The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari’s presence gave me victory, says Akeredolu

    Buhari’s presence gave me victory, says Akeredolu

    …Says no rift with Tinubu

    …Insists Buhari, Odigie-Oyegun heading APC leadership

    The Ondo State Governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday said that the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari at his campaign rally in state won the election for him.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari with his deputy, Agboola Ajayi and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Even as he claimed that he has no rift with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he insisted that President Buhari and APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun are the head of the APC leadership.

    According to him, Tinubu, like other leaders of the party, fall under the leadership of Buhari and Odigie-Oyegun.

    On why he didn’t mention Tinubu while thanking leaders of the party in his speech after winning the election, he said: “I thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader of our party profusely for the leadership which he showed leading to this election. I also thanked our indefatigable chairman for standing by the truth and for his position on this matter that led to this election. I have no reason to do otherwise.

    “You see, party structures to the best of my knowledge is very clear. You have the leadership of the party and that is represented by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. And after the election, a chief executive emerges, he becomes a leader of the party, you don’t have to personalize and be looking for leaders all over the place. If we have to do that then I will have to mention 36 or 37 leaders.

    “So I believe the leadership as represented by the president covers all leaders and that tells me it would include Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it would include even Baba Akande, Onu, so many leaders. But president Buhari is the leader of the party so that is my position there,” he added.

    Asked how he was going to amend his strain relationship with Tinubu, he said: “The relationship with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always been the same. I don’t think we have any strain relationship. For me as a person, I believe he is one of the leaders of the party and I don’t see any strain relationship between us.

    “And you would observe that he has sent in his congratulatory message after the election, so what else do you expect? I mean all of us see this as victory for the APC, not for Akaredolu, not for as an individual but for the party as a whole.

    “I believe he is a member of the party. Mr. Femi Adesina had issued a release but you journalists just want to put words into our mouths,” he said.

    He explained that the Federal lawmakers who decamped to APC have done so during his campaign and were only formalizing it at the National Assembly.

    He said: “When you say a defection, Senator Yele Omogunwa even joined us in the campaign right there in Ondo State, he had joined the APC, he only just formalized it on the Senate floor today.

    “I mean when you have a party that is already balkanized like the PDP, from bottom to the top they have two candidates, they have two chairmen now. So you don’t have to be sneaking between one chairman and another you make up your mind to go to a place that is stable.

    “And I believe that he thinks that the APC is stable and he has come to a place he thinks his fortune will be better served and I am sure he took the right decision to join the party of the day.” He said

    He insisted that he will not go out straight to probe the administration of the outgoing governor, Olusegun Mimiko, but will probe anything he finds out of place in the process of his governance.

    He said: “At the center the government of the President Muhammadu Buhari said we must look back in order to move forward, he has been there for over a year now, has he instituted a probe looking back is not a probe and I maintain that I will not probe any regime.

    “This is responsible leadership I am elected to lead the people. The task ahead of us is enormous than for us to start instituting probes. My own is not to institute any probe of last regime and that is what president Buhari has done.

    “But if we find out that wrongs were committed we have enough laws of the land to take care of people who have committed wrong. As we start our work as we go ahead if there is any semblance of Dasukigate at the state, the law will take its course that is different from probing. We will follow what Mr. President is doing at the center.” He added

    Asked if he will end up reducing his campaign promises after assuming office, he said that what he meets on ground will determine if all the promises will be met.

    To him, nothing is wrong with reviewing such promises.

    He said: “You see as a candidate, it is expected of you to have a fore knowledge of the position for example of the finances for the number of things we need to do and what it will take to do. Now it is quite possible and I don’t rule out the fact that, you might set out in your campaign promises to achieve 10 things at a time. But because there is no way you can know everything that is in government when faced with realities it might not be possible to achieve those 10 things at a go.

    “But it is not to say that you will still not go for that 10. When you talk of review if you find a few things that are not in the right places, so there is nothing wrong if you try to review your campaign promises when faced with stake realities.

