cards will be collapsed with a single stroke of broom. He said they are reformed, but reformed what? Reformed PDP. No. Tell them as you go out that we accept the admission of guilt that they were vagabonds before and now being reformed.

    “But they have not served enough probation. You can only be reformed if you are an ex-convict, a drug addict or a political prostitute. It is because Buhari has no temperament and no tolerance for corruption, he is vigorously ridding the nation of blemish and looting,  bad reputation.

    “I can see them celebrating the visa. What a shame? Yet you want to lead this country with the most vibrant economy in Africa? Why should we allow them?

    “They ran this country from 1999 till 2015. They were planning for 60 years of doing nothing, lack of direction and concern for the citizens.

    “Are we still in this nation where visionary leadership is required? If yes, then they are not competent and not qualified to be leading Nigeria again and say they want to come back to government. If they left our schools in such dilapidated condition, left out hospitals without medicare, they don’t deserve to come back.

    “They say we should not talk about their past anymore because they are ashamed of it, but we cannot go forward  without talking about it because a nation has no history if there are no references. If you give me an application for employment which is the application of Atiku Abubakar, I must look at what you have done before, your experience.

    “We have to look at Halliburton and why they left Nigeria. Go and ask those questions. They spent $16 billion of NEPA money and what they gave us is darkness and when they knew that we were kicking them out, they shared the company through irregularities called privatisation, which I call personalisation of the wealth of Nigeria.

    “We won’t allow that to happen again and I will recommend that we campaign on that. We should find a way to technically dissolve those companies they shared among themselves. There is no way you can industrialise a nation without providing electricity.

    “So many industries in Kaduna, Ikeja and other parts of the country. What were they doing for 16 years? That is why we believe that President Buhari is the best person to lead us and got him elected in 2015.

    “They said he will die, but he did not die and is back hale and hearty and when they saw seriousness on his part, they now said he was cloned. That is because they know so much about forgery. I am glad he told them he is real. They exist to lie.”

    Tinubu also attacked former President Olusegun Obasanjo who he described as PDP’s “new found Jehovah Witness”. After they disgraced the office of the President, fighting in public and abusing each other, telling us how they stole money and dancing naked in the market square, Obasanjo said he has spoken to God never to allow Atiku to become President,” he said, adding:

    “Which God is he now talking to, to say Atiku should be President? I believe he is not telling the truth and not to the God we know. He is just talking to himself.”

    Tinubu went on: “We have sacrificed too much under the PDP and we cannot go back.

    “People must ask you why you belong to this support group. Tell them that you are members of a very committed rescue mission that started in 2015. I remember how things were. So, remind them of what happened because they can’t shut us up.

    “They had the best opportunity for prosperity, but they are now complaining. They were there for 16 years and never added one barrel capacity to the refineries in Nigeria. They didn’t even pay counterpart funding for our rail, electricity and we cannot industrialise a nation without the power source.

    Read also: Looters ‘shun Dubai for Morocco, Jo’burg, Ghana’

    “I stand before you as a very proud individual. When I introduced Independent power generation to fire the industries at Ikeja Industrial Estate, they killed it because there was bribe under the table.

    “Imagine what Buhari is doing today in rail and in feeding our children which creates opportunity for the farmers; it creates small scale business for those cooking the food and a lot of people involved are doing better and we are battling poverty with the best weapon, which is education.

    “They are busy changing parties and that is why they are confused. Atiku is now PDP Aladdin. He is going to create 14 million jobs and I say how? They will turn Atlantic into fuel to crash the prices without the refineries working and the population is expanding and people must move around. He just talk of crashing the prices of fuel. They are lying again because a leopard cannot change its skin.

    “They had 16 billion of unprecedented resources and yet, they didn’t bring power to Nigeria. They invested that money in their personal industries. They bought turbines from General Electric and did not add one pipeline to bring gas to the plant.

    “They can say anything now about Buhari. I agree with Okonjo-Iweala that it is difficult to fight corruption. The agents of destruction are there fighting us, but We will win with strong determination.

    “Don’t let them weep things under the carpet  – that when we came in as a government, before then they had too much resources in their hands, but Buhari funded states to pay salaries. In that period, 27 states were unable to pay salaries as at May 2015. The states and local economy would have collapsed long time ago.

