The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari for Jordan, Dubai events

    president Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja yesterday for Amman, Jordan, to honour an invitation from King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, holding at the Dead Sea, Jordan.

    President Buhari, a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, would speak an at the opening plenary with King Al-Hussein and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.

    He will also join world economic leaders in an informal gathering at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre.

    The Prresident will hold meetings with some leaders on the sidelines of the forum.

    Buhari is billed to depart Amman Sunday for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the ninth annual Investment Meeting, April 8-10.

    Invited by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE’s vice-president and prime minister, Buhari as guest of honour, will deliver the keynote under the theme, “Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalisation.”

    According to the organisers, the meeting was “the largest gathering of corporate leaders, policy-makers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, academics and experts showcasing information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.”

    The meeting also seeks to explore investment opportunities in over 140 countries, connect businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.

    President Buhari was accompanied by Governors Abubakar Badaru, Abiola Ajimobi and Yahaya Bello of Jigawa, Oyo and Kogi states.

    Others on the entourage included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), and other top government officials.

     

  • Who is next minister for Ondo?

    President Muhammadu Buhari will be sworn in for a second term on May 29. There is intense lobbying for ministerial position for Ondo State.

    The President will likely retain some of his high performing ministers while the cabinet will be injected with fresh faces to help him to consolidate on the administration’s achievements.

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is from the Ondo North Senatorial zone. The general view is that the ministerial nominee should come from either the Central Senatorial Zone or the South Senatorial Zone of the state.

    This is anchored on the principles of fair and equitable distribution of major offices across the state.

    Unlike 2015 when the President delayed in the appointment of his ministers, feelers indicate that he is likely to want to unveil his team, shortly after inauguration.

    Besides, there are expectations that, the President will like to bring in highly cerebral and proven technocrats who have the capacity to add value to the administration’s efforts at fulfilling its second term mandate.

    To this effect, prominent names have begun to feature as likely nominees from Ondo State, amid intense lobbying.

    One of them is Prince Soji Ehinlanwo from Ilaje local government in Ondo South District. A close associate of President Buhari, the Ilaje-born technocrat and politician is perceived as a very trusted and reliable ally of the President, who has been a strong and rabid supporter of the President when he was the leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) days.

    He is regarded as one of the earliest torchbearers of the clamour for a Buhari Presidency in the Southwest, helping to establish strong roots for advancing the Buhari candidature in the Southwest, the Communication Minister Shittu – even before and during the defunct CPC merger with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that crystalised into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He was the governorship candidate of the fefunct CPC in the 2012 governorship election and was believed to have made the singular sacrifice of quitting his prestigious job at the European Commission (EC) to contest on the platform of the defunct CPC.

    Ehinlanwo is described by those who know him as an incredible bridge builder who has very good relationship with many of the leaders within the APC.

    He has worked for well known global organisations such as the UK National Health service (NHS), Electronic Data Systems (EDS) – now part of Hewlett Packard (HP) – UK, Cap Gemini UK, Atos origin Belgium , Carillion Energy Services Limited – UK, The European Commission -Luxembourg, UK Department of Work and Pensions and Tesco PLC, providing expertise and leadership in diverse areas and  currently Business Analyst/Data Lead for Tesco PLC – the biggest UK Retail Outlet.

    Read also: Behave as a statesman, Ondo APC urges Olanusi

    Another prominent name on the lobbying list although his not a member of the ruling APC is former Governor Olusegun Mimiko from  Ondo West local government in Ondo Central Senatorial District.

    While Mimiko is yet to formally declare for the APC, prior to the House of Assembly elections, he was believed to have been approached by some chieftains of the APC to use the machinery of his ZLP to help boost the chances of APC candidates in the said elections.

    A source confirmed that the said arrangement was implemented during the recent House of Assembly elections where APC clinched 23 seats out of 26 seats after its not-too-impressive performance at the Presidential election.

    The appearance of his name has elicited reactions and jitters amongst some of those who are angling for the nomination as they fear he has powerful backers.

    It is believed that those who are lobbying for Mimiko are pushing the argument that he will be a good material for the Health Ministry.

    An APC stalwart, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN also from Ilaje, Ondo South is also a big name on the ministerial list.

