The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • Presidency: don’t drag Buhari into ISIS chief’s visa crisis

    Presidency: don’t drag Buhari into ISIS chief’s visa crisis

    The Presidency yesterday cautioned against dragging the name of President Muhammadu Buhari into the controversy over how a leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Ahmed   Al-Assir, got a Nigerian visa.

    A presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has demanded a report from the Nigerian mission in Lebanon, should be allowed to carry out the assignment.

    Shehu said it was mischievous to drag the person of President Muhammadu Buhari into how the ISIS chief secured the visa.

    Al-Assir, said to be the Chief Imam of ISIS was arrested on August 15 at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport in Lebanon on his way to Nigeria through Egypt.

    In spite of being on the watch-list of Lebanon’s security services since 2013, Al-Assir was detected while holding a fake Palestinian passport with the Nigerian visa.

    The Lebanese government accused him of involvement in the death of 17 Lebanese soldiers.

    He was also sentenced to death in absentia by a Lebanese court.

    But how he beat the visa process at the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon is creating ripples in security circles.

    The Federal Government is said to be disturbed that Al-Assir succeeded in deceiving the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Embassy officials.

    Although the suspect reportedly changed his identity and looks and presented superficial documents for visa, the government decided to probe the incident to ascertain that there was no internal collaboration at its mission.

    Some security agencies, including the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), will also be involved in the investigation to get to the root of the diplomatic challenge and how to avert a re-occurrence.

    A source said: “As I talk to you, those at the nation’s embassy in Lebanon have been queried on how things went wrong.

    “The embassy has been mandated to submit a comprehensive report to the Federal Government within 72 hours.

    “The report is expected to cover how Al-Assir applied for visa, the documents submitted, what he claimed as his mission to Nigeria, the procedure adopted in verifying his claims; whether or not there was any collaboration with security agencies in Nigeria; and the timeline for the issuance of the visa.

    “The government is also interested if the ISIS chief was questioned on where he would stay in Nigeria, his host and the duration of his trip.”

    Another source added: “Besides the report, the security agencies will also look into the list of those granted visa in the last few months to ascertain whether ISIS members had covertly applied.

    “We are worried because Boko Haram has pledged loyalty to ISIS. And the botched trip of Al-Assir is reawakening because it has confirmed Boko Haram’s claim.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for a full report on the case and it is investigating it.

    “But it is mischievous for anyone to attempt to drag the person of President Muhammadu Buhari into the incident. The Buhari administration had nothing to do with the suspect or the supposed visit of the ISIS chief.

    “Without prejudice to the ongoing investigation, it should be noted that Nigerian missions are to serve, they can adjudge an applicant for visa on the basis of documents presented to the Embassy. What is hidden in their heart, you will not know

    “And for this applicant, we have read report of how he concealed his identity and wore a new look to get the visa.

    “Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking into the matter, let us await the outcome of the investigation.”

  • IAAF Presidency: Paraguay Singapore back Bubka

    IAAF Presidency: Paraguay Singapore back Bubka

    Sergey Bubka’s campaign to be the next President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) gathered momentum on Friday, as four countries publicly promised to vote him in.

    The election is scheduled to hold in the Beijing, the Chinese capital.

    This is contained in the latest publication of an online portal, Insidethegames’.

    Sebastian Coe, his rival, however, also collected another endorsement as Ghana became the first African country to offer him their backing.

    The countries that publicly endorsed Bubkar are Paraguay, Peru, Singapore and Thailand. They all threw their support behind Bubka, the Ukraine’s 1988 Olympic pole vault champion.

    These countries added their names to Kazakhstan, which had said last week they would back him.

    Ghana, meanwhile, became the 23rd country to support Coe, Britain’s double Olympic 1,500 metres gold medalist.

    Bubka was always widely expected to earn the support of most of the 13 South American countries eligible to vote in the election in Beijing on Aug. 19.

    “We trust your notion of service and we want to collaborate in narrow form with you in the search of the construction of an athletics that reaches other levels in this new era,’’ Oscar Fernandez, President of the Peruvian Athletics Sport Federation, wrote in a letter to Bubka obtained by insidethegames

    Myrta Doldán, President of the Paraguayan Federation of athletics, also came out in support for Bubka.

    “As President of the Paraguayan Federation of Athletics I will give my full support and wish him every success next week in Beijing,’’ she said.