    “If PDP members truly love this country, they should humbly step aside and allow Buhari continue with the work of addressing the ills of our nation. However, since they seems to obstruct and remain focused as applicants, we say no job for them.

    “No matter what they say, don’t listen to them, don’t kind them. What they want is to continue to distract with the talk of rigging because they know that they are losing. They want to blackmail INEC and the police. I remember my own election for my second term.

    “On the website of INEC, they announced a funny result, but a woman of great character who was the State Resident Electoral Commissioner said, ‘no’, the result she got from the field are the valid results and not the fake ones published and upheld our election. They know they cannot win.

    “That is why all the noise from either Saraki, a man who used our mandate to negotiate and give lifeline to the opposition. Leadership is about character. How can he now ask us to vote for PDP? He left the PDP, joined us, got elected, got our mandate, our majority and sold it for a pot of pottage. God is honest; Saraki is not.

    The APC chief spoke also on the herdsmen/farmers clashes. He said: “They talk about farmers and herders clashes. If they are honest, they should know that it also happened during their time, but they have … no capacity to convert tragedy into economic prosperity. We have the capacity in this country to do irrigation and utilize our water resources, to create pastures and ranches so that we can convert that misery, that tragedy to opportunity for our people. Livestock is economy.

    “It is not about intellectual talent alone. There are so many unrewarded talents across the world. It is about character, determination, the love of a country and our commitment to nation building. That is what PDP is opposed to and APC is determined to continue as a progressive entity and the man to lead the nation on that path is President Buhari. Tell Nigerians that after Moses crossed the Red Sea, he is not going to return to Egypt”.

     

  • Nigerians to honour Bola Ige, 17 year after

    The Bola Ige Centre for Justice is organising the 17th year edition of Bola Ige Memorial Symposium with then theme: Reclaiming the Six South West States by the Progressives, 15th Year After PDP Tsunami: Nigerians Must Be Once Bitten, Twice Shy, to be delivered by Dr Wale Okediran and Mr Dare Babarinsa on December 18 at 10 a.m prompt at the Banquet Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    The keynote address will be delivered by former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    The chairman of occasion is a Lagos chieftain of Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Prince Tajudeen Olusi.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to be the special guest honour while the guests of honour are: Mr Babajide Sanwoolu, Mr Bayo Adelabu and Mr Dapo Abiodun, the APC governorship candidates for Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states.

    The APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Pastor Bankole Oluwajana and the senator representing Lagos Central, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, are Father and Mother of the Day.

    Read also: Ambode: Lagos got nothing from PDP’s 16-year presidency

     

  • ‘Why Nigerians should re-elect Buhari’

    Social commentator Emmanuel Umohinyang is the convener of ‘Re–elect Buhari Movement’ (RBM). He spoke with reporters in Lagos on next year’s presidential poll and other issues.

    What is your reaction to the allegation by a section of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that APC is harboring corrupt elements?

    Naturally, CAN is the umbrella body for all Christians and they are there not only to protect the interest of Christians, but also to provide leadership when the affairs of the country is being threatened. CAN is a noble organisation, but I am afraid, one may not be able to say the same judging by it’s activities in the recent past. The way the organisation has been run and managed, the characters that have taken over the organisation has left some of us, Christians with so much to desire. It’s not a bad thing if a noble organisation like CAN raises concern on any issue that affects the common man on the street, but my worry is: where was this CAN was during the days of the locust, where was the CAN during the last administration? Where was this CAN when billions of Dollars was looted from the country? Where was CAN when humongous amount of money was shared by the elite, money meant for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram in the North – East? If not for the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari, we would not have known how humongous amounts of money developed wings and flew out of our coffers. Where was this CAN?

    CAN was not making any reference to the government. It looks to me that CAN will always come out to speak only when it is convenient for them to, not when it is necessary. I was taken aback when CAN made that wild allegation that the political party of the President was a safe haven for the corrupt politicians. I don’t think CAN, with recent developments still enjoys good support of the people they represent. A lot of Christians including myself have completely lost faith in CAN as an organisation because as clergy men, they are duty bound to say the truth to any government no matter who is there. I think Christians should watch and not be misled. We should know when people are representing our interest and when people are representing their personal interest.

