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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

Reps to meet Buhari over incessant Killings

Worried by the continuous killings across the country, the House of Representatives Thursday mandated the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and the security chiefs over the rising wave of insecurity

The proposed meeting with Buhari is for the purpose of getting him to act urgently on the trend of herdsmen attacks, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other security challenges.

The House also said a conference on security involving all security agencies should be convened to proffer solution to the problem and called for a Declaration of Emergency in Southern Kaduna senatorial district by the Federal and Kaduna State governments.

The lawmakers also urged the Director of the Department of State Service in charge of internal security to wake up to his responsibility in terms of securing the lives of Nigerians in the country.

The resolutions of the House was sequel to the adoption of the amended prayers of a motion of urgent public importance by a member, Hon. Simon Arabo (Kaduna APC) who decried the senseless killings in the region, especially the recent killing of 43 persons and destruction of houses in Kauru Local government, by unknown gunmen.

Recall that armed men attacked Kigam, Kitakum, Ungwan Magaji, Ungwan Rimi, Ungwan Makera and Kizipi villages in Kauru Local government area of Kaduna state, on November 13 to 14, 2016, killing 43 persons including women and children and injuring several others.

The lawmakers called for the establishment of a military strike force in the area in the meantime as a form of deterrent, saying the attacks are becoming too rampant.

The Green Chamber urged security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of the attacks, in accordance with its resolutions of October 19, 2016 which came on the heel of a previous attacks.

While supporting the motion, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba (Kaduna APC) accused the military of apathy to the killings.

“You call them and they tell you that they do not have mandate to act. In some cases, they come and arrest the same people who have asked them for protection, after the attackers have gone,

“There is no concern by government. People do what they like and get away with it. The repercussion is great for the nation.

Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila warned that the attacks have a tendency to migrate to other parts of the country. Its coming to a time when a state of emergency will be declared in Southern Kaduna. It should therefore not be considered a southern Kaduna problem, This is the time to act,” he said.

Another member, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (Kwara APC) noted that such incidents speak to the need to revisit laws that regulate the rights of citizens to bear arms and the consideration of state police.

He said: “We have to look at these issues seriously else people would resort to self help. The problem with self help is that it could cause more harm than the initial harm.”

Other members who supported the motion include, Mohammed sanni Abdul, Garba Datti Mohammed, Babale Bachir, Shehu Garba, Kingsley Chinda and Sanni Zoro.

November 17, 2016
FG owes Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB, Shagari, 10 month allowances
- SGF blames it on paucity of funds
Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Shehu Shagari have not been paid their salaries and allowances since January this year, it was disclosed on Thursday.

The revelation came as a shock to members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs who visited the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

Paucity of funds due to non-approvals by President Muhammadu Buhari was blamed for the inability to pay the entitlements of the former presidents,

Payment schedules were said to have been sent to President Buhari for approval to access funds from the Service Wide Vote to pay the outstanding allowances.

The SGF, Mr David Lawal Babachir attributed the failure to pay the former leaders their entitlement to the unavailability of funds in Service Wide Votes for salaries of former presidents.

Babachir told the committee members: “There is a department responsible for payment of former Presidents. Presently funds are not available in Service Wide Votes to do that. We are aware that there was a protest in Bayelsa State that former President Goodluck Jonathan was not paid, but we have explained that he is not the only one affected.

“Others affected are the Inter-religious council, traditional rulers council and so on. For some reason, we have been writing and writing, but there has been no response. And there is presently no money to pay them.

“The budget for this year’s democracy day was N33 million and we had to do it on credit, we are yet to pay. There are lots of retreats which ought to be organised but there is no money to do any. The last time we got any release was in August.”

The Senator Tijjani Kaura (APC, Zamfara North)-led committee members frowned at the non-payment of the former presidents’ entitlements.

They canvassed joint action between the Office of the SGF and the committee to find an immediate solution to the problem describing the development as “most unfortunate.”

The lawmakers also emphasised the need to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the development with a view to having the issue addressed immediately.

Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, described the non-payment of former presidents as abnormal.

Hunkuyi said, “What we have seen here is an abnormality. Before referring any matter to the National Assembly, it is a function of the executive to appropriate funds. Therefore, the SGF should understand that there is something wrong in this office that must be addressed.

“There is no way you can run the expenses of this office without cash backing. We definitely have to draw the attention of the budget office and ministry of finance to the problems.”

A Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, also criticised the non-payment of former presidents by the office of the SGF.

