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Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • APC waxing stronger ahead of 2019 – Presidency

    The Presidency said on Monday the All Progressives Congress (APC) is waxing stronger ahead of 2019 general election following its victories in last weekend’s bye- elections held in some parts of the country.

    The APC won the senatorial bye-elections in Katsina and Bauchi States and also won one of the House of Representatives seat in Kogi State.

    Briefing State House correspondents, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said the victories were indication that President Muhammadu Buhari has a better chance in next year’s presidential election.

    He also faulted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for carrying out its actions in a militant manner rather than following laid down procedures.

    Shehu said: “I like to speak to you about the fabulous shows of the APC in Katsina, Bauchi and Kogi, and even to some extent in Cross River States.

    “It is clear that election after election, Nigerians are reposing confidence in the Buhari/Osinbajo presidency. Each of these election victories is considered to be epic in nature because none of these elections was an ordinary election.

    “We are happy that we have won and on behalf of the President and the Acting President, we like to say thank you to Nigerians who continue to repose their confidence in the leadership of the APC administration.

    “We also want to thank the leadership of the party at the national level, but equally important, to thank all the party’s apparatchiks deployed to all the campaigns and ensured that the elections were won handsomely by APC.

    “So, we are expressing our gratitude to everyone for these that had happened and to say that with this increasing confidence reposed in the President and the Acting President, who are determined more than ever before to leave no stone unturned in the bid to bring the promised change to Nigerians.

    “For a quick review, maybe one, two, three or four lessons can be taken from the victories that the party has been recording.”

     

     

  • Poll winnings: APC waxing stronger, says Presidency

    *Says Buhari, Osinbajo has better chance in 2019 election

     

    The Presidency on Monday said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is waxing stronger with its victories at recent elections in the country.

    The APC at the weekend won Senatorial elections in Katsina and Bauchi states and also won one of the House of Representatives seat in Kogi State.

    Briefing State House correspondents, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the victories is an indication that Buhari and Osinbajo has better chance in the 2019 presidential election.

    He also faulted the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for carrying out its actions in a militant manner rather than following laid down procedures.

  • Presidency: PDP aspirants can’t defeat Buhari in 2019

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is sure that President Muhammadu Buhari will defeat other presidential candidates next year to  continue his administration’s change agenda.

    Prof. Osinbajo spoke yesterday at the Township Stadium in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, while receiving Senator Godswill Akpabio, who defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Acting President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; declared that treasury looters would no longer be allowed to return to power.

    At the rally witnessed by a mammoth crowd of APC members and supporters of the ruling party were  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole; Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, who led over 35 senators to the event, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki; the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Nsima Ekere, a governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom state; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang, among other leaders of APC.

    Many members of the National Assembly, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, State Working Committee (SWC) of PDP, former commissioners in the state and many elders of PDP across the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State joined Akpabio in the APC.

    Oshiomhole also announced the former governor of Akwa Ibom State (Akpabio) as the new leader of APC in the state.

    The teeming members of APC and their supporters started arriving at the stadium from 7 a.m., for the event slated for 10 a.m. It kicked off over four hours behind schedule, with Akpabio arriving at the stadium, in company with his wife, Ekaete, at 2:20 p.m. Other leaders of the party arrived later.

    Just as the rally was going on at the township stadium, PDP stakeholders in Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District kicked against the defection.

    Addressing PDP supporters yesterday in Ikot Ekpene, the PDP’s political leader of the senatorial district, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-essien, claimed that Akpabio did not consult them before taking the decision to dump the PDP for APC.

    Ibok-essien, who was the Deputy Director-General of Akpabio’s 2015 senatorial campaign organisation, stated that people of the area would not support Akpabio’s re-election into the Senate in 2019, calling on the people of the senatorial district and the state to support the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel and other PDP candidates in next year’s elections.

    The Acting President said: “I came here to thank the people of Akwa Ibom State for the remarkable show of solidarity that you have exhibited today (yesterday). I came here to dispense this goodwill from the President and the Acting President for the show of solidarity and to tell you that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari loves the people of Akwa Ibom State. I have come here to share with you the thrust of this government and to give you some basic facts that will help you make up your minds as to the direction Akwa Ibom has decided to go in 2019.