    Don’t you think the damning allegation may affect the President’s electoral fortunes in 2019?

    I have said before that our democracy is growing and the country is dynamic and I have equally said we not running a democracy where people are called to the village square to share kola nut, and begin to apportion who takes what. The country is governed by rules and the people are discerning, especially during election periods. You will recall that around this time in 2014, it was reported that about 9 billion naira was released by that administration to some clergy under CAN umbrella, and that the money was shared somewhere in Lagos. I remember a renowned clergy warning those who collected the money to return same. I stand to be corrected. CAN never came out with any position on that issue, so the people know where to cast their votes, whether Christians, Muslims or Traditional worshippers. If CAN were mute under the last administration  where corruption had developed legs and worn clothes, walking  around the country, how come they are now talking under a president that has showed zero tolerance for corruption?

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed major economic policies of this administration as unworkable. What are your thoughts?

    I have listened to Atiku Abubakar recently. I have also heard him propose what I will call voodoo economics. He said he is going to take the risk of allowing inflation in our economy to woo foreign investors. As funny as Atiku’s economic magic may look, I think Atiku is trying to take Nigeria back to Zimbabwe of the recent past, where a loaf of bread was sold for Ten Thousand Zimbabwean Dollars. Atiku should know that such an economy seriously affects the poor. From what he is proposing, it shows Atiku is only concerned about the elite. Atiku is trying to take us back to where the miracle of survival was only in the hands of a few. Buhari’s government has come in to break the walls between the rich and the poor, but what Atiku is proposing is to take Nigeria back to the era where we eat the crumbs from the master’s table, and the people will not allow that in 2019. I also heard him say he is going to allow the Niger – Delta take control of their resources. Atiku cannot deceive Nigerians with his ridiculous promises because it was under the watchful eyes of Atiku that the people of the South – South took the issue up to the level of the Supreme Court to fight for 13 percent derivation. He also talked about disobedience of court orders. Under the administration he was VP, the allocation of Lagos state was withheld for months even after the Supreme Court judgment ordering them to pay the money to Lagos State under Former Governor Tinubu. So, Atiku is not qualified morally to talk about disobedience to court orders because he was an active player in a government that relied more on the rule of the thumb. I think he is only showing desperation as a man desperate to come into power not for the benefit of the people but for themselves.

    Don’t you see his recent endorsement in the Southeast as a plus for his aspiration?

    If endorsement wins election, former President Goodluck Jonathan would have won re – election in 2015 because during that era, we saw how humongous amounts of money was used to acquire endorsements. Endorsement does not win votes; it’s the people, with their PVC’s who will determine the President of Nigeria in 2019. What happened in the South – East, the Enugu declaration is not unexpected. We are going to see more of it in the coming days, especially with the kick-off the campaigns. That endorsement will count for nothing because under this administration, the government has done so much for the people of the South – east. The people will not allow themselves to be used again by the so – called leaders. Development wise, this government has done more for the people of the South – East compared to the sixteen years of the PDP.

  • Kalu hails Nigerians for showing concern over health condition

    •Ex-governor to return for trial Nov. 30

    Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has hailed Nigerians who have shown concern about his health condition as he recuperates from a medical procedure in Germany.

    He also reaffirmed his respect and faith in the judiciary, declaring that members of the Bench deserve respect and that their decision in court “must be respected until set aside at a superior jurisdiction”.

    Kalu said: “I have the highest respect for the personnel and processes of our judicial system. Indeed, I’m a faithful adherent of the dictum, which states that ‘no height is high enough to stand on to disrespect the judiciary and no depth is deep enough to be used as an excuse for such dishonour.’”

    The ex-governor underwent a successful surgical operation in Germany last month.

    His absence in court, following the medical treatment, had caused Justice Mohammad Idris of the Federal High Court to revoke his bail.

    In a thank you letter from Wiesbaden, Germany, Kalu expressed thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former heads of state and People’s Democratic Party (PDP)  presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for identifying with him over his health condition.

    He also thanked All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APG) counterparts, Uche Secondus and Victor Oye and others for reaching out to him on his hospital bed.