    “But for us in Ondo state, we have come up with five Cardinal points and it is so clear to us. We have decided that we will embark on job creation through agriculture, industrialization and entrepreneurship and what is going to cost government. We need machinery because it is not going to be agriculture through hoes and cutlasses but mechanized one. It is given that we must go back to basis.

    “On entrepreneurship we are going to encourage our state people to be self-employed and employ others. We are talking about public private partnership and there are a lot of people who want to come and build industries in our state because our state is a viable one.

    “We are going to have enabling environment for industrial growth. What is the cost? Maybe land. And then when you talk of functional education and technical growth, when you talk of infrastructure, there are schools that are already dilapidated and we believe that rather than spend money on a mega school, that money can repair and put several schools in a better form. How much will it cost us? It is the same money that we are spending.

    “We don’t want to take our people to civilization, we want to take civilization to our people. We want to ensure that the school within their vicinity are good enough for them to be interested in those school. Yes it is going to be cost intensive because we will develop our rural areas. We have told our people we are not going to build tar roads but we are going to provide accessible roads and when we have done our little bit people will do it for some time,” he said

    Lalong, who is the Chairman of Ondo APC Governorship Campaign Committee, said God answered his prediction of APC win in the election.

    Stressing that he was at the Villa to brief the President on his assignment in Ondo state, he said that he would round up his assignment and submit final report to the APC National Secretariat.

    He denied the allegation that APC was responsible for the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.

    He said: “These things happen; this is not the first time such is happening. When elections come in like this, you will find inter party conflict and friction, it was not APC that went to court, neither was it APC that gave the judgment, all we saw was friction or conflict between PDP and PDP and if that judgment was also going to help APC so be it.

    “But we were not parties to the case for somebody to even assume that APC was responsible for denying somebody no, APC is not the court, the court is a separate arm, I am saying that as far as we are concerned APC was not responsible for denying or delaying anybody the right to contest that election,” he stated.

  • Buhari greets Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom at 10th anniversary

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Osemawe of Ondo land and the Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, on the 10th anniversary of his ascension to the throne of his fathers.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, congratulated the Government of Ondo State and all the subjects of Ondo Kingdom on the historical event, which is already lined with programmes to showcase the rich history and cultural heritage of the people, and humanitarian services.

    He believed the 44th Osemawe has in the last 1o years exemplified and projected the virtues of resilience, versatility and hospitality of the Ondo Kingdom, which has seen it survive more than 500 years of onslaught, including the challenging periods of Trans- Atlantic slave trade and colonialism.

    As the Ondo people celebrate, President Buhari extolled the leadership qualities of the traditional ruler who regularly and consistently encourages his subjects to see the larger picture of a unified country, while urging them to strive to contribute to national development through good education and acquiring skills that directly impact on the livelihood of others.

    The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant the paramount ruler longer life and good health to serve his people, while wishing the kingdom a peaceful and memorable celebration.

  • Buhari seeks proper resettlement of IDPs

    Buhari seeks proper resettlement of IDPs

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday warned that the two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country must be properly resettled if the country is to avert a relapse into another social crisis.

    He gave the warning at a meeting with Sheikh Sharif Mohammed Kabir Ibn Mohammad, the world leader of Tijjaniya Islamic Movement at the State House, Abuja.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also lamented the destruction of public institutions in the North East by Boko Haram terrorists.

    “Government is faced with the problem of repairing schools, health centres and whole towns. We must repair their schools and recruit teachers otherwise they will become tomorrow’s Boko Haram,” he warned.

    Buhari reiterated the importance of justice in the affairs of governance, emphasizing that men and women in authority must show kindness and justice to all the people under them.

    In commending the religious group for the profuse prayers they had rendered for three days in Yola, Adamawa State for the recovery of the economy and peace in the country, the President said that the problem oil production is currently experiencing in the country and in the global markets had forced the imperative of agriculture on Nigerians.

    “We are learning the hard way.  The mistake we made was to abandon agriculture.  We came at a time of difficulty the country has never experienced since the civil war,” he said.

    The President also requested the religious leaders to persuade Nigerians to embrace hard work, endurance and patience, assuring that the administration will not relent in the effort to achieve self-reliance and security for the nation.