    “When this government came on board and as President Muhammadu Buhari constituted his cabinet, you will be shocked to find that there are 36 ministers; 18 of these ministers are Christians, 18 are Muslims. Out of the 18 Christians, nine are Catholics. In addition to that, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is a Christian, the Head of Service of the Federation is a Christian, the Vice-President is a Christian, the Governor of the Central Bank is a Christian.

    “When we met with the Conference of Catholic Bishops, I told them that if there is anybody that owns this government, the Catholics have nothing really to complain, because they have nine ministers, in addition to the chairman of the party, the Governor of the Central Bank; they also have the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    “People of Akwa Ibom State, I know that this is electioneering year, a lot of people will be going around offering their services to you. I have worked with all the candidates of the PDP. I know them personally. They are my friends. I do not have anything against them. If I have my way, I will ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow all of them compete, but I can assure you that all of them will be defeated by President Buhari in 2019, because all of them are from the Northern part of the country.

    “In 2007, we barely got two million votes all over the nation. I can tell you that President Buhari has won consistently in their states. Is it Sokoto, is it Kano, is it Jigawa, is it Gombe, is it Adamawa? Where else? Buhari is the only candidate that can give you 10 million votes as head start. Why do you have to invest and engage a candidate that can just generate 300,000 votes in his state? It is a totally wasteful exercise.”

    He spoke about the administration’s achievement, saying:

    “I recommend the government of the APC to you, because it has delivered on all planks. We are growing the economy, your railways are coming on board. Work is being provided through the social intervention programme, security is being improved, in spite of the challenges and with Akwa Ibom coming on board, under the able leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, things will change and turn around for the better for the Niger Delta region.”

    Prof. Osinbajo also lauded the people of Akwa Ibom State for the massive support, pleading with them to be ambassadors of the change, as they returned to their various homes and communities, thereby setting the foundation for the growth of democracy.

    The Acting President also thanked Akpabio for his exemplary leadership, the uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom State and his decision to turn around the fortunes of the Niger Delta region, adding that the entire Southsouth zone will be taken over by the APC.

    To Oshiomhole, the sea heads at the stadium, the energy of the youth, their sheer determination, as evidenced by the fact that they had been waiting since morning, it was certain that they would have the change they desire. He described Akpabio as an “uncommon transformer”, for pulling the mammoth crowd.

    Oshiomhole said: “Today (yesterday) is historic in the life of our party (APC). For too long, when I was governor of Edo State, even now my successor, Godwin Obaseki, we have always said that in the whole of the Southsouth, it is only in Edo State that APC has a governor. We are determined to find other states in the Southsouth to join forces with Edo State to sustain the changes that Nigeria badly requires.

    “There are people who are giving the impression that Akwa Ibom State belongs to them, but today, with what my eyes have seen (mammoth crowd), in February next year, the great people of Akwa Ibom State will effect a change, under the leadership of a man of honour, Akpabio, who did what other people failed to do, by saying enough of the umbrella that has been badly shattered by terrible political weather, after misruling Nigeria for 16 years.

    “What other people are afraid to do, Akpabio did it after deep reflection and he listened to the yearnings of his people, by sacrificing the title of Minority Leader of the Senate to join the APC. Akpabio did what Senator Bukola Saraki is unable to do and he has shown that the people of the Southsouth zone can be different, where it matters. We can stand up and be counted.

    “I know that with your (Akpabio’s membership of our great party (APC), we will benefit from your uncommon transformational qualities that you demonstrated while you were the governor of this great state. You (Akpabio) are an uncommon defector. There are ordinary defectors, who want to move, but they want to steal the crown. We have an uncommon rally in Ikot Ekpene.

    “Akwa Ibom people are united that in 2019, under the leadership and guidance of Akpabio, this state will join the states of progressive governance.

  • Why National Assembly must reconvene now, by Presidency

    The Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, at the weekend urged the National Assembly to reconvene to consider “urgent matters of national importance” pending before it.

    Among these are the approval of a supplementary budget to fund the 2018 budget and the virement request by President Muhammadu Buhari to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begin preparations for the 2019 polls.

    Also pending is the clearance for appointments into critical positions.

    Enang warned that the lawmakers’ holiday, which began on July 24 to end on September 5, might stall the allocation of funds to critical sectors of governance and the economy.