    Apparently reacting to the revocation of his bail by Justice Idris over his absence in court as a result of his medical treatment in Germany, Kalu said: “All right-thinking citizens must condemn reckless commentaries on social media or the pages of newspapers that potentially threaten these ideals. Any inappropriate commentary on the decision of Justice Mohammed Idris to revoke my bail is not acceptable to me and should be discontinued, irrespective of the positive dispositions of the propagators towards me.

    “The highest demonstration of affection or loyalty to me will best be measured by the degree to which this admonition is heeded. Our judges deserve unqualified respect and the sanctity of their decisions must be respected until toppled at a superior jurisdiction.”

    Explaining his absence in court, he said before he travelled for medical treatment, he notified the relevant authorities, while expressing his commitment towards the conclusion of his case.

    Said he: “I ensured adequate notifications were delivered and acknowledged by the relevant organs before travelling with my wife for my medical treatment in Europe. Unfortunately, the court case involving my humble self and others, which was adjourned sine die on the last date on which the matter came up for hearing, was subsequently listed for hearing on a new date, which conflicted with the already scheduled critical surgery appointment.”

    He said he had, on three occasions, postponed such “medical appointments in order to present myself in court”.

    “I had always placed this matter over and above all other personal considerations because defending my personal integrity and uprightness supersedes all other personal interests,” Kalu said.

    Saying that it was expedient he travelled for the medical treatment, Kalu said:  “However, my deteriorating health condition and the emergency status it assumed made it absolutely imperative for the doctors to insist on carrying out the necessary medical procedure without further delay.”

    On his commitment to the court processes relating to the fraud case instituted against him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kalu said of 64 court sittings he had attended 62, saying his absence in the last two sittings was due to critical ill health.

    Kalu gave notice of his resolved to return to Nigeria to comply with the court order revoking his bail.

    “I will, therefore, return to Nigeria on the 30th of November, 2018 before returning to Germany on 10th December, 2018 and 22nd January 2019 for further medical examination,” he said.

  • Boroffice to Nigerians: don’t allow destroyers to return to power

    The senator representing Ondo North, Prof Ajayi Boroffice, has warned Nigerians not be distracted by the antics of those who destroyed the economy and are still seeking to return to power.

    He stressed that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.

    Speaking at the inauguration of various support groups under the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) for the Buhari/Osinbajo re-election bid, Boroffice urged Nigerians to queue behind President Muhammadu Buhari to continue the building of a nation that all Nigerians would be proud of.

    The senator said Nigerians are united by the desire to have good governance, ensure justice and equity as well as fight pervasive corruption in the land.

    He noted that these can only be achieved through President Buhari.

    Boroffice said Nigerians would be doing themselves a lot of good, if they continued to support the President for his second term bid, adding that the time had come to consolidate on the gains the present administration had recorded.

    He said: “We will line up behind President Buhari and we are united behind this cause. We will succeed, by the grace of God.”

    The Special Adviser (SA) to the President on Disability Matters Dr. Samuel Ankeli said people with disability would work for the success of the President in next year’s general elections.

    He said: “You see him as a man of integrity, but for those of us in the disability world, we see him as our eyes, our ears and our legs.

    “He has given us a voice where others relegate us. Today, we can sit down with others and discuss. In the past, people saw us as lepers. But that has changed. A man who sits with you to decide on your future has done a great thing for you. So, we celebrate him and we are ready to go anywhere with him.

    “Where others failed, we won. At the international level, we have won several laurels for this country. President Buhari has empowered us, and we our loyalty goes to him.”

    Also, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Political Matters Gideon Zamani said President Buhari came to fight corruption and injustice in the country and had done so credibly well.

    He urged the support groups and the zonal committees of the PSC to take the campaign for the President’s re-election to states, local governments, wards and unit levels for massive sensitisation of the electorate on the gains of the Buhari administration.

    PSC’s National Publicity Secretary Ebunola Martins said it would be an error of judgment for Nigerians to allow those who destroyed the economy to return to power.

  • INEC Chair to Nigerians: we ‘ll conduct credible poll

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct credible general elections next year, its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said yesterday.

    Yakubu made this promise while speaking at the 6th Anniversary Lecture and Investiture into the Realnews Hall of Fame in Lagos yesterday.