    Oke is a big name in Ondo and national politics. He is politician of considerable experience. He worked very closely with the late Dr Olusegun Agagu.

    He was the Ondo state representative for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while Dr Olusegun Agagu was the state governor, he was National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    He contested for governorship election twice; first in 2012 as PDP Candidate and in 2016 as Alliance for Democracy (AD) Candidate.

    Prior to the 2019 general elections, he was appointed Southwest Zonal Co-ordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, a move many regarded as an acknowledgement of his political sagacity and experience. He is believed to have a very good relationship with the National leader of the APC – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    If political experience is a strong yardstick for the choice of the nominee, it is believed the Ilaje born legal icon and astute politician could be the likely nominee.

    Also from Ondo South is another eminent politician and legal practitioner, Morayo Lebi.

    He was the senatorial candidate of the APC in the 2015 elections. A loyal and committed party man, many people rated him high for contributing immensely to building the party in Ondo South, especially at the time when the Labour Party (LP) and the PDP were the dominant political parties in the South District of Ondo State.

    Many think he should have been given the party ticket in 2019. Although he did not get the ticket, he worked assiduously for APC and President Buhari’s re-election.

    Many people believe he should be compensated with the ministerial slot.

    Also, another likely nominee is Isaacs Kekemeke, an Ijaw-Arogbo born politician from Ese-Odo, in Ondo South District.

    He was a close associate of the former Governor, Olusegun Agagu. A lawyer, he was at various times Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice and later, Commissioner for Works under the PDP’s Government headed by Agagu between 2003 and 2009.

    At a time, he was the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG).

    Kekemeke was also former Chairman of the APC in Ondo state. He was edged out of office over allegations said to have been plotted and orchestrated by his political foes within the ruling party he built.

    His supporters point to the fact that he was State Chairman when Ondo State delivered victory for the President in 2015.

    However, a big challenge that has been identified as a potential threat to his quest for ministerial nomination is the fact that the current Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi hails from the same Ese-odo Local Government with him.

    For now, as the jostle and speculations persist, it is clear that President Buhari is keeping the cards to his chest and ultimately, he is in position to determine who will be picked for this important National service, as anxiety mounts. Another likely contender is Ife Oyedele, an engineer and associate of President Buhari. He currently holds a federal board position.

     

  • Nigeria now ranks among leading democracies in Africa- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria now ranked amongst the leading democracies in Africa and in the Commonwealth 20 years after it began to experience uninterrupted democratic culture.

    President Buhari was the visitor at the final day of the 50th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Lagos, which also served as the convocation for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The president was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Rasheed Yakubu.

    “With the 2019 general elections that had come and gone, we as a nation have once again reiterated our choice of democracy as the system of government by which we hope to imbibe an all-round development.

    “ Our administration is committed to ensuring that the sacredness of that choice is preserved. With this policy enunciated and every programme instituted, we shall ensure that our democratic culture takes firmer roots and legacies further consolidated.

    “Let me reiterate that my administration will not waver in its commitment to following due process, preserving the sanctity of the rule of law, battling grand corruption, securing the lives and property of our people and rehabilitating or upgrading our critical infrastructure.

    “We will continue to be unrelenting in enthroning hard work, honesty and place the welfare of our citizens above everything else.

    “ We must all join hands to take Nigeria to the next level of progress,’’ President Buhari said.

    According to him, his administration will continue to encourage Nigerian universities to build closer and better relationships with the industrial sector.

    He said this would help to bridge the gap between theories and practicality with a view to addressing some of the most required needs of the nation.

    Read also: Don’t forget your promise to run inclusive govt, APA tells Buhari

    He added that his administration believed in the imperative of sound educational system for national development.

    “We recognise the place of our intellectuals to undertake cutting edge researches that will address the challenges of development and contribute to making lives better.

    “ We acknowledge that our advancement as a nation will be driven by a robust human resource base.

    “ It should, therefore, be our collective determination to do our best to guarantee a peaceful and stable future for Nigerians through education.

    “ We shall continue to interface with the unions of universities in our bid to ensuring that we have a stable higher education sector that contributes to the nation’s global competiveness,’’ he said.

    While congratulating the graduating students,   President Buhari charged them to make their impacts felt in matters of national development.