    Speaking in Lagos, he listed the pending key appointments as those in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Code of Conduct Bureau, among others.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki announced the adjournment at plenary the day he read  letters of defection by some senators following a motion on the alleged siege to his and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu’s houses by security operatives.

    The House of Representatives also went on recess same day after reading letters of defection by some lawmakers.

    Enang noted that although the lawmakers planned their vacation to coincide with the school holidays so that members can spend time with their children, there were exceptional grounds for the holiday calendar to be adjusted.

    He said: “In fairness to the National Assembly, they scheduled to consider these matters on the 24th, 25th and 25th of July, i.e. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but certain unforeseen events happened that they had to adjourn. Therefore, they did not deliberately keep these matters and went away.

    “The matters include virements, settlement of appointments, supplementary budget, borrowing plan, INEC fund and so on.

    “I want to say that we are appealing to the National Assembly, that we accept that it was not intended by them that the country should suffer. They had made plans to approve this before the exigency that made them to adjourn, but I want to appeal to them, that they should please consider reconvening for the purpose of considering these urgent matters which are capable of making the government not perform and deliver on time.”

    Enang noted that if the supplementary budget was not passed, “the money that is intended to enable INEC to prepare for the 2019 election will not be released and the virement that is supposed to enable funds to be available to other sectors of the economy will not be available and, so, budget cannot really start performing.

    “We are appealing to Senate leadership and all caucuses of the National Assembly to see this as a clarion call for the good of the nation.

    “As the Liason Officer between National Assembly and the Federal Government, I know it is not the intention of the lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.

    “We are not compelling them; we are appealing to them. As a liason officer between the Presidency and the NASS, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony.”

    On lawmakers defections, Enang explained that it had nothing to do with the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and that the issues for defection were personal and domestic to the political actors.

    He said the defections were no sign that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was divided.

    Enang said: “There is no division in the All Progressives Congress that is known to law and there is no division along the line, R APC was generated to justify the action of the defectors.”

    According to him, the defections are perennial and usually happen in election when where politicians look for platforms to achieve their aspirations.

    “In all the defections, they have maintained that they do not have problems with the Federal Government.

    ‘There is too much competition within the major political parties. Politicians study the platforms and would not want to be where they may not get the tickets, especially for those seeking re-election.

    “Some need automatic tickets, but their parties may say no.

    “Defections are not a sign of anything to worry about in a political party. None of the defectors is complaining about executive treatment of their people, but about winning nominations.”

  • On Southeast’s quest for presidency

    SIR: I am an advocate of rotational presidency and unlike many who glory in the phantasm that Nigeria is a democratic country and needs to throw up any qualified candidate from any region for the office of president, I know better. There aren’t truly great political men in this country. Men whose gaits are measured and can be classed as unifiers. Many politicians pass off as tribal warlords.

    The brilliant attributes of many eastern politicians notwithstanding, there are only a handful statesmen. Statesmen speak truth to power for the sake of growth and posterity. It was largely to the credit of a late politician from the east that Nigerians began to toy with the rotation of power as a panacea for peace and development. Peace is necessary for political and economic stability. Thanks to that politician, no-less the concept of rotational presidency was bought wholesale by his party the PDP. He was a founding member of the PDP. But where were men from the east when former President Olusegun Obasanjo abrogated the rotational presidency arrangement that would have seen a south-easterner become president in 2003? Or when Goodluck Jonathan cancelled an agreement that would have seen a south-easterner become president in 2015?

    Leaders from the east should have made some noise especially when the national boat stationed for peace was about to capsize. But they said nothing.

    The southeast missed the chance, no thanks to the dovish mien of people who should have rallied the party to stop Obasanjo who couldn’t have succeeded without the backing of some south-eastern estabishment (no disrespect). Not surprised. In Nigeria, the establishment always has its way.

    The only person in the east who stood up to Goodluck Jonathan so as to not abrogate the rotational party arrangement of the PDP was Vincent Ogbulafor who eventually lost his job in the process. Many mighty persons said nothing. Ebele Jonathan added Azikiwe quickly to his name and cuckolded the east into buying his presidential project. The rest is history. As we move into 2019 presidential elections, two northerners from two major parties, APC and PDP may likely contest for the office of president. The latter despite the hypocrisy of abrogating the rotational power sharing agreement of its party has zoned office of the president to the north.