    The event was tagged: “Political transitions and Africa’s economic development: Preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 general elections”.

    According to Yakubu, the commission is not unaware that the conduct of 2019 elections is a tough task, but INEC is determined to leave no stone unturned to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    He said INEC was deeply committed to democratic elections that would contribute to political stability and consolidation of democracy, which would propel the nation to greater economic prosperity.

    Yakubu said: “It is true that political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth. It is also true that no economy flourishes in a situation of uncertainty.

    Nations cannot develop, if they are unstable. We have seen nations and cities destroyed by unacceptable electoral outcomes.

    “Democratic transition through periodic and credible elections is the best way to ensure certainty that will guarantee and sustain political stability.

    “We will never ever fail the nation. Our commitment is that we will never give Nigerians excuses.”

    Yakubu said there could be no peaceful or sustainable political transition and consequential economic and other benefits to citizens without credible and peaceful elections through a transparent and inclusive electoral process.

    To achieve this goal, the INEC chairman called on all stakeholders  – governments, election administrators, security agencies, civil society groups, the media, political parties, candidates and their supporters – to play their roles.

    According to him, the commission has embarked on the consolidation of full biometric voter registration through the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between April 27 and Aug. 31, among other preparations.

    He added that at the end of the exercise, some 14.5 million Nigerians were added to the existing register of about 70 million, and the voters register for the 2019 elections had hit 84.2 million.

    Yakubu, who called for support of all stakeholders for the collection of PVCs, said a new approach to the collection would begin early in December and continue until a week to the elections.

    According to him, the PVCs of those who registered in 2017 and those who registered in the first and second quarters of 2018 have been printed and delivered to states.

    Yakubu said there would not be any use of incidence forms, instead, manual register of voters had been redesigned to provide for a box for thumb printing and telephone number of any voter, whose biometric was not authenticated by the Smart Card Readers.

    According to him, the commission has harmonised accreditation and voting,  carried out greater engagement, installation of trackers, enhancement of Smart Card Readers and improved logistics.

    “We are working to ensure optimal performance of the Smart Card Readers,” the INEC Chairman said.

    Yakubu highlighted INEC challenges as including do or die mentality of politicians, vote-buying, lack of internal democracy, incendiary speech, security, impunity and lack of consequences for electoral offenders.

    He lamented that there were increasing pre-election cases, with the commission being joined in 273 court actions and numerous petitions.

    Dr. Haroun Adamu, the Chairman of the occasion and former Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund, said social media platforms had been so influential in information dissemination.

     

     

     

  • Sultan urges Nigerians to shun ethno-religious differences

    Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to continue to live in harmony and maintain peaceful coexistence irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

    The Sultan made the plea when he visited a retired Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin in Gbongan, Osun State.

    The Sultan said: “There is need for people to live in peace. As Nigerians we are all one, we should all continue to live as one. We need to stay together and work for the sake of humanity.”

    He said Justice Babalakin had contributed his own quota to the development of Islam and jurisprudence in Nigeria.

    “We give thanks to Almighty Allah for making today a reality. This visit has been in the pipeline for so long but man proposes but God disposes.

    “Justice Babalakin has paid his dues and he has contributed his own quota to the development of Islam, justice and the development of Nigeria at large.

    “Babalakin is a true religious leader and the pioneer president of MUSWEN. We are in the South Western part of the country to celebrate 10 years anniversary of MUSWEN and deemed it necessary to pay Justice Babalakin a visit as the pioneer president.

    Justice Babalakin appreciated the visit of the President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the support the Council gave to him when he was the President of MUSWEN

    He said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome you to my humble abode in Gbongan Osun State of Nigeria. I regard it a great privilege that you considered me worthy of a private visit. I pray fervently that the Almighty Allah will continue to guide you aright in the discharge of your onerous responsibilities. ”

    “I want to specifically thank you for the great efforts you have made in uniting the Muslim Community in the whole of Nigeria. Your leadership in this area has been remarkable and must be appreciated.”

    “I am particularly happy that you managed to resolve an issue that had divided the Ummah for a long time which was irregular celebration of Eid-el-Fitr. From time immemorial, we have been celebrating this festival on different dates.

