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Tag: President Mohammadu Buhari

  • Buhari 2019: We are not fazed by President’s declaration — Atiku Group

    A political group, Atiku Abubarkar Grassroots Ambassadors of Nigeria, has said there was nothing unusual about the decision of President Mohammadu Buhari’s to declare to run for a second term in office.

    The group’s National President, Mr Ferguson Okpala, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday.

    Okpala said the Atiku movement was not worried by the announcement as it would only make the next general election a keen and interesting contest.

    He said the opposition must nominate the right candidate if it wished to have a robust contest in the next election.

    “For us, the decision of President Buhari to seek re-election is a good one, it is his personal decision and right; nobody should deny him that.

    “But we are not worried about that, it is even good for us because we know one of our likely opponents.

    “Nigerians are wise enough to elect the leader they want.

    “What we are asking for now is that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should do the right thing by giving Atiku the party’s presidential ticket because he is the only one that has the reach, credibility and capacity to face Buhari,’’ he said.

    Okpala, who believed that power belongs to God, said that performance and not incumbency would determine the 2018 elections.

    “I don’t think incumbency will play big role in the coming election because the electorate will compare performance with promises which the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) made before they took over government. (NAN)

  • Buhari, Tinubu say they are on rescue mission

    President Mohammadu Buhari and APC leader Ahmed Tinubu have re-kindle hope with assurances that Nigeria is being rescued from wreckage.

    Buhari, who is in Lagos for a two-day official visit, restated his commitment to implement people-oriented programmes.

    “Our goal is to bring everybody together for mutually beneficial ethnic, economic, social, religion, political and cultural relationship.

    “We are determined to invest in people because we depend on people to govern,’’ Buhari said , on Thursday at the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium.

    Buhari, who earlier commissioned the Ikeja Bus Terminal designed to handle 200,000 passengers daily, said that the administration would continue to invest in social programmes, including school feeding and agriculture.

    He said: “We have set Nigeria on irreversible path of growth and development.

    “We are resolute to uplift our people and make Nigeria a better place.’’

    Tinubu who marked his 66th anniversary, thanked Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors, legislators, industrialists, traditional rulers, and political associates for celebrating him.

    Acknowledging the current situation in Nigeria, Tinubu said: “Time is not interesting without challenges.’’.

    He said that there is no nation with its challenges.

    He said that the challenges would be surmounted because Nigeria is “focused against corruption, terrorism and is committed to economic revival.’’

    The government’s investment on people could be seen as a matter of reality. “I can see what the government is doing with the little it has. They are diversifying in practical terms to get our country out of corruption and poverty’’.

    Apparently referring to opposition, he said: “They say we should not talk about the past. If we do not talk of about it what else can we talk about?’’

    “Then what is the lesson to all Nigerians if we do not talk about it.’’

    “We will keep talking about it’’ and explained that the former ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wasted the nation’s resources when production was at maximum.

    He explained that there is a difference between PDP’s administration and that of APC.

    Thanking Nigerians for their patient with the administration, Tinubu, and said: “I am happy that President Buhari has saved the ship from wreckage.’’

    “We are re-directing Nigeria. We have a nation to rescue and thank God we have a good leader to emulate.’’

    He advised the private sector to introduce credit system in economy to discourage corruption.

    Tinubu assured the people that Buhari was working toward prosperity and banish poverty.

  • Buhari’s planned visit to Benue, Taraba, others an afterthought – PDP

    Buhari’s planned visit to Benue, Taraba, others an afterthought – PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Mohammadu Buhari’s plan to visit Benue, Taraba and other states where Nigerians were killed by insurgents and Fulani herdsmen as an afterthought.

    A statement on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan also said the planned visit was a fresh device to further hoodwink the people ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The statement said, “It is alarming that Mr. President will consider visiting some of these states months after marauders, insurgents and bandits committed their havocs.

    “Mr. President has been in the country and never thought it necessary to pay a condolence visit to any of these states until Nigerians raised the alarm alleging a manifest indifference on his part.

    “It is even more pathetic that in Benue state, President Buhari summoned the leaders of the bereaved people to the Presidential villa, Abuja, rather than complying with the age-long tradition of Africans by visiting the bereaved.

    “No wonder many Nigerians have dismissed the planned visit of President Buhari to these states as cosmetic afterthought. Nigerians have already formed their opinion of him, and rightly so, as a President that has never shown them concern in their time of need”.