    Sergey Bubka has earned the backing of Singapore Athletics for his campaign to become the next President of the International Association of Athletics Federations following a series of visits to the country

    The backing for Bubka from the South American countries is no surprise but Coe will be disappointed at the decision of the Singapore Athletics not to support him.

    Singapore, as a Commonwealth country, would have been a prime target for the former London 2012 chairman.

    Singapore Athletics President Tang Weng Fei, however, has decided to endorse Bubka.

    “Both are pretty good candidates, and have developed excellent manifestos,” Tang, who is himself running for the position of treasurer at the IAAF elections, told The Straits Times.

    “Having read through both very thoroughly, SA will endorse Bubka as IAAF President,’’

    “This is a time when we are faced with serious challenges, and we believe Sergey has the commitment, diplomacy, and deep understanding of the sport to take it to new heights.’’

    Tang revealed he had been impressed by Bubka when he addressed the nine Southeast Asian countries during a visit to Singapore last December, a month before he officially announced he would be standing for the IAAF Presidency.

    “While he was here, there was no mention of votes,’’ Tang said, stressing, “It was a simple question-and-answer session.

    “He also has tailor-made programmes, and we believe he has the qualities to actually implement them.’’

    Thailand, another of those countries Bubka addressed, have also decided to support him.

    In another boost for Bubka’s campaign, the Monaco Athletics Federation revealed they have not promised Coe their vote, as had been claimed by Jonas Egilsson, President of the Athletic Association of Small States of Europe (AASSE).

    Egilsson, who is also head of the Iceland Athletic Federation, had claimed the six countries that make up the AASSE would vote for Coe en bloc.

    “No consultation was held within the AASSE regarding the choice of the future President of the IAAF, and this is not the purpose of this Association to host such consultations,’’ Bernard Fautrier, vice-president of the Monaco Athletics Federation, told insidethegames.

    “The Monaco Federation of Athletics will make, freely and independently, the choice of the President that it estimates will have the best position to lead the IAAF at the elections on Aug. 19 during the Congress in Beijing.’’

    Coe, however, remains the front-runner and favourite to succeed Lamine Diack, who is stepping down after 16 years, as IAAF President.

    He travelled to Beijing on Friday buoyed by the knowledge that he was guaranteed his first vote from Africa, a continent that is seen as a key battleground in the campaign.

  • Cost of Buhari’s US trip exaggerated, says Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday said the N2.2 billion reported as the total cost of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the U.S. was grossly exaggerated.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the cost was most minimal in line with the government’s policy to cut waste and extravagance.

    According to him, it was not up to 10 per cent of the speculated figure.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an editorial published in the Nigerian Pilot of August 2, 2015 and an earlier report in which the total cost of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent trip to the U.S. was estimated at N2.2 billion.

    “It is very sad that in this age of free-flowing information and in this era of change, a media organisation would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and ignominious quality.

    “Contrary to assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and extravagance.

    “In point of fact, the total amount expended on the trip by the Office of the President amounted to nothing near 10 per cent of the speculated figure”.

    He said all the personal staff who accompanied the President received reduced allowances because the host provided free accommodation.

    “His son, Yusuf, received neither allowances nor estacode. The five governors on the trip each paid his own fare. Permanent Secretaries travelled in accordance with extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.

    “Apart from the pilot’s mischievous mathematics, it is short-sighted and misleading of the newspaper to have claimed that the President’s  trip achieved nothing.

    “President Buhari’s trip was definitely successful and beneficial to Nigeria. Only those determined to find faults will cook up falsehood in a futile effort to rake up murk where none exists,” he said.

  • Universities’ Governing Councils not dissolved – Presidency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Governing Councils of Federal Universities be exempted, for the time being, from the dissolution of Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-Owned Companies announced on July 16, 2015.

    All Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, have been informed of the exemption through a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi.

  • Presidency, Boko Haram begin talks

    Presidency, Boko Haram begin talks

    Hopes of freedom for the 219 Chibok girls have been rekindled, with preliminary talks between the Presidency and some Boko Haram leaders.

    The new deal is being brokered by some confidants of the Presidency and the sect.

    Some key commanders of Boko Haram in detention are also eager to be part of the initiative, The Nation learnt.