    “As you make your ways into the world beyond this ivory tower, let me assure you of our administration’s commitment to ensuring that the skills and knowledge you have acquired are put to use and be productively engaged.

    “While many of you will be gainfully employed in the public and private sectors, some of you may choose to explore the entrepreneurial route by founding and co-founding small and medium scale businesses.

    “In a special way, the knowledge and competences you have developed in the course of acquiring Nigeria’s degrees, diplomas and certificates are to be applied to the noble course of national development,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the Chancellor of the university and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-kanemi, said that the tertiary education sector in general and the university system in particular would enjoy renewed attention with the release of the graduands.

    “Having said this, I must say that it is necessary for us to put in place, more support for policies, programmes and finances to keep the ivory towers at par with their counterparts globally.

    “Many globally renowned feats by our faculties and students make a case for my appeal,’ he said.

    Giving a breakdown, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said that 5,405 postgraduate degrees consisting of 150 Ph.D holders, 4,771 Masters and 484 postgraduate diplomas would be awarded in various disciplines.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four eminent personalities were conferred with Emeritus Professorship and honorary degrees in recognition of their roles in developing the country.

    The honorary doctorate awardees included: Mr Jim Ovia, businessman and founder, Zenith Bank Plc, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, and Dr Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries worldwide.

    In their acceptance speeches, Ovia emphasised the need for the private sector to join hands with the Federal Government in the funding of education in the country.

    He, however, called for the licensing of more private universities in order to enhance the academic standard of the country.

    Olukoya in his speech, emphasised the need to encourage the development of country’s youths on how to be self reliant after school.

    He also said that there was the need for the Federal Government to institute a compulsory course in universities on life after school.

    Olukoya said the course should encompass integrity, hard work, honesty and relationship.

    “If students fail the course, they should not be allowed to graduate,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Buhari condemns soccer fan’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condemned the death of a football enthusiast, Kolade Johnson, following an encounter with the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SACS) at Onipetesi near Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President condoled with the  family as he acknowledged the actions so far taken to bring the culprits to book.

    “The suspects are in custody and an orderly room trial is set to begin immediately, after which indicted officers will be arraigned.

    Read also: NJC advises Buhari to retire Onnoghen over $1.7m cash

    “The government will not tolerate brutalisation of Nigerians or violation of their rights. Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will be punished.”

    The statement noted that following directives from the Presidency last year, the police moved to overhaul the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad  (SARS).

    The President said a lot more remained to be done as “this effort must be sustained.”

    “This administration will continue to ensure that officers in the police and other law enforcement agencies conduct their operations in adherence to the rule of law and with regard to international human rights and humanitarian law”, the President said.

  • Just before Buhari’s ‘tough decisions’

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari could be blunt at times. He also has a wry wit. In fact, some of those who know him very well would swear that his sense of humour is remarkable. He deploys it in unusual ways.

    Consider that German trip on which he was asked about his wife’s comments on his administration. He did not simply tell his audience that his wife is no politician; he said “she belongs to the other room”. I am sure His Excellency must have let loose a loud guffaw anytime he got comments of women rights activists who suddenly woke up to launch a campaign that he wasn’t right to say that a (his) woman’s place is in the kitchen or in “the other room”. And comedians seized upon the phrase to fuel their trade, ascribing all manner of innuendoes to “the other room”.

    The President could also decline to join issues with his critics, taking it all on the chin. Even then, his silence is as loud as thunder. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s epistolary (mis) adventures failed to attract a wink from Buhari, who perhaps in the best traditions of military orientation, would not join issues with a senior officer. Now, who needs to be told how silence has been golden, trumping the din of the marketplace?  But Obasanjo, being Obasanjo, would not hold his fire. He keeps screaming that Atiku Abubakar is better than Buhari. Is anybody listening?

    Buhari has been asking some hard questions. Sound replies have been hard in coming. He once asked governors: “How do you sleep soundly when workers are not paid?” Of course, there was no reply. A cheeky fellow who claims to be close to some governors sneered at the question. He wondered how the President could understand it all as he does not know how Champagne tastes. “Who won’t sleep soundly after a glass of chilled champagne?” he said derisively.