    Where does this leave the south-east? Having lost out on power (Ebele’s presidency was largely eastern and southern), the east never bothered to negotiate the return of power to the region with the APC. They never wooed the APC on developmental policies for the east. The easterners largely were not mainstreamed into the APC.  I wonder why. Aren’t the jews in the US in Republican and Democratic parties?

     

    • Simon Abah, Abuja.

  • Benue Assembly complex shut

    •Middle Belt Forum, Afenifere flay alleged impeachment bid
    •Benue Assembly shut, says governor’s aide

    THE Presidency has denied the allegation that President Muhammadu Buhari was behind moves by some Benue State lawmakers to unseat  Governor Samuel Ortom.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari would never be part of any unconstitutional act.

    He said: “Even while attending the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)/Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Summit in Togo, strident attempts were being made to drag the President into the unfolding drama between the executive and the legislature in Benue State.

    “Statements have been issued by different interest groups, insinuating that the President may have a hand in the development in Benue.

    “This is paranoia at its worst, coming from people who have wittingly positioned themselves against the clean-up of the country, and the way we do things. They prefer business as usual.

    “President Buhari will never be part of any unconstitutional act, and any attempt to link him with the inglorious past, when minority number of lawmakers impeached governors, will not stick.

    According to Adesina, they only preach separation of powers and true federalism whenever it suits them and also calling on the President to interfere brazenly in affairs at state level.

    But, a group, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has called on the President to rein in the police.

    The group alleged that the role of the police in Monday’s impeachment plans   against Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom was tantamount to causing anarchy.

    Speaking to reporters in Abuja on the crisis, MBF President Dr. Pogu Bitrus said the police took side with the eight legislators with the intention of removing the governor through the backdoor.

    Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described the development in which eight legislators purportedly suspended 15 of their colleagues and served an impeachment notice on Ortom as ridiculous.

    Afenifere said such scenario should not be allowed in any part of Nigeria.

    Security operatives have shut down the Benu State House of Assembly.

    The Assembly has been the theatre of clashes between two groups of lawmakers.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Col. Paul Hembe (retd) and the Clerk of the House, Dr. Torese Agena, told reporters in Makurdi, the state capital, yesterday that before shutting the complex, securitymen chased officials out of their ofices.

    The security adviser added that when he contacted Commissioner of Police, Bensan Gwana, he told him he was attending the Inspector General conference.

     

     

     

  • Presidency: allow security agencies to function

    The Presidency on Tuesday said that it has taken note of the orchestrated campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari each time a Very Important Person (VIP) is invited by the law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their duties.

    Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity to the president Garba Shehu, said the law is intended for all, not for the poor or those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder.

    It added “It is odd, strange and bizarre that while ordinary citizens can be called up to answer questions or be interrogated, the VIP cannot be questioned without the annoying insinuations of partisanship, persecution or outright politicization.

    “This country cannot achieve development in peace when important cases are viewed through a political prism and the law is considered as being applicable to some, and not applicable to others.

    “The workings of law enforcement agencies are set out in the constitution and the laws of the country. If they worked at the discretion of past presidents, who decided who to question and who to detain, Nigerians should get used to the fact that this President is different. President Buhari does not and will not influence or interfere with cases.

    “The constitution clearly directs law enforcement agencies to promptly report and investigate any actual or potential infringement of the law and also initiate proceedings against all those involved.

    “This President is not the one who directs them on what to do.

    “President Buhari does not stand in the way of law enforcement either. Under our constitution, he has no powers to stop the investigation of anyone or institution. When they are set to investigate anything and anyone, the best friend of the law is the one who lets them do their work.

    “The President’s constant refrain is that he will not tolerate any form of illegality including corruption and the law enforcement agencies have been given complete freedom to identify and bring all culprits to justice. His instructions to them are very clear: Anyone with a case to answer or found guilty should not be spared.” it said

    The statement also said that accused persons should approach the courts to plead their innocence rather than going to the public to plead persecution.

    “The country is better served when the law enforcement agencies are allowed to do their work and we must stop the actors of this dangerous game of politicizing law enforcement.”