    The new understanding came amid security reports that about 500 insurgents in a neighboring country are interested in renouncing terrorism –  in line with the reconciliatory agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    But the President is being cautious in rushing at the new offer from some leaders of the sect to avoid what a source described as the “costly mistakes of the past administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Buhari has asked security agents to “screen or certify” those spearheading the new negotiation to ensure that the government is dealing with the right Boko Haram leaders.

    Some Boko Haram leaders are believed to have been overwhelmed by the President ‘s olive branch.

    It was learnt that the President’s reconciliatory agenda made some confidants of the sect to initiate a fresh negotiation between the Presidency and some Boko Haram leaders.

    It was gathered that at the preliminary level, a “cautious understanding” has been struck by both parties.

    Some mileage gained so far include the following:

    • likely release of some Chibok girls to underscore the readiness of Boko Haram for negotiation;
    • involvement of some Boko Haram leaders, on whom the United States Government placed ransom, in the peace deal; and
    • commitment of the Buhari administration to the negotiation.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President’s appeal for peace in the Northeast is yielding dividends because a fresh facilitation of talks between the Presidency and Boko Haram has started.

    “This latest negotiation, which is at the preliminary stage, is being promoted by some mutual confidants of the Presidency and Boko Haram.

    “The new deal may lead to the release of some Chibok girls to set the tone for a comprehensive negotiation by both sides.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The President is extremely cautious on this offer of negotiation.

    “ Buhari has ordered security agencies to screen or certify those Boko Haram commanders interested in facilitating this latest negotiation to ensure that they are bonafide leaders of the sect.

    “The position of the President is that why he is not averse to a peace deal, the Federal Government must avoid the costly mistakes of the past which led to a waste of time and huge resources.

    “The President wants the release of the Chibok girls and quick restoration of peace to the Northeast; he is ready to negotiate with the right people for sustainable results.”

    But there are strong indications that the leader of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau, is yet to be involved in the new deal.

    “I think we are still at the preliminary stage. At the right time, there is a way the negotiation offer will be forwarded to their leader.

    “But the fact that some Boko Haram commanders, whom US placed ransom upon, might be part of the negotiation shows that the crisis can be resolved, if all hands are on deck, “ another source added.

    The defunct Joint Task Force(JTF) in the Northeast on November 23, 2012 placed ransom on 19 leaders of Boko Haram.

    The list had comprised five members of the Shurra Committee (the highest making body of the sect) and 14 Boko Haram commanders.

    But one of the Shurra Committee members, Mohammed Zangina (a.k.a Mallam Abdullahi/Alh. Musa) was allegedly killed in a shoot-out with the Joint Task Force(JTF) in Maiduguri.

    With Zangina out, those still wanted are four members of the Shurra Committee of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau (N50million); Habibu Yusuf (a.k.a Asalafi) N25million; Khalid Albarnawai (N25million); and Momodu Bama (N25 million).

    The fate of Momodu Bama was also unknown as at press time, following conflicting reports on whether he is alive or dead.

    The Boko Haram Commanders being sought for by the JTF are Abu Saad (N10million); Abba Kaka (N10million); Abdulmalik Bama (N10million) Umar Fulata(N10million); Alhaji Mustapha (Massa) Ibrahim (N10million); Abubakar Suleiman-Habu (a.k.a Khalid) N10million; Hassan Jazair N10million; Ali Jalingo (N10million); Alhaji Musa Modu (N10million); Bashir Aketa (N10million); Abba Goroma (N10million); Ibrahim Bashir (N10million); Abubakar Zakariya (N10million); and Tukur Ahmed Mohammed (N10million).

    Buhari’s “peace agenda” has motivated 500 Boko Haram members in a neighboring country to signify interest in renouncing terrorism.

    A third source said: “These 500 insurgents said they were specifically encouraged by the rapprochement of the President.

    “They have offered to surrender in return for integration by the administration of the President.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “If the President gets the right partners in doing a deal, he will consider a peaceful resolution. He has said that unambiguously in the course of the visit to the U.S. If that doesn’t work out, the President has the will and willingness to crush terror using the army.”

  • Buhari will probe amnesty programme – Presidency

    Buhari will probe amnesty programme – Presidency

    President Muhammadu Buhari will look into the amnesty programme for Niger Delta ex –militants, the Presidency has said.

    The Presidency explained that it will be wrong for Buhari to continue the programme without taking a look at the whole amnesty package.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who said this on Kaakaki, a breakfast programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja, Friday, added that there are issues concerning the amnesty programme which the President is taking time to study.

