The Nation Newspaper

Tag: northern governors

  • Jonathan, Northern governors greet Obasanjo at 76

    Jonathan, Northern governors greet Obasanjo at 76

    President Goodluck Jonathan and the Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday congratulated former president Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 76th birthday.

    The president hail Obasanjo’s role in ensuring the peace and stability of the country.

    The governors on their part said the former president remained the reference point on good governance, statesmanship, diplomacy, conflict resolution and prudent management of resources.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as saying that Nigerians owe the former president a debt of gratitude for readily giving himself for the peace and stability of the country over the years.

    Paying tribute to Obasanjo, the NSGF through its Chairman and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said the former leader has lived a fulfilled life of service to Nigeria and humanity.

    In a statement signed by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum said Nigeria was lucky to have Obasanjo at every twist and turn in our march to nationhood.

    It recalled that Obasanjo had a distinguished carrier in the military and then went on to become head of state and later democratically elected President, during which period he showed rare vision, courage and exemplary leadership.

    ”It is no longer news that in 1976, destiny beckoned on General Obasanjo to become Nigeria’s Head of State; an era that ushered in huge developmental drive in our journey to nationhood and in the exercise of greatness, he voluntarily relinquished power and handed it over to a civilian administration in 1979.He returned to the presidency in 1999 from the verge of death to the flourishing tree of democracy he planted, this time as the gardener and the nourisher,” the statement said.

    The forum said Obasanjo left legacies in all sectors of the economy: nation-building, national reconciliation, the Niger Delta issue, national security, foreign policy, the telecommunications revolution, debt management, banking sector reforms, education, agriculture, health, environment, power sector reform and oil and gas development.

    Others are solid minerals development, tourism, war against economic and financial crimes and pension reforms among many other things.

     

  • Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Northern governors condole with Buhari

    Jonathan, Oshiomhole, Northern governors condole with Buhari

    President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday commiserated with former head of state, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) on the death of his eldest daughter, Zulaihatu.

    The President, in a condolence letter to Buhari, according to statement by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, prayed that God Almighty would comfort him and grant him and members of his family succour from the pain of losing a beloved child who has been nurtured and raised to adulthood.

    “I write to extend sincerest commiserations to you and your family on the death of your eldest daughter, Zulaihatu, yesterday November 29th, 2012.

    “I can well imagine the profound pain, sadness and sorrow brought upon you by the tragic loss of a beloved child whom you have nurtured and raised to adulthood.

    My heart goes out to you as you mourn Zulaihatu. I pray that God Almighty comforts you and grants you and your family succour at this very traumatic time for all who knew and loved her,” President Jonathan wrote.

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has also condoled with Buhari on the death of Hajia Zulai.

    In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said: “We learnt with rude shock, the death of your beloved daughter, Hajia Zulai.  I wish to offer my profound condolence and the commiseration of the people and government of Edo State.

    “Our hearts are with you at this very difficult period, as the death of a beloved one can be traumatic.

    “While we grieve over her death, we take solace in the fact that she lived a worthy life as a mother, an accomplished economist, a devout Muslim and a hard-working young Nigerian who did not rely on her father’s name and influence to get an upper hand in life, but rather relied on her intellect and hard-work to carve a niche for herself.

    “We pray Almighty Allah to grant you and the rest of the Buhari family the courage to endure the loss of Hajia Zulai and also pray for the repose of her soul.”

    Similarly, governors of the 19 Northern states under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday commeserated with former head of state and leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), on the death of his daughter, Zulaihat.

    The Chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu urged the CPC 2011 standard bearer to take solace in the fact that it is only God that gives and takes life whenever He pleases and that no living soul shall escape death as it is the necessary end that would come when it would.

    In a condolence statement signed by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum enjoined the former military leader and members of his family to be encouraged by the fact that although Zulaihat died at a relatively young age, she lived an inspiring and a fulfilled life.

    The statement reads: ”Life is not about how long people live, but how people impact positively on the environment around them.

    ”Though Zulaihat lived a short life, she brought change to her immediate family, her community, and all those she met,especially women and children.”