    The President remarked that $16billion was spent on power. He asked: “Where is the power?”  Obasanjo, wily and crafty, actually admitted that $6.5b was spent. He advised those searching for answers to visit the ports where the equipment for power projects he initiated were rotting away.

    Buhari has also said Nigerians would like to have answers to the “irresponsible expenditures of 1999 to 2004 when oil earnings peaked at about N140  a barrel”.

    Now a foreshadow of his last four-year tenure which begins on May 29. I will take tough decisions, he warned when members of the Federal Executive Council visited to congratulate him on his victory at the February 23 election. Ever since he announced   this, questions have been flying all over the place. What are  the “tough” decisions our President is likely to take? There have been speculations, postulations and permutations on the “tough” decisions.

    Will Buhari grab the evil hands behind the herdsmen-farmers killings that have debased our claim to decency? Will he expose their sponsors, seize them and bring them to justice for their horrendous crimes? The military have been battling Boko Haram, the fiendish group that has killed many innocent Nigerians. At a point, we all felt helpless. Now the herdsmen-farmers wars are as worse as Boko Haram’s madness. How sweet it would be if Buhari decides to go all the way against the killers and their sponsors, who the security agents should know.

    Will private individuals who own oil blocks be made to shed some of their holdings for states to get a piece of the action? There is the thinking that many rich individuals have lost focus on how to spend the cash they harvest from their oil blocks; they funnel some to oiling the destructive machines we have all over the place. Will Buhari tackle them?

    The Malabu oil block (OPL245) scandal remains unresolved, a bad sore that won’t just heal. About $523m of the $1.092b paid for the block was shared out as bribes to some former ministers and by politicians. A former president was named in the dirty deal. Will Buhari hauled them all before the courts?

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may wish to lengthen the list of banned items to save the naira from pressure and boost our foreign reserves? Local manufacturers will be happy, if we actually stop importing biscuits, cotton wool, eyelashes, eye shadows, eye shades, Brazilian hair, lip stick, lip balm and such frivolous items in the name of beauty care. Will the President approve that more items should join the list?

    Will the government carry out its threat to go after the billionaires who don’t pay taxes and won’t even come forward to negotiate how to pay? This also shall pass seems to be their thinking.

    Will petrol price go up for the embarrassing high subsidy to end? Will Buhari, being a friend of the poor, embrace the age-long official line that stopping subsidary will free some huge cash for infrastructural development?

    A special court for corruption cases has been advocated? Now injunctions are jamming injunctions as lawyers and judges argue over jurisdiction. Corruption cases take years to complete as defence lawyers take advantage of the loopholes in the system. With a special court, so goes the popular thinking, those who deserve to go to jail will go fast and return home early after learning a lesson or two in how to handle public trust. Those who don’t will know their fate as fast as possible. Will Buhari pursue this idea?

    Will the President listen to the mercantile advocates of restructuring if they agree that they know what they are talking about? Beyond being a vote harvesting and money minting gimmick in the hands of its insincere advocates, how good  is this phenomenon?

    A friend of mine could hardly name six ministers and their portfolios the other day. Many are believed to be bench warmers in the cabinet, enjoying all the appurtenances of office without the commensurate hard work that these times demand. Will Buhari throw away the dead woods or kowtow to political considerations in his choice of a cabinet? How long will it take to raise a cabinet?

    Many have pointed at the detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki as a stain on the human rights banner of this administration. Dasuki is being held for alleged diversion of about $2.1b cash meant for arms to fight Boko Haram. His case is in court. He has been given bail, but the authorities won’t let him go home. Will Buhari say why Dasuki must remain incarcerated or let him go?

    The Shi’ites keep protesting the detention of their leader El- Zaky Zaky and his wife. Like Dasuki, he is also being held under a thick security veneer that the public finds hard to understand. Will Buhari let El-Zaky Zaky go?

    A word of advice: If Buhari wants to have an opportunity to take some tough decisions that will form the legacy of his administration, which will be tabled when the verdict of history comes, he must pay attention to the shenanigans of some opposition figures in the battle for the leadership of the National  Assembly.

     

    The UAE robbery suspects

    FIVE Nigerians are being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for alleged robbery. They were said to have smashed their way into a bureau de change, grabbing its cash and injuring the staff. The camera on the premises gave them out.