    Adesina said: “Don’t also forget that if a situation or process was riddled with corruption and you come saying you are going to clean up the system, and then you continue to just run on the same steam of what you met on ground then you have not changed anything.

    “There are a lot of issues about it and the President is studying those issues. After he has finished studying them, the package will be unfolded on amnesty.

    The presidential spokesman said the nonpayment of tuition fees for 13 pilots undergoing training at the Lufthansa airline school in Frankfurt, Germany, was unfortunate, adding that the situation will be sorted out soon.

    He dismissed insinuations that the Niger Delta region has been neglected by the present administration, adding that Buhari will ensure that all sections of the country is represented as stipulated by the principle of federal character.

    “If you follow that conversation trend through, you will also recall that the President also said that the constitution has protected all parts of the country, every part, and no part can be marginalized. So it is only somebody who takes part in what he said that will want to make mischief out of that. But if you take it as a whole, it is clear.

    He said the constitution has already protected every part of the country and no part can be marginalized.

    “And he believes in fairness and justice and so will ensure that no part is marginalized.

    “Talking of amnesty and all that, the President has said he still believes in the programme and will keep it going. But that he is studying the report. He is studying the one he met on ground. When he studies it fully something will be done.”

    Adesina, during the programme, also said there was no truth in reports by local media that Buhari accused the United States government of helping the Boko Haram sect.

    He described the reports as unfortunate and misinterpretation of what the President meant, adding that they were widely off the mark.

     

  • Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    Boko Haram: Presidency denies report indicting US

    The presidency has denied claims in the local and international media that President Muhammadu Buhari has accused or indicted the United States Government of helping the terrorist group.

    Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement that such reports are not only unfortunate, but misinterpretation and distortion of the President’s remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) during his official visit to Washington DC.

    According to the statement; “Indeed, President Buhari made it abundantly clear in those remarks, copies of which were circulated to the media, that he was convinced that the United States could never support groups such as Boko Haram.

    “I know the American people cannot support any group engaged in these crimes.

    “The regrets expressed by President Buhari at USIP about the impact of the application of the law on Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram and terrorism cannot be construed as an indictment of President Barack Obama and the United States Government who have publicly and privately declared their preparedness to give the Buhari Administration the fullest possible support and assistance,” the statement reads.

    It added, “Within the context in which they were made, President Buhari’s comments on the adverse effect of the Leahy Law on Nigeria’s efforts to contain Boko Haram’s  atrocious acts of terrorism should only be taken as a passionate appeal for even greater understanding and support from  a very powerful and longstanding ally.

    “President Buhari has nothing but the highest possible regard for President Obama, the United States Government, the people of the United States, their laws and institutions.

    “The President had very successful and useful talks with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, other high-ranking US government officials and members of United States Congress during his visit to Washington DC.

    “It is his expectation that those talks will lead to better mutual understanding and a further deepening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, especially in Nigeria’s current priority areas of  defence and security cooperation.”

  • Bailout funds not from $2.1 billion in ECA, say Presidency, AGF

    Bailout funds not from $2.1 billion in ECA, say Presidency, AGF

    The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris, yesterday said the bailout funds for states are not coming from the $2.1 billion in the Excess Crude Account.

    He said the cash was sourced from the accrued Company Income Tax (CIT) realised from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

    He said the funds in Excess Crude Account were intact and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was yet to touch it.

    The AGF made the clarification in a statement through Kenechukwu N. Offie, the Head of Press in his Office.

    There have been allegations that the President emptied the treasury to rescue cash-strapped states, which are unable to pay their workers.

    The statement said: “The Accountant-General of the Federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris has noted with great concern that the information in the public domain is inconsistent with the details of the amount distributed at the emergency Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held on Monday 6th July 2015.

    “Consequently, it has become necessary to provide further clarification about the outcome of the said emergency FAAC meeting.

    •That the amount distributed was not from the Excess Crude Account ECA but rather the accrued Company Income Tax (CIT) realised from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) N359, 374,355, 607.60

    •That the amount that was distributed was less the cost of collection

    •The Federal government got 56.68% amounting to N181,745,674,112.72

    •The State governments got 26.72% amounting to N92,183,834,705.62

    •Local government councils got 20.60% amounting to N71, 069,872,564.96.