    Read Also:Buhari to visit Taraba, Benue, Yobe, two others

  • Video: How FG will tackle insecurity – Presidency

    Video: How FG will tackle insecurity – Presidency

    The Presidency yesterday said the meeting between President Mohammadu Buhari and service chiefs was aimed at deliberating on how to tackle the security challenges across the country.

    The President Special Adviser, Femi Adesina on Media and Publicity, spoke on the outcome of the meeting in a video posted on his official Facebook page, saying the intention is to completely control the clashes between farmers and Fulani Herdsmen.

    Adesina, quoting President Buhari “the impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened is dishonest” when he was visited by Catholic Bishops said the president is particularly worried about the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

    The meeting, was an enlarged one with heads of Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Prisons Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    At the meeting was the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Minister of Defence  Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd)

    Others are: Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Daura, Director of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Abubakar and Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

     The service chiefs at the meeting included Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.

    [jwplayer oL63c7IQ]

  • My visit to Buhari unconnected with Obasanjo’s statement – Tinubu

    My visit to Buhari unconnected with Obasanjo’s statement – Tinubu

    A national leader of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his visit to President Mohammadu Buhari, today, has nothing to do with the letter written by former Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The former Lagos governor and Bisi Akande, a national of APC had met behind closed-doors hours after former President Obasanjo released a statement criticising the administration of President Buhari.

    Read Also: Obasanjo to Buhari: Don’t contest in 2019

    Former president Obasanjo had asked President Buhari not to contest for a second term in 2019.

    Some had speculated that President Buhari called the meeting with the APC chieftains to discuss about the letter written by the former President.

    Tinubu in a statement by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, said the meeting had nothing to do with the statement of former President Obasanjo.

    “Today’s visit by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to the Presidential Villa was scheduled last week”.

    “President Buhari periodically schedules talks with Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande, as he does with other Nigerians and APC figures, to discuss substantive issues pertaining to the governance of the country and matters concerning the party”.

    “This visit was one such meeting. As such, the meeting had nothing to do with the statement of former President Obasanjo”.

    “It is totally unconnected. At the time of the meeting, Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande were even unaware that President Obasanjo had released his statement”.
  • Buhari fires Babachir, NIA Boss

    Buhari fires Babachir, NIA Boss

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday terminated the appointment of suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and Ambassador Ayo Oke, Former Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA).

    This is contained in a statement from the Presidency noting that President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke.

    TRENDING: Meet new SGF Boss Mustapha

    “The President accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr Lawal, and has appointed Mr Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The appointment takes immediate effect.

    “President Buhari also approved the recommendation to terminate the appointment of Ambassador Oke, and has further approved the setting up of a three-member panel to, among other things, look into the operational, technical and administrative structure of the Agency and make appropriate recommendations.”

  • Mainagate: Group accuses Jonathan govt of frame-up

    Mainagate: Group accuses Jonathan govt of frame-up

    President Mohammadu Buhari has been asked to give the embattled former Chairman, Presidential committee on Pension Reform Taskforce Team (PPRT) under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, protection to tell Nigerians the truth about the pension scam.

    The Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, under the umbrella body of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday on the re-instatement and disengagement of Maina from the civil service,? commended the prompt reaction of President Buhari, whose action in disengaging Mr. Maina doused tension.

    Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, National Coordinator of the coalition, who also spoke on the effort of the President towards eradicating corruption in Nigeria, said as a civil society body in Nigeria, the group would stand with the President to ensure a corruption-free Nigeria.

    Okpokwu said: “We have observed with kin interest the position of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who is the chief law officer of Nigeria. We have equally seen the position of the Nigerian Senate, the People’s Democratic Party, The All Progressive Congress, the League of African Development Students as well as the civil service rule.

    “We urge Nigerians not to panic, and advice actors of blame game to maintain caution as the truth is gradually unfolding.”

    On the recoveries of stolen pension fund by the PRTT, which the pension body gave the figure as N200 billion, the group said: “Where is this fund? Is it in the federation account or where? Mr Maina insisted that the money is in the federation account, which both the past and present administrations have not disputed.

    “We also believe that with the testimony of Sen Kabiru Gaya who said the N195 billion Maina was accused of stealing by the senate joint probe on pension fund is in the federation account. Further accusation of the person of Mr Maina in that light shows that somebody is after Abdulrasheed Maina, especially with the sponsored media war on his person instead of the entire committee.

    “Moreover, the N2.1 billion biometric exercise which Maina was accused of mismanaging alongside Orosanye, the former head of service of the federation, has long be settled as the law court discharged and acquitted the former head of service.