Wamakko said, “We can understand if former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been paid because he just left office. But for someone like Shagari, who lives from hand to mouth is something I can’t understand. This development is really unfortunate; It doesn’t indicate seriousness, and it doesn’t indicate fairness.”

The SGF who laboured to calm the lawmakers said, “When I got into this office, there was a lot of money on this account, but there was no Treasury Single Account.”

He said, “Before the government left office, they jacked up salaries. We told former President Jonathan and Obasanjo that they cannot earn twice what the others were earning. So we told them we wanted to review it, and we did. So they now earn what the others earn as well.

“When I came into office, there was N1.5bn in the account. We had payment of all liabilities which came to 700 million. Then we wrote to the President to return what was left to the TSA. That was how we came back to a zero balance.

“It is painful to me because as a person I know all of them (Ex-Presidents) personally. Now, why have we not been able to get the money? We requested for a budget of N700 million complaining, but the President has his way of doing things.

“Look around, you’ll see government vehicles breaking down every now and then. Really, I know the challenges the budget office is facing, but the truth is the funds are not just there. In any government, there are certain agencies that must be served first before others. So we have agreed on that. However, we will lean harder on the finance ministry to see that the situation is turned around.

“As SGF I’m getting embarrassed and demeaned by chasing money coming from demands. All MDAS come to me for things to be done, and it is not quite easy, but we will try our best.

“Last year, these political appointees had nothing. As to assistance, we really need assistance, if not but to retain all that we have budgeted for.”

Babachir urged the National Assembly to intervene by ensuring it approves funds proposed by his office in the 2017 budget to be submitted soon.

“What is in our budget, we need your help to defend it. This is part of the change agenda, so we must learn to sew our cloth according to the material,” he said.

The committee faulted the office of the SGF over replication of 2016 budget details in its 2017 budget proposal.”
November 17, 2016
Minister solicits governors’ support for `Change Begins With Me’ campaign

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has appealed to state governors to support the national reorientation campaign, “Change Begins With Me”.

Mohammed made the appeal in Abuja when he made a presentation to the Governors Forum which met at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.

In the presentation, a copy of which was made available to journalists, the minister told the governors that the campaign launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 8, was for every Nigerian.

“The campaign is aimed at achieving a paradigm shift in the way we do things and geared towards achieving an attitudinal change.

“With the total breakdown of our core values in the past years, it is imperative that we re-orientate ourselves with a view to restoring those time-tested values.

“Your Excellencies, it is important to note that this is a national campaign. It has no political, religious, or ethnic coloration.

“The breakdown in our time-tested values, the preference for imported goods, the poor attitude to work, the mindless corruption in our society, etc, are not limited to any part of the country, any political party, or any religion.

“We are of the strong belief that your cooperation is absolutely important if the campaign is to succeed.

“Hence, we have taken up this opportunity to formally unveil it to you and to seek your collaboration,” he said.

Mohammed particularly appealed to the governors to grant “generous airtime” on their state radio and television stations for the regular broadcast of the radio and television jingles produced for the campaign free of charge.

The minister, who said he would inaugurate the campaign in all states of the federation, urged the governors be fully involved in the inauguration activities.

He expressed appreciation to the governors for their preparation and cooperation with his ministry towards the success of the forthcoming Abuja Carnival.

He appealed to the states that are yet to send their contingents to do so before the Dec. 6 opening date for the carnival.

While briefing newsmen after the closed-door presentation, the minister said the governors gladly received him and pledged their support towards the campaign and the carnival.

“The presentation was received very enthusiastically.

“They gave their suggestions and contributions and generally accepted our proposal,” he said.

November 17, 2016
We’ll defeat corruption fighting back – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the anti-corruption war of his administration will be won even though it is tough, grueling, and fighting vigorously back.

He gave the assurance while meeting with American Secretary of State, John Kerry on Wednesday on the margins of conference on climate change, COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said corrupt people had accumulated a formidable arsenal of illicit wealth, which they were now deploying against the government on diverse fronts.

He said: “But it is a war we are determined to win, and which we will win,”

“People of goodwill are behind us, countries like America and many others are with us, and we will surely win.”

The President also updated Secretary Kerry on the war against insurgency in the North-east of Nigeria, efforts being made to tackle humanitarian problems caused by the insurgency, and stating that a presidential committee had been launched “under Gen T.Y Danjuma, a man of high integrity.”

On the unrest in the Niger Delta area, which manifests in the sabotage of critical oil and power installations, President Buhari said the engagement process was proceeding apace, adding that it was rather difficult bringing the main protagonists of the insurgency under one umbrella.