    “The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, makes this clarification in order to provide Nigerians with the correct and authentic information about the outcome of the proceedings at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting held on Monday 6th July 2015.

    “The public is also invited to please note that no withdrawal was made from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and that the current balance still remains $2.1 billion.”

    Also yesterday, the Presidency denied approving sharing of the balance in the Excess Crude Account.

    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said: “Reports in sections of the media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for  states and local governments are incorrect.

    ”For the purpose of greater clarity on the matter, the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are as follows:

    ”•The sharing of the  $2.1 billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);

    “•A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from  N250 billion  to N300 billion. This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and

    “•A debt relief programme designed by the Debt Management Office which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

    “The measures approved by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the ‘liquidation’ of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.

    “No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and  last week’s meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account  should be left untouched at this time.”

  • Presidency: no hand in Ekweremadu’s invitation by police

    Presidency: no hand in Ekweremadu’s invitation by police

    THE Presidency has denied involvement in the invitation of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by the police for alleged forgery of the Senate rules.

    Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, who said this yesterday on Kakaaki, a breakfast programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT), affirmed that Buhari would not subvert the rules of the National Assembly.

    He said: “You do not know this president. This president will not orchestrate anything. Nothing that will be unconstitutional and nothing that will amount to underhand deal.

    “Straightforward, plain and decent. Maybe that was what he expected everybody to do. He didn’t think anybody was going to subvert the process. That is why the National Assembly is where it is. But no orchestration.

    “This is not a president that will subvert the rules in any form and he thought everybody was going to play that way. But unfortunately, it did not happen that way and we have what we have now.”

    Adesina explained that Buhari would take his time to build strong institutions that would endure.

    But National Assembly Clerk Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa yesterday declined comment on the controversy about his invitation by the police for alleged alteration of the Senate Standing Rules.

    Maikasuwa, who led National Assembly directors on a visit to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, refused entreaties by reporters to speak on the invitation.

    Besides Maikasuwa, some principal officers of the Seventh Senate, including former Senate President David Mark, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rule Ita Enang and the secretary of the committee were invited by the police.

    The allegation of unauthorised alteration of the Senate Standing Rules was contained in a petition by a group of senators under the aegis of Senate Unity Forum, who asked the police to investigate the issue.

    Approached by a horde of reporters after the visit to comment on the police invitation, Maikasuwa also kept mum.

    Prodded further, the clerk smiled and walked quietly away from the anxious reporters.

    He moved over to where the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, was standing for a brief discussion with him.

    After his discussion with Ndume, Maikasuwa managed to say: “I have said all I need to say in my opening remarks. I have nothing else to say.”

    He walked away smiling.

    Maikasuwa told the Senate President that they came to assure him of the commitment of the workforce to the National Assembly.

    The clerk said the National Assembly workforce was fully prepared to partner with him for the smooth running and success of the National Assembly.

    Saraki sought the cooperation of the clerk and the directors, saying his success depends largely on them.

  • Presidency deny Buhari’s daughter’s alleged Twitter comments

    Presidency deny Buhari’s daughter’s alleged Twitter comments

    The Presidency on Sunday distanced itself from the Twitter comments allegedly posted by Zahra Buhari, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the Tweets were from an account falsely linked to Zahra Buhari.

    According to Shehu, the Twitter account was abandoned long time ago by Zahra when it was compromised by hackers

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to unauthorized and unexpected Tweets by an account falsely linked to Zahra Buhari, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Following enquiries by a few foreign missions on the raging online controversy about unsavory comments against some foreign leaders purportedly made by her, we wish to state categorically that Zahra is indeed on Twitter but the offending handle @Zahra_Buhari has stopped being her own for a long time since it was compromised by hackers.

    “Tweets by this handle are therefore not her own and should be disregarded and considered as the work of hackers seeking to cause mischief between this country and other friendly states.

    “Zahra’s authentic handle is @ZmBuhari and any handle other than this on Twitter should be considered as fake and therefore fraudulent.

    “It is also pertinent to state at this point that neither the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari nor the other children are presently on Twitter, Facebook or the various other platforms.

    “As they explore the possibilities on this new territory, we request the general public to ignore the many accounts on various platforms in their names that currently exist. Such accounts, beside the authentic one cited above in the name of Zahra are unauthorized and therefore fake,” It stated.