    When the President’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, broke the news and named the suspects as some of those disgracing Nigeria overseas, there was anger – apparently because the youngsters (gangsters?) belong to the same ethnic group. Why won’t others be named? Are they the only people disgracing Nigeria overseas? Is it fair? Outrage.

    Abike Dabiri- Erewa

    It is all disgusting. We should be ashamed of what these youths have done instead of playing the ethnic card, as we often do. Some of the critics of the name-and-shame went ahead to release on the social media their own lists of Nigerians who are facing one allegation or the other overseas. Okay. But what is bad is bad.

    We all have a duty to educate our youths that crime doesn’t pay. It used to be drugs, 419 and prostitution. Now, it is armed robbery. The path of hard work, integrity and honesty can sometimes be strewn with thorns, but in the end it leads to success and peace of mind, which no hot cash can buy.

    In scolding our wayward compatriots, ethnicity shouldn’t feature.  Crime wears no ethnic badge; it is a universal phenomenon that should be condemned by all – always.

  • Buhari turns down $1b Ajaokuta completion fund bill, seven others

    President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Fund Bill transmitted to him by the National Assembly. The bill was transmitted to the Presidency in February.

    The Bill stipulated that the Federal Government should set aside $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the immediate completion of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    Buhari also withheld assent to seven other bills passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to him.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday read separate letters which informed the upper chamber about the President Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the bills.

    The President cited several reasons, including infractions on extant laws, duplication of responsibilities of existing agencies, to financial constraints for his decision to decline assent to the bills.

    In a letter dated March 19, President Buhari explained that he declined assent to the Ajaokuta Completion Fund Bill because “appropriating $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account” as decided by the National Assembly, “is not the best strategic option for Nigeria at this time of budgetary constraints.”

    The letter reads: “The nation cannot afford to commit such an amount in the midst of competing priorities with long term social and economic impact that the funds can be alternatively deployed towards.

    “Bills, which seek to make appropriation of revenues to fund public expenditure should be consolidated in the annual Appropriation Act such that these proposals pass through the traditional scrutiny that budget proposals are subjected to by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the National Assembly.

    “Furthermore, as the Excess Crude Account Funds belong to the Federation, it would be proper to consult with the National Economic Council where the States are represented.

    “Relevant stakeholders such as the Ministries of Mines and Steel Development, Industry, Trade and Investment were not fully consulted.

    Read also: Ajaokuta Steel ’ll soon come to life, says Osinbajo

    “The inputs of key stakeholders are necessary to create the optimal legal and regulatory framework as well as institutional mechanism to adequately regulate the steel sector.”

    In another letter dated March 27,  Buhari cited provisions of Section 32 of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill 2018 as reasons for his refusal to assent to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill.

    He said: “Section 32 of the Bill, introduces (I) a 2.5% levy on the profit before tax of the target companies which will increase the tax burdens of the companies while offering no direct benefit to them : (ii) a one per cent   levy on  imports which will also add to the cost of doing business in the country , (iii), a  five per cent levy on luxury goods which duplicates efforts by the Federal Ministry of Finance to raise excise on such goods in a more sustainable manner to the benefit of the Federal Government treasury.”

    He noted that if signed into law, the agency will have similar objectives to the Bank of Industry particularly with regard to the funding of Small and Medium Enterprises.

    He said: “Accordingly, it is important to streamline its functions to avoid a duplication or overlap of functions with other government institutions performing similar functions aside the likelihood of increasing public re-current expenditure by the proposed creation of new public sector bodies.”

    Other affected Bills include the Nigerian Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill 2018; Chartered Institute of Training and Development of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2018; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill 2018; the National Housing Fund Bill 2018;, National Institute of Credit Administration Bill 2018 and National Bio- Technology Development Agency Bill 2018.

    On each bill, President Buhari gave his reasons for withholding assent.

  • BMO: you can’t compare Buhari with Atiku

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), yesterday, slammed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that his ex-deputy and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was better than President Muhammadu Buhari.

    BMO, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke in Abuja, said the comment of the former President was a crude joke, ridiculous and contemptible.

    The group said: “We are completely taken aback that someone who, ordinarily should be seen as an elder statesman, has continued to use his position to try to derail the country from the path of progress.