    In his remarks, Sheikh Sharif Mohammad commended President Buhari’s sense of justice and concern for the people of Nigeria.

    He assured the President that the Tijjaniya movement was in full support of the administration and will continue to pray for its success.

  • Buhari mourns late Albashir

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserates with family, friends and professional colleagues of veteran journalist and renowned social commentator, Abdulkarim Albashir, who passed away on Monday.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, joined the Government and people of Kaduna State, where he lived, Adamawa his place of birth and the Nigerian Union of Journalists in mourning the loss of the brilliant broadcaster and writer, who used his talent to promote the cause of the poor and the helpless.

    The President commended the fearlessness and forthrightness of Abdulkarim’s columns in tackling social ills, noting that the years he spent in the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and as Editor-In-Chief of the Democrat Newspapers were most historical and remarkable in developmental journalism.

    President Buhari believed his legacy of giving ‘‘voice to the voiceless’’ will be long remembered.

    He prayed that the almighty God will grant the deceased eternal rest, and comfort his family.

  • Buhari: Nigerian engineers critical to infrastructure development

    Buhari: Nigerian engineers critical to infrastructure development

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that his administration will heavily utilize talents and skills of local engineers to rebuild ailing infrastructure across the country.

    He described Nigerian engineers as ‘‘competent and cost effective.’’

    Speaking at an investiture ceremony by the Nigerian Academy of Engineers (NAE) at the State House, President Buhari said the well-trained and highly experienced engineers had contributed immensely to the infrastructural development of the country, and they remain indispensable.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President, who was decorated as the Grand Patron of the NAE at the ceremony, said both military and civilian administrations over the years depended on Nigerian engineers for designs and constructions across the country.

    ‘‘By insisting that we must be cost effective in building infrastructure, we will utilize Nigerian engineers. I respect them a lot, and I know it takes time to be trained as an engineer,’’ he said.

    The President noted that local engineers contributed more than 90 percent to the design and realization of two refineries, 2,500 km of pipelines and 20 depots in the country during his tenure as Minister of Petroleum in the mid-1970s.

    The success of the Petroleum Trust Fund, he said, was largely hinged on their skills.

    ‘‘Somehow, everytime and anywhere I have served in this country, we found it cost effective to use Nigerian engineers, and we relied on their capacity to understudy, learn and deliver.

    ‘‘It will be wrong to fault Nigerian engineers for the failure of refineries. You should blame the political leadership. How can you build and not know how to maintain an asset,’’ the President said.

    President Buhari said individual political leaders should be blamed for Nigeria’s ailing infrastructure, not the engineers who had always been willing to contribute to national development.

    In her remarks, the President of the NAE, Mrs. Joanna Maduka, said science, technology and innovation were the key drivers of growth across the globe, urging the Federal Government to explore and engage the multiple engineering talents in the country for more purposeful results.

    ‘‘For the country to attain sustainable growth status, the Nigerian engineers need to be adequately engaged in planning, policy formulation, consultancy and construction, as well as industrial process of production and manufacturing,’’ she noted.

    Maduka commended the anti-corruption fight of the Federal Government, saying it would turn around the fortunes of the economy.

  • Ondo voted for the best – Minister

    Ondo voted for the best – Minister

    The Minister of state Niger Delta Affairs, Prof.Claudius Omoleye Daramola Tuesday said the people of Ondo State have taken the best decision by electing Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN as their next governor.

    Daramola in his congratulating message also thanked all the National leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly President Muhammadu Buhari for their supports during the election.

    The minister said he believes Akeredolu’s doggedness and determination have really proved that God is the only one that installs and removes.

    He prayed the Almighty God to grant the governor-elect the wisdom to paddle the canoe of the state to the promised land.

  • Reforms will ease pensioners’ hardship, says Buhari

    Reforms will ease pensioners’ hardship, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured that his administration’s reforms will ensure that Nigerians who spent the productive years of their lives serving the nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.

    He gave the assurance at a meeting with Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) at the State House, Abuja.