    “Since you came to the throne, we have been celebrating this event on the same day. This has enhanced the unity amongst the Muslim Community. ”

    “I also want to thank you specifically for the support you gave me throughout my tenure as the President of the Muslim Community of South-Western Nigeria (MUSWEN). Your support added to the impetus of the society and was a great encouragement to us all. I am also informed that you have continued to provide this support to my successor.

    “It has also come to my knowledge that you will be the guest of honour at the 10th Anniversary of MUSWEN holding in Ibadan on Sunday.”

    “Youth is blunder; Manhood is a struggle, Old Age is regret. Beauty fades, Opportunity vanishes and Riches put wings to themselves and fly away. The only quality of man that endures, is his Character.”

    Chairman of The Resort Group, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) described the visit of the Sultan as a great honour to the family.

    “We are proud of your visit. We knew the Sultan came because of the integrity of our father. Our father does not believe in acquiring treasures, he believes the most important thing is character.”

  • Buhari lists conditions for restructuring

    …Why Nigerians in diaspora won’t vote in 2019

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave conditions to be fulfilled before the government can go into restructuring of the country.

    He pointed out that there should be proper definition of what Nigerians want before the government can delve into restructuring the country.

    The President also noted that many Nigerians who have been calling for restructuring have been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be.

    Read Also:Jail terms no longer deterrence for illicit financial flow, says Buhari

    Buhari, who spoke during the interactive session with Nigerians living in France, was in the country for the Peace Forum attended by about 70 world leaders in Paris.

    The Nigerian community, which was made up of Nigerian Diaspora Organization (NIDO), All Progressives Congress (APC) members in France, students and friends of Nigeria, asked the President questions ranging from restructuring, security, anti-corruption, education and opportunity for Nigerians in diaspora to vote in 2019 general elections.

    The President said; “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take?

    “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.

    “Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.

    “They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.

    “So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take,” he stated.

    He also gave reasons why Nigerians in diaspora might not vote in the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, it will be very difficult for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put in place structures to accommodate them with just about three months to the 2019 elections.

    Noting that the increasing Nigeria population in the diaspora supports the calls for their participation in electing Nigeria leaders, he said that it might not happen in the 2019 general elections as INEC had been more focused on strengthening and consolidating on its achievements to conduct credible elections within the country.

    But he said that Nigerians in diaspora would definitely participate in future elections.

    Buhari said “We want to secure the Nigeria votes first before we go foreign. We are going to strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more independent and viable ….  so that they can recruit more committed and educated Nigerians to be in charge and use technologies to get the votes from all the constituencies.

    “So, with the way the economy is now, I think with the elections in three months’ time, it will be very difficult for INEC and the government to organize quality survey of those that are outside,” he said.

    Responding to the question on education in Nigeria, the President said that his administration is doing its best to invest more in infrastructures, education and other sectors.

    The Nigerian elites, he said, disappointed Nigeria and the Nigerian masses under the sixteen years administrations of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, so much waste has gone down the drain from the huge resources earned in during the PDP administrations in the country between 1999 and 2015.

    He said that there was nothing to show for the earnings including the $16 billion said to have been spent on power.

    He urged Nigerian elites, both at home and diaspora, to do more in contributing to the educational sector of the country, expressing surprise that the elites tolerated the fall in standards and structures of educational institutions despite the huge oil earnings.

    He said; “So, really I have seen it all and I was disappointed in the Nigerian elites. What have they done in these sixteen years?”

    “What do we have with our oil production down to half a million and the price per barrel went down to about $30, what could we have done with the infrastructure?

    “You should find out the damage done by the main opposition now to the economy and the integrity of the country.

    “So, we are now trying to improve infrastructures and do more in education and other areas.

    “We are currently reviewing investments in the entire infrastructure of the country like road, rail and power, including investing more in education. We will certainly need to do more in education,’’ he said.

    He added “I am doing my best now to utilize our resources to develop the country. We are already getting results on road, rail and power. My frustration is that some people still have plenty stolen money stashed in Europe, U S and other countries.’’

    According to him, return of stolen assets in some safe heavens will bolster the administration’s current effort of investing more in critical infrastructure that directly impact on the livelihood of Nigerians.