    “We note that while President Muhammadu Buhari has used his four years in office to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria’s sustainable growth, Obasanjo, as Nigeria’s President for eight years created instability by removing Senate presidents and state governors at will.

    “It should be restated that throughout Buhari’s four years in office we have not witnessed a state of emergency in any state, and neither has the administration masterminded the unceremonious removal of any Senate president or state governor.

    “We also recall that Obasanjo’s era was characterised by unbridled corruption with the introduction of Ghana-must-go bags at the National Assembly. Similarly, Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the monumental sleaze that surrounded the power sector contracts under former President Obasanjo, nor the unethical use of his position to build a multi-billion naira presidential library.”

    The group recalled that former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had said corruption under former President Obasanjo was worse than the era of the late General Sani Abacha.

    It said: “Many Nigerians are also aware that Obasanjo is responsible for the myriad of problems facing the country today, and rather than make recompense for his sins, he continues to arrogate unmerited knowledge and wisdom to himself.

    “We consider it totally unwarranted for Obasanjo to deride the person of President Muhammudu Buhari who Nigerians have freely given their mandate for another four years. Former President Obasanjo’s outbursts are, therefore, a distraction, which must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians are yet to recover from the corruption that Obasanjo bequeathed to the country, and President Buhari is presently cleaning the Augean Stable. The least Nigerians expect of the former President is to join hands in rebuilding the country from the ruins of PDP’s pillaging over a period of 16 years, eight of which were under Obasanjo.

    “We, therefore, consider the remarks of the former President as a face-saving tactic following the defeat of his preferred candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the presidential poll”.

    The group described as fallacious, despicable and of no consequence, the ranking of Nigeria as the sixth miserable country in the world, saying the ranking was not a true reflection of the situation on the ground, and data for the survey must have been collated from old, archaic sources.

    The group said Steve Hanke and other individuals behind the index did not take into proper account innovation introduced by the Buhari-led Federal Government into governance before arriving at their position.

    Read also: Atiku’s suit lacks merit, bound to fail- BMO

    They said: “A cursory look at the explanatory note by Steve Hanke in the Forbes magazine in which he revealed that the index was calculated using economic indices, such as unemployment, inflation and interest rates banks charge on loans, show how wrong his conclusion was.

    “The index is said to be that of 2018 but the country recorded a number of positives in the same year on the economic front. It was the year that Nigeria had a major decline in inflation figure so much so that the rate is now 11.37 per cent. It was the culmination of a landmark 18-month consecutive decline to a level that is one of the lowest in Africa.

    “We also know that a lower inflation rate has a way of impacting positively on banks’ lending rates and that’s exactly what has happened with the recent reduction in Monetary Policy Rate, yet the index scored Nigeria lower than some countries ravaged by war!”

    BMO, insisted the misery index was neither a true nor accurate reflection of the situation on ground in the country.

    “The authors of the index claimed they pinned their rating of Nigeria largely on the employment figure and while we concede that the number in the public domain has not been flattering, we are convinced that it is not a fair reflection of the job situation.

    “Nigeria’s unemployment data put together by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) are not known to cover jobs created in the informal sector and this is an area that the Buhari administration has excelled in the last three and half years.

    “Aside from the rice revolution that has created about 12 million new farmers in recent years, the Buhari administration has introduced one of the continent’s largest social welfare schemes that has impacted the lives of millions of farmers and traders through Farmer Moni and Trader Moni.

    “About nine million jobs have been created by the Home Grown Feeding Programme … These are not figures plucked out of the air…’’ They are real people reaping the benefits of initiatives that were hitherto unknown in the country,” it said.

    “Inspite of what opposition elements and their supporters would want less discerning Nigerians to believe, the economy has continued to show signs of recovery from the 2016 recession. GDP growth rate in 2018 was 1.93% up from 0.8% in 2017. It has now been projected to rise to 3% in 2019.

    BMO also noted that it was not surprised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) latched on the misery index to again take potshots at the Buhari administration so soon after local media published it.

    “Although we at BMO were not surprised, we were certainly amused to see yet another thoughtless statement from the party that is yet to come to terms with its overwhelming rejection by Nigerians.