    He directed a speedy completion of the ongoing nationwide verification of pensioners.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stressed that the exercise was necessary because the success of the administration’s goal of putting in place an efficient pension scheme hinged on the availability of a reliable database.

    In a presentation to the President, Barrister Ikeazor said the PTAD management was determined to restore dignity to pensioners by protecting their funds and paying their entitlements promptly.

    The Executive Secretary also said that in line with the anti-corruption posture of the current administration, the PTAD has put measures in place to ensure accountability, compliance with regulations and zero-tolerance for corruption.

  • Buhari seeks stronger commitment for South Sudan’s peace

    Buhari seeks stronger commitment for South Sudan’s peace

    …Says Nigeria ‘ll continue to support the peace process

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called for stronger commitment to the implementation of the peace process in South Sudan.

    He also assured that the Federal Government of Nigeria will remain steadfast in following up to ensure that the country regains stability.

    Buhari spoke in Abuja while receiving the Letter of Credence of the Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan, Mr. Paul Malong Akaro, at the State House.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that delay in implementing the peace accord had affected the development of the country in spite of the lofty potentials for growth.

    He said: ‘‘I was a little disappointed with the subsequent developments in your country. I was hoping that we can move forward and develop the great potentials of your country after the peace accord.

    ‘‘The African Union will continue to hold your leaders to account in implementing the peace process. And the leaders should be able to accommodate one another for the good of your people,’’ the President said.

    He told the ambassador that the peace process would be most effective when accepted and implemented by leaders from within the country, without external interventions.

    In his remarks, Mr. Akaro said the government of national unity in South Sudan was still committed to the peace process in the country.

    ‘‘We know that the only way we can achieve stability and development is to implement the peace process. We are grateful for your support,’’ he said.

    The President, who also received the Letter of Credence of the Ambassador of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Mr. Malainine Sadik-Bachir, said Nigeria will continue to support the country as it strives to realize its goals of development.

    ‘‘You can be assured that Nigeria will remain steadfast in her support for Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. We will continue to do our best for you,’’ he said.

  • Buhari mourns Human Rights Lawyer Agbaje

    Buhari mourns Human Rights Lawyer Agbaje

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family, friends and professional colleagues of erudite human rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje, who passed on Saturday.

    In a condolence message issued in Abuja on Saturday by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Buhari said he received the news of the sad development with shock.

    President Buhari described the constitutional lawyer as “an ardent advocate against corruption and canvasser for internal democracy in political parties, who also believed strongly in the sanctity of the ballot box”.

    He commended the fearlessness of the late lawyer in calling for the cleansing of bad eggs in the judiciary and standing up for his beliefs as he fought for the rights of the less-privileged in the society.

    He noted that the country had lost a principled man, and urged Agbaje’s admirers to keep the flag flying.

    The President prayed that almighty God would console the Agbaje family and all those who mourned the deceased legal practitioner.

    The late Human Right activist, who had been described as “a highly detribalized Nigerian”, died at a London hospital on Friday.

  • Buhari condoles Cubans over Fidel Castro’s death

    Buhari condoles Cubans over Fidel Castro’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of Cuba’s longest-serving president and revolutionary icon, former President Fidel Castro, aged 90.

    President Buhari, on behalf of the Federal Government, offered deepest condolences to Cuban President Raul Castro, and the people of Cuba on the passing early Saturday of the legendary leader, who served his people for almost half a century.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, assured the country of the sympathy and solidarity of all Nigerians it mourns the exit of this remarkable leader who against all odds stirred uncommon development in sports, education and healthcare sectors of his nation, even to the benefit of other nations.

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    Buhari was delighted that Fidel Castro lived to see improved ties with the United States.

    As a great friend to Africa, countries in the Global South and the Non-Aligned Movement, President Buhari believed that Castro’s place in history is assured, given his sustained successful commitment and towering role in the liberation and anti-colonialism struggles in Africa.

    He said that his prayers and thoughts are with Castro’s family, friends and many admirers as they go through this period of national mourning and exit of a truly admired selfless global leader.