     

  • Fix budget delays, ANAN urges Presidency, National Assembly

    The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) has urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to develop a budgetary system that will curb delays in budget formulation and appropriation.

    ANAN President and Chairman of Council, Shehu Ladan, who  spoke at the weekend, said budget delays remained major constraints in governance.

    “In order to checkmate the incessant delays in budget approval, the executive and the legislature should agree to enact a law that would prescribe the maximum period for the passage of the annual budgetary Appropriation Bill as practised in many countries, such as the United Kingdom and United States.

    “It is important to increase stakeholders’ participation in the preparation and implementation of budget in order to foster greater understanding of the budgetary system as well as cooperation in the implementation of the approved budget,” he said.

    He urged the government to re-energise the Budget Implementation Monitoring Team at all tiers of government to ensure effective and speedy implementation of priority projects contained in the 2018 budget.

    “Professionals such as accountants will help the government, especially in the area of value for money audit towards efficient budget implementation. Since the unprecedented delay in passing the budget this year would result in uncertainties and heavy cost overrun during implementation, there is the need for timely release of funds to finance the approved capital projects by minimising bureaucracy in the funds’ disbursement process,’’ he said.

    He noted that the benchmarks used in the formulation of  2018 budget should be constantly analysed, where necessary, revised, through the implementation period.

    According to Ladan, looking at the total expenditure as against the expected revenue of the Federal Government, it is very obvious that the country needs to mobilise resources from borrowing.

    He said the Federal Government would possibly have to sell some assets to finance the huge budgetary deficit, which represents nearly a quarter of the expected expenditure. ANAN president advised the government to also harness other sources of revenue to finance the budget deficit and future budgets.

    “These should include the utilisation of the recovered stolen monies, unclaimed financial assets and others. The unclaimed financial assets include shares, bank  deposits, insurance,  dividends and other assets that have been untouched for several years (e.g. over 10 years) and those assets whose ownership cannot be established; worth trillions of naira.  `”Government could channel a large proportion of the proceeds from these unclaimed financial assets in financing the national budget.

    “In terms of revenue generation, ANAN appreciates that there is an expected increase in the contribution of non-oil revenue to 46.8 per cent, which is in line with the desired need to reduce the country’s over-dependence on the oil revenue,” he said.

    Ladan urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strengthen the drive to lower the demand for foreign exchange  by solidifying the currency swap agreement entered into with China.

    He advised the government to explore innovative ways to enhance the living conditions of the citizens, particularly by implementing more pro-poor policies.

     

     

     

    terprises (MSMEs), aimed at poverty alleviation and sustainable development

    Ladan urged government to strengthen the national security architecture of the country and strive to maintain peace and harmony throughout the country for stability and sustainable development.

  • CAN cautions Presidency, police

    THE leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned the Presidency and the Police not to do anything capable of threatening the survival of the country’s democracy.

    Reacting to the alleged invasion of the official residences of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, CAN warned the Presidency to desist from using the Police to pull down democratic institutions built at a great price.

    CAN expressed grave concerns over what it describes as “poor handling of police’s invitation to Saraki, over the infamous Offa robbery saga that led to the death of no fewer than 30 people and the alleged plan by the EFCC to arrest Ekweremadu over alleged money laundry”.

    A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Assistant (Media& Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, said: “The Christian umbrella body condemns in strong terms the way and manner the police were deployed to subject the leadership of the National Assembly to needless embarrassment and harassment. The ongoing action of the police is a siege against democracy.”

     

  • 9m benefit from Social Investment Programme, says Presidency

    THE Presidency announced yesterday that over nine million individuals have benefited from the Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

    Special Adviser to the President on NSIP Maryam Uwais gave the figure at a One-Day Sensitisation Meeting of Stakeholders on Activities of the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in Abuja yesterday.

    According to Uwais, the programme, which is being coordinated by NASSCO, has also resulted in the feeding of over 8.5 million pupils across 24 states in the federation.

    “We are trying to build a roadmap for social investment to ensure the improvement on the poverty indices in Nigeria.

    “With this, the government is able to start a programme for people with very low inventory.

    “In order to sustain this programme, Nigerians need to know what it is all about,” she said.