    “We know that in its quest to remain on the front pages, PDP and its leaders are prepared to celebrate and solicit response to any news item that has the slightest hint of negativity about Nigeria.

    “But there is no way their brusque style can erase the fact that President Buhari spent a large part of his first term in office cleaning up the mess that characterised 16 years of PDP misrule.”

  • Buhari greets Diya at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warmly greeted former Ogun State Governor and Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, on his 75th birthday, billed for April 3rd, 2019.

    He highlighted his many years of meritorious service to the nation.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also felicitated with family members, friends, professional colleagues and associates of the former Number Two man, whose military career saw him successfully handling sensitive and strategic leadership positions as General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Commandant, National War College (1991–1993) and Chief of Defence Staff.

    The President affirmed that Gen. Diya’s gallantry, rich intellectual background and penchant for research contributed to the structure and operations of the Nigerian Army, especially in tackling security challenges within the country, and the West Coast region.

    Read also: Buhari greets First Bank on 125th anniversary

    As the former CGS turns 75, President Buhari believed the nation has benefitted from his wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience.

    He urged him to stay relevant by providing counsels to military formations and officers.

    The President prayed that the almighty God will grant Gen. Diya longer life, good health and continue to bless his family.

     

  • ‘Gbajabiamila best choice for Speaker’

    A Lawmaker-elect, Musiliudeen Akinremi, has said he supports Femi Gbajabiamila to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives because “Gbajabiamila will usher in development and render quality services”.

    Akinremi, in a phone interview yesterday, said the support Gbajabiamila is getting will ensure that the House performs well by passing quality bills, enjoying harmonious relationship, robust leadership and quality debate.

    The lawmaker, who won his election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Ibadan North Federal Constituency, said: “The Gbajabiamila declaration on Sunday, which was attended by the majority of the ninth Assembly members, has shown that he will enjoy our support and confidence in the green chamber.

    “Such development will foster seamless and timely passage of quality bills and amendments to existing ones, to quicken the next level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari. With his experience spanning 16 years, Gbajabiamila will provide good leadership.”

    The new APC lawmakers across the six states in the Southwest last Friday pledged their allegiance to the party’s decision on house leadership structure.

    Led by their National Coordinator, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo State), and Akinremi, the lawmakers-elect, who met at Ibadan Business School, Bodija, said Southwest deserved the position of Speaker.

    They said as loyal party members, they had no objection to the party’s position on selection of the House leadership.

    They said: “We had a fruitful deliberation during the meeting, which lasted over three hours. We all agreed on the party’s supremacy and the need to support the success of the President Buhari administration when inaugurated on May 29.

    “We agreed to abide by the consensus arrangement of the party in choosing the House leadership. We pledged to protect the party’s interest, especially on the need to make APC stronger ahead of the 2023 general election in Yorubaland.”

  • CAN’s post-election visit to Buhari sparks quarrel

    Arow broke out yesterday over Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leaders’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    CAN President Samson Ayokunle led the visit, which the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) described as “shocking”.

    CAN, said NCEF, should not have congratulated Buhari on his victory at the February 23 election.

    But the CAN insisted that it remained apolitical, adding that since the electoral umpire has declared Buhari winner, it had no right to say no.

    Besides, it stressed that the  NCEF had no authority to speak for Christians because “it has been disbanded”.

    NCEF disassociated itself from the visit, claiming that it is “sub judice” as the determination of who won the election is still in court. “It is, therefore, premature and presumptuous for anyone to congratulate President Buhari for ‘winning’ an election that is contested in court.”

    The forum said the visit, which was made last week, is also not in the interest of Christians.

    A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the  Chairman of NCEF, Solomon Asemota (SAN), said: “The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) was shocked to read in the news that the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, with some CAN officials and Christian leaders paid a ‘congratulatory’ visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on his purported victory in the 2019 General Elections.

    “The NCEF wishes to state that the congratulatory visit to Aso Villa by CAN could not be in the interest of Nigerian Christians who daily bear the agony of thousands of their brethren being killed, maimed, displaced and marginalised in the Jihad launched in the northern parts of the country. It is well known the indifference of the Buhari Administration to the murder of Christians all over the country. This indifference has led many, including foreign observers, to conclude that the Buhari Administration is complicit in the genocide that is taking place in Nigeria.