He said Nigeria was happy with American support on different fronts, assuring that the economic challenges facing the country were being “frontally tackled, and we will overcome them soon.”

Secretary Kerry expressed delight at the many successes of the Buhari administration, pledging continued U.S support in the bid to overcome security, humanitarian, political, and economic challenges.

As the Barrack Obama administration exits next January, Kerry said he would love to continue engaging with Nigeria, even in a private capacity.

He described President Buhari as a strong international partner in the battle against violent extremism.

November 17, 2016
‘Ghost projects awarded under Jonathan’

The Presidency has disclosed that a number of deceitful and ghost projects were awarded under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Many of the projects were said to be merely on paper and no payment was made for their start-up.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed these in an interview program on Express Radio in Kano on Tuesday.

Noting that a number of projects existed on paper are now being activated, he cited the Kano-Katsina dual road project as an example of what he called “deceitful and ghost projects now being given life.”

“Kano-Katsina dual highway was awarded three years ago by the last administration. They didn’t pay a kobo for its start-up. President Buhari just paid money for the first tranche of 75 kilometres and work has begun apace.” He stated

He said that Nigeria is taking a giant leap in infrastructure development by speeding up ongoing projects and investing heavily in the construction and repair of highways, railways and power generating plants across the country.

The Buhari administration, he said, had chosen to fast-track projects related to infrastructure in order to pump money into the economy as a way of pulling the economy out of recession.

To this end, he said that an unprecedented amount of N750 Billion Naira has been released for capital projects in the last five months and that counterpart funds for the take-off of the USD 11 billion Kano-Lagos rail project had been paid.

He described the essence of infrastructure in the country’s economic as an equivalent of the arteries forming the bloodstream in the body.

“Without infrastructure, the country will not witness growth,” he noted.

On the resurgence of militancy and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region, Malam Garba appealed to militants to maintain peace in the region as the President seeks a permanent solution to the problems that are worrisome to every citizen.

“We must keep national interest above all else and give priority to eschewing violence and destruction,” he urged.

The Presidential spokesman expressed regrets that despite its good faith in pursuing dialogue with the Niger Delta stakeholders, the militant groups have not reciprocated the government’s good gesture in finding the peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis in the oil-producing areas of Nigeria.

“Despite the government’s practical demonstration of goodwill by bringing the parties or stakeholders to the round table, the militant groups have continued to blow up national economic assets.”

According to Malam Garba, the continued destruction of oil installations, including those repaired, has thrown a spanner in the works, causing enormous hardships on innocent Nigerians on account of declining oil production output and massive losses of revenues, which in turn, badly affect the ability of governments at all levels to meet their basic obligations, including payment of salaries.

While cautioning that violence brings no benefits to anybody, he appealed to Niger Delta leaders at all levels to exert every influence they have to stop the violence and economic sabotage “so that normalcy returns to the region.”

November 16, 2016
Osinbajo presides over scanty FEC meeting

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari is in Marrakech, Morocco attending the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22.

The FEC meeting was scantily attended by cabinet members.

About ten ministers were in attendance when the meeting started on Wednesday.

The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

November 16, 2016
Ex-Sultan, Dasuki was a voice for peace – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended condolences to the Dasuki family, the government and people of Sokoto State on the death of the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari also commiserated with the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs over the demise of the remarkable traditional ruler that devoted his life, tenure of office to the promotion of peaceful coexistence and tolerance among diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria.

The President joined them in mourning the passing of one of Nigeria’s most powerful voices for peace and unity in diversity, who diligently kept faith with the virtues of the Sardauna whom he had served as a public servant.

Apart from modernising the traditional institution to bring it in tune with changing times, President Buhari believed that the late Ibrahim Dasuki, who died on Monday at the age of 93, will be long remembered for his role in the creation of the present local government system in the country.

He paid tribute to his contribution to national peace and development, particularly his significant role in producing the report that gave birth to the current local government councils.

President Buhari also prayed that Almighty Allah will comfort the family of his Eminence, grant the deceased eternal rest and reward his good virtues with Paradise.

November 15, 2016
Buhari can’t afford to fail Nigerians – El-Rufai

As a group of Kaduna based Nigerians, commenced a national prayer for God’s intervention in the President Muhammadu Buhari led government, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that, the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot afford to fail Nigerians.

Worried by the state of the nation, the group under the auspices of Abdullah Network Communication said the national prayer was aimed at seeking divine assistance for President Muhammadu Buhari led government in its quest to develop Nigeria.