    He said that the war against terrorism will be reinforced with new weapons and hardware for the military

    The challenge of abduction and kidnapping in some parts of the country, he said, will receive more attention with better gathering of intelligence.

    According to him, God and technology in form of card readers and Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) won the Presidential elections for him in 2015 despite not succeeding in three earlier times.

    “We campaigned on three key issues; security, improving the economy, and fighting corruption, and we have not been controverted by anyone that we have not recorded some results,’’ he said.

    Speaking earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to France, Dr. Modupe Irele, said that the Nigerian community in France had demonstrated high sense of responsibility, dedication and morality.

    According to her, the large number of professionals had been encouraged to also contribute to the country’s development.

    “Nigerians here are law abiding, peaceful and resourceful,’’ she said.

    President Buhari’s commitment to change, she noted, will make Nigeria the envy of other African countries.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the interactive session, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said that it was very important for President Buhari to attend the Peace Forum in Paris.

    He said “President Muhammadu Buhari has been preaching for peace, especially when he came on board, he met our country religiously and ethnically divided.

    “I think it is important that he meets with other world leaders to discuss how peace can be promoted among the nations and various people of the world.

    “There is no way you can promote peace where there is massive corruption. Massive corruption deprives people of development, and if there is no development, there won’t be any peace.” he said

    Willy Obiano of Anambra State said that it is important for Nigeria to be emphasizing peace.

    In the education sector, he said that the state has invested a lot of money into the sector in the last four years.

    He said “We revamped 1482 primary and secondary schools. We have sent our teachers to Singapore and Germany for training.

    “More importantly, what my administration has done in Anambra State with respect to education is to reach the … end of Anambra State.” he said

    House of Reps member, Nasir Ali Ahmed, representing Nasarawa Federal constituency of Kano State, said that the interactive session was a very successful meeting.

    He hoped that a lot of the Nigerians living in France will come back home to contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.

    Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, recently nominated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Diaspora Commission, who facilitated the meeting, said that a lot of Nigerians living in France are already doing many things at home for the economy.

    “So, we will continue to engage with them and continue to stress the positivity about our country, Nigeria,” she said

    Stressing that there are some Nigerians in prisons in France, she said that Nigerians are being encouraged to obey the laws of the land wherever they go.

    She also pointed out that the new commission is not a charity organization, but aims to tap into the enormous resources of Nigerians in the diaspora.

  • We have delivered visible achievements – Fashola

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, says his ministry has delivered visible and qualitative achievements to Nigerians since his appointment in November, 2015.

    Fashola said this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing to give the third year progress report of the ministry under his watch.

    He said the ministry had in a statement titled “Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change” in December 2015 set out what it inherited, plan to do and what Nigerians should expect from it.

    According to him, as at May 2015, many contractors have stopped work because of payment and many fathers and wives employed by them have been laid off.

    He said the possibility to return those who had lost their jobs back to work was the kind of change the ministry promised Nigerians.

    Fashola said that the progress report on public sector works relating to roads and bridges had confirmed that the ministry had fulfilled its promise.

    He said that the ministry had recovered the thousands of jobs that were lost as a result of an expansive infrastructure spending on works from N18.132 billion in 2015 to N394 billion in 2018.

    “The outcome is that there is not one state in Nigeria today where the Federal Government is not executing at least one road project with construction workers engaged on the sites.

    “Difficult or abandoned projects like the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and the Bodo-Bonny Bridge have been brought back to life.

    Read Also: Governors pledge support for ZAFAA 2018

    “Sections of Ilorin-Jebba, Sokoto to Jeba, Sokoto-Ilela have been completed, while progress of work continues nationwide.

    “Apart from recovered construction jobs and growth in construction sector of the economy, the feedback from road users is that the journey times are reducing on the completed roads,” he said.

    According to him, we acknowledge that the work is not finished, but as long as we remain able to finance the projects, I have no doubt that it will get better.

    He said that the ministry had extended its intervention on roads to universities to ensure that unattended internal roads were given attention.

    The minister said that 14 Federal Universities would benefit from the first phase of the intervention under the 2017 budget adding that more would be accommodated in the 2018 budget.

    NAN