    “The action of the CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, is a further confirmation of all the protests and petitions of NCEF in 2018 querying the faithfulness of Dr. Ayokunle to Christ and to His Church. In its 2018 Report titled FACTORS HINDERING CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR 2019 ELECTION, the NCEF provided irrefutable facts that Rev. Ayokunle deliberately frustrated Christian political consensus in a country in which religion has become a major factor in politics. With this ill-advised congratulatory visit to President Buhari, it should be clear to every Christian of good conscience that Rev. Ayokunle is running CAN as an appendage of APC which has proven by its religiously popularism biased appointments and policies that it is primarily a religious party that is to the disadvantage of Christians whom Rev. Ayokunle claims to be representing.

    “It would be recalled that during the elections, Rev. Ayokunle presumptuously deployed a 1,000 man CAN Election Observers team to monitor the elections nationwide. The action was presumptuous since CAN does not have the constitutional responsibility of engaging in politics. Christian leaders deliberately established Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) for this purpose in 2001 as the socio-political arm of the Church. Nonetheless, after observing the elections, the 1,000-man CAN Election Observers is yet to release its report before CAN rushed to congratulate one of the contestants. Since all the other observers have since released their reports, where is the report of the CAN Observers Team?”

    According to NCEF, a notable arm of the Church, the Catholic Church, did not join the delegation that went to congratulate Buhari.

    REad also: CAN to elders forum: your stand on visit to Buhari baseless

    “This would be consistent with the communiqué issued by the Catholic Church expressing concern about the elections and advising that dissatisfied individuals should seek recourse in court of law. This in the view of NCEF is how a Christian body should respond to issues of this nature.

    “NCEF is making these points for record purposes so that in years to come, if any further evil befalls Christianity in Nigeria, no one would claim ignorance of the issues that led to the emasculation of the Church. As Christian Elders, we affirm that it was ill advised and ill motivated for anyone claiming to represent the Body of Christ to rush to congratulate President Buhari pending the determination of the suit in Court.

    “Presently, Christians are mourning over 200 people murdered in Kajuru and Adara in southern Kaduna. There are increasing reports of Clergy routinely kidnapped and murdered in Middle Belt and parts of the North. These are in addition to genocide in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, and other parts of southern Kaduna. So far, no arrest has been made and no one has been prosecuted. Therefore, for any Christian leader to go and shake the hand of the man who has done nothing to stop the genocide is morally and spiritually reprehensible.

    “In addition to the concerns expressed above, it should be remembered that we all witnessed the debacles during the campaigns for the 2019 Elections as well as the violent conduct of the elections. We witnessed the widespread application of ‘inconclusive’ elections where the opposition party had upper hand. We saw with regret the way Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Bayelsa, and Plateau states election, amongst others, were handled. The campaign debate and presidential interview exposed the competence and capability of the candidates and Nigerians spoke through their votes and expressed their preference. Therefore, the will of the people must not be subverted. It is wrong for anyone, or any group of people, to seek to use CAN to legitimise an illegality. That congratulatory visit, we insist, was not on behalf of Nigerian Christians.

    “Fortunately for the NCEF, in making this clarification, no one can accuse the Christian Elders of religious bigotry or ethnic discrimination since both front runners are Muslims from the North and of the same ethnic stock. In the same vein, no one could say that NCEF is holding brief for any political party since NCEF neither supported any political party nor adopted any candidate during the elections. The interest of NCEF is that Democracy should be permitted to flourish and prevail in Nigeria. As President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated in 2015, the will of the people must not be subverted. We are no longer in the era of military coup in which individual(s) can impose themselves as rulers over the nation. This is Democracy and the will of the people must not be subverted.  Any attempt to kill democracy by a President who subverts the very process that brought him to power under the instrumentality of stealth and conventional jihad must be resisted and rejected.

    “NCEF aligns itself with the stand of the ethnic nationalities in South West, South East, South South and Middle Belt Zones that the Judiciary should perform its rightful oversight and ensure that the rightful winner of the 2019 Elections is sworn into office in May 29, 2019. If the Judiciary, for whatever reason, is unable to take a stand and defend the will of the people then Nigeria would have destroyed Democracy and signed on as a fascist state.”