The spiritual exercise which was kick-started in Kaduna with Muslims and Christians praying for the country in two respective sessions is expected to be taken round the six get-political zones of the country, with the next one taking place in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria.

Speaking at the event held at Arewa House, Kaduna, Governor El-Rufai who was represented by the Director-General Interfaith Bureau, Engr. Namadi Musa commended the group for its efforts, saying the President Muhammadu Buhari led government is a product of prayers by Nigerians.

He however said that, what the government at the Federal and states level requires is continuous prayers to successfully achieve its goal of delivering positive change desired by Nigerians.

El-Rufai said, the present government cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians, because prayers of Nigerians and their resolve to do away with bad governance of the previous administration brought the APC government on board. “Therefore, it will be more painful if this government fails Nigerians”.

“So, we are aware of the enormous tasks and responsibilities on our shoulders as a government. With your prayers and support, the President Muhammadu Buhari led government will not fail Nigerians,” he said.

Speaking after the prayer, the leader of group, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje said, the resolved to embark on the prayer was informed by the ‘negative’ state of the nation.

He said, his group had observed that, it has almost become a national chorus on the lips of Nigerians that the country needs prayer, but nobody seems to be ready to take the lead and embark on the prayer. “That is why we decided to take the lead and pray for our dear country and its leadership.”

According to Alawuje, many of us in the group belief in the commitment, passion and resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to move this country to a greater height, and we voted for him, but unfortunately, we have not seen the change we vote for.

“We are very much aware that, it is not as if our President is not doing anything to fix this country, but the results of his efforts are not visible. That is why we are praying against any form of sabotage that is denying Nigerians the dividends of President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to make life better for the people.

“We are also praying for the movement that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power. Though unconfirmed, we are hearing that, there is feud between the President and the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We pray that God intervenes and make them settle their differences, because that alone can have negative impact on the APC and the nation at large.

“We are not stopping here, we are taking the prayer to every of the six geo-political zones of the country and after Kaduna which we just finished now, our next point of call is Ibadan, Oyo State capital, for South-west Zone,” he explained.

November 14, 2016
Terrorism working against Africa’s development – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday called on African leaders to form a strong united front to defeat terrorism and violent extremism, which is inhibiting development in Africa.

He made the call while receiving Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto at the State House, Abuja.

Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also expressed concern that the continent is still grappling with acts and effects of terrorism after a successful de-colonisation campaign.

Acknowledging the valued cooperation between Nigeria and Kenya in the fight against terrorism, Buhari commended the East African country for the recent successes recorded in tackling terrorism in the region.

“A situation in which insecurity continues to obstruct the process of national development should not be allowed to continue”, the President told Mr Ruto, a special envoy to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

On the forthcoming election of a new leadership for the African Union Commission (AUC), President Buhari said African States need a very strong leadership at the AUC that will encourage member states to refocus their resources and energy toward human and national development.

On Kenya’s request for Nigeria’s support for the candidature of Amb. Amina Mohammed, Kenya’s Foreign Minister, who is vying for the AUC Chairperson, President Buhari said Nigeria will hold robust consultations with other African leaders on the need for strong and capable leadership that will respond to the current challenges facing the continent.

In his remarks, Deputy President Ruto commended President Buhari for his leadership, particularly on regional security and the fight against corruption.

He said President Buhari’s effort to eradicate terrorism and violent extremism had emboldened the continent’s resolve to achieve lasting peace and security.

November 11, 2016
Security challenges in Niger Delta over soon – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has assured Nigerians that the security challenges in the Niger Delta will soon be resolved.

Kachikwu gave the assurance in Abuja on Friday in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Idang Alibi.

The minister, according to the statement, observed that three attacks had taken place in the last two weeks, including Wednesday’s Forcados bombing, in spite of efforts being made to promote peace in the region.

Kachikwu said he was saddened that in spite of months of intensive personal and collective efforts to engage all stakeholders in the region and the recent successful meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, these attacks had continued.

“I condemn these wanton attacks and reiterate that the path to providing lasting solutions to the Niger Delta challenges remains dialogue,’’ the statement quoted the minister as saying.

He appealed to all stakeholders in the region to embrace peace and dialogue and shun acts that further create difficulties for the country as well as impoverish and worsen the ecological problems of the region.

The minister urged the militants to stop all acts of aggression and give the ongoing dialogue a chance to birth peace in the region.

He said though distraught, all ministers from the region would continue to work under the president’s mandate to get a complete stakeholder buy-in to the solution programme of the administration.

November 11, 2016