    The Forum advised the CPC leader that the best tribute he can pay to his late daughter is to sustain her good deed of touching the lives of the weak and poor.

  • Mark, Northern governors, mourn Saraki

    Mark, Northern governors, mourn Saraki

    Senate President, David Mark,on Wednesday lamented the death of Second Republic Senate Leader Dr. Olusola Saraki.

    Mark said Saraki was a political giant and shining star of Nigerian politics.

    Also, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, in a statement described Saraki’s death as the end of an era in Nigerian politics.

    The Northern States Governors’ Forum also rued  the death of Saraki, describing it as the exit of a titan.

    A statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, quoted Mark as saying that Saraki was “a political tactician and engineer” who navigated the scene like a colossus.

    He noted that the political sagacity of Saraki helped to midwife the modern day Nigerian politics.

    Mark said: “Saraki was a political leader who stood to be counted when it mattered.

    “He stood on the side of the people and worked assiduously for the liberation of the down trodden.

    “He was a leader who lived and worked for others.

    “We shall miss his fatherly counsel. We shall miss his candor. We shall miss his humility. We shall miss his robust political debate. He was one of our brightest and focused political leaders.”

    The Chairman of the NSGF, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a statement, commiserated with the government and people of Kwara State over the death of the political giant.

    According to Aliyu, who is also the governor of Niger State, the death of the frontline politician at a time of increasing intolerance in the country makes his death more painful, considering his leading role in ensuring peace and unity in Kwara State, the north and Nigeria as a whole.

    In the statement signed by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the forum lamented that “Saraki – a man of peace and a rare patriot” died at a time the country needs the wisdom and guidance of all important leaders like him to help end the security challenges confronting the nation.

     

  • Ex-Sultan Dasuki not fair to northern governors

    SIR: I can recall vividly that Friday, a sunny day it was, Jumma’at prayer at Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna. The Imam for a reason unknown to us, couldn’t make it. Some portion of the people delegated someone to lead the prayers, while others were not comfortable with the delegation. It was chaotic. Then from no where appeared this gentleman, a close associate of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, former  Sultan of Sokoto and a very respectful northern elder, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki. He led the prayers as every body followed obediently without incidence. Such a gentleman respected by all!
    But the exclusive interview granted by the former Sultan to the Daily Trust and The Nation newspaper of September 4, wherein he accused the Northern Governors of not doing enough on security was rather surprising. The former sultan must have been misinformed.
    While the giant strides by the Northern Governors to end the crisis is common knowledge, it is however unfortunate that our father could not appreciate the simple fact: his optimism, appreciation and of course blessing would definitely boost the governors efforts to resolve the crisis.
    Despite the fact that security is an exclusive responsibility of the federal government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, the Northern States continue to contribute immensely to the security of the nation. Its no news that the states donate vans to their respective state police commands.
    Since the governors were elected by their people, with uncountable expectations from the electorates, it can only be achieved on a peaceful atmosphere. The Northern Governors’ Forum, recently inaugurated a committee on peace and reconciliation headed by Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, to look into the security situation in the north. The committee is saddled with the mandate to resolve the crisis in dialogue and amicable manner.
    Luckily, the National Security Adviser (NSA) is from the royal family, and from the north. The committee constituted by the northern governors is to his advantage. Its a well known fact that insurgency and other forms of militia, can never be fought with the barrel of guns, hence, the need to include community leaders.
    If one is objective enough, he would really appreciate the fact that, the governors have gone great lengths to accommodate justice and fairness in their activities. For instance youths are given unprecedented support to be fully engaged in different kinds of endeavors such as “Lafiya Jari” in Kano, youth’s empowerment programmes in Nasarawa and graduate empowerment in Niger State, to mention but few.
    Needless to say, in terms of providing social amenities, the northern states are doing their best despite the meager amount they receive from the federation account. It therefore borders on injustice to point accusing fingers at the governors.
    As an elder statesman, he should be admonished that remonstration of the governors in the newspapers is unhelpful.
    Auwal A. Dankano.
    Kano