    “This is based on the fact that the biometric captured the 774 Local government Areas in Nigeria.”

  • Maina: Ex-NBA boss lauds Buhari for immediate disengagement

    Maina: Ex-NBA boss lauds Buhari for immediate disengagement

    Mr Taidi Jonathan, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Minna chapter on Monday lauded President Mohammadu Buhari for the immediate disengagement of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, from federal service.

    Jonathan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the directive demonstrated the commitment of President Buhari to fight corruption to a stand still.

    ” It is the best thing that has happened in recent time of our nation’s history,” he said.

    ” The directive by President Muhammadu Buhari for investigation of Maina, who found his way back into service, is timely considering the enormous allegations and the plight of pensioners whose benefits are in issue.”

    However, the legal practitioner advised that due due process of law should be observed to avert a back lash in the event of any breach of procedure.

    “Mr President has done it all for even directing the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to submit a report on the circumstances surrounding Maina’s reinstatement.”

    He called on Nigerians to rally round the effort of the current administration by exposing corrupt public officers through the whistle blower’s policy.

    He said that together ” We can make Nigeria a better place for the present and future generation.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the President’s directive was contained in a memo to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita

    Adesina stated that the President equally demanded a full report of the circumstances of Maina’s recall and posting to the Ministry of Interior.

    According to the presidential aide, the report is to be submitted to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, before the end of work today.

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Oct. 22, had confirmed the resumption of duty by Abdulrasheed Maina, as an Acting Director in his ministry.

    The confirmation came in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the minister, Mr Ehisienmen Osaigbovo.

    Maina was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as Chairman of the task force in 2010 to check the corruption in the country’s pension system.

    In 2012, the Nigeria Police accused him of misappropriating N100 billion pension funds in connivance with others.

    The Civil Service Commission reportedly dismissed him for “absconding from duty’’.

    Maina was arraigned in absentia by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which declared him wanted in 2015.

    Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman of the anti-graft agency in a statement at the weekend, said Maina remained on the commission’s wanted list.

  • Opadokun: Buhari should restructure Nigeria now

    Opadokun: Buhari should restructure Nigeria now

    A leading member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to embark on the restructuring of Nigeria without delay.

     

    Opadokun made the call while featuring on a radio programme of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) in Ibadan, Saturday.

     

    At the programme tagged ‘Saturday Special’ which focused on the 57th independence anniversary of the country, Opadokun relayed the various efforts made by his generation of socio-political leaders to develop the country. He said formation of various socio-political groups, NADECO, drawing of blueprints on how to make Nigeria work better and participation in the various national conferences were part of such efforts. He then called on younger Nigerians to stand up and lead such efforts because the future belongs to them.

     

    Opadokun said calls for restructuring, which is currently reigning across the nation, are the primary solution the country can offer now.

    He argued that President Buhari should ignore political consideration and allow restructuring, stressing that any delay will further jeopardize the unity and development of the country.

    Corroborating his position, Dr Yemi Farohunbi said it takes only a selfless, detribalized, courageous and visionary leader to change the fortunes of a people.

    He cited the example of the defunct United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and India when former great leaders changed the direction of the countries to that of unity and prosperity through measures that ensured equality and fairness, thereby promoting patriotism.

    The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, also stressed the need for restructuring but emphasized that all such steps must be lawful.

  • PFN urges Buhari to withdraw military from South-East

    PFN urges Buhari to withdraw military from South-East

    The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged President Mohammadu Buhari to desist from using the military to quell civil crisis especially as it regards the situation in the South-East.

     

    It described the use of soldiers to tackle internal security matters as a return of dark days in Nigeria’s democratic process.

     

    President of PFN, Reverend Felix Omobude, who stated this in a press statement issued in Benin City and signed by his media aide, Mr. Ralph Okhiria noted that it was wrong for President Buhari to send soldiers into the streets in some Nigerian cities.

     

    Reverend Omobude stated that it was imperative for the federal government to equip the Nigeria Police to tackle internal security issues in the country.

     

    Omobude also cautioned agitators in the country especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to conduct their agitation within the ambit of Nigeria laws as well as respect the rights of others in their agitation.

     

    He called for greater unity of purpose among Nigerians across the different ethnic and religious lines.

     

     “We appeal for calm and understanding on the part of everyone and for continued prayers for greater peace and prosperity in Nigeria”, the statement reads.