The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari seeks re-appointment of Ibrahim as NDIC MD

    Buhari seeks re-appointment of Ibrahim as NDIC MD

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday asked the Senate to confirm Umaru Ibrahim for re-appointment as Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

    This is contained in a letter of request for confirmation of appointment of the Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation President Buhari sent to the Senate.

    The letter was read by the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The President said that the letter was in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(4) and 8(3) of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, CAP. N102 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

  • Senate dumps Buhari’s bid to borrow $29.96bn

    Senate dumps Buhari’s bid to borrow $29.96bn

    …Saraki saves ambassadorial list

     

    The Senate Tuesday rejected the plan of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96 billion under the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan.

    The upper chamber voted massively against the request of President Buhari to borrow the money.

    Twice Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, put the question “That  the Senate do consider the request of the President C-in-C on the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Rolling Plan,” twice it was rejected.

    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, moved the motion for the consideration of the request, Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, seconded.

    Saraki put the question which was roundly rejected.

    Findings showed that the lawmakers were not comfortable with “some glaring omissions in the Executive Communication” forwarded to them by President Buhari.

    A source said that the President failed to “attach draft of Federal Government 2016-2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for consideration of the Senate” as indicated in the Executive Communication.

    The source added that the last paragraph of the communication gave the impression of anticipatory approval required by President Buhari.

    He noted that “by asking the National Assembly leadership to approve the borrowing plan that involves huge sums of funds without formal consideration of the Senate in session smacks some blackmail.”

    The last paragraph of the communication said, “Given the emergency nature of these facilities and the need to consolidate the peace and return the region (North East) to normalcy and considering the time it will take to get the National Assembly’s approvals, it has become inevitable to request for the National Assembly leadership approval pending the consideration and approval of the 2016-2018 borrowing plan by the National Assembly to enable us disburse these funds immediately.”

    Senator Ndume who spoke on the rejection of the President’s request said that there was technical error in the request.

    He however promised to represent the request on a later date.

    Ndume said, “I was shocked as the Senate leader that they rejected the programme. I was not anticipating what happened. It was rejected on technical ground. If you look at the letter, it said ‘attached’ but there was no attachment. There are no details. I will appeal to my colleagues and represent it for consideration. There is nothing to worry about. We cannot throw away the baby with the bad water.”

    The listed of 46 non-career Ambassadors was also rejected by the Senators but Saraki used his veto power over turn the nay vote.

    Saraki also put the question twice for the Senate to consider the request of the President C-in-C on the confirmation of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as non-career Ambassador designate.

    It was obvious that the Senators were opposed to the list but Saraki saved the day by over-turning the majority position.

    The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, protested against the list last week because of non-inclusion of FCT nominees in the list.

    President Buhari had on Tuesday last week sent a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

    Buhari explained that targeted projects cuts across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.

    He listed other sectors to include poverty reduction through social safety net programmes and governance and financial management reforms.

    President Buhari said that the cost of the projects and programmes under the borrowing rolling plan is $29.960 billion.

    The proposed projects and programmes loan of $11.274 billion, Special National Infrastructure projects $10.686 billion, Euro bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government budget support of $3.5 billion.

    He explained further that the loan was very necessary in view of the serious infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He said the country had huge infrastructure deficit and enormous financial resources required to fill the gap in the face of dwindling resources.

    “This is in addition to the inability of our annual budgetary provisions to bridge the deficit. It has become necessary to resort to prudent external borrowing to bridge the financing gap.

    “This will largely be applied to key infrastructure projects namely power, railway and roads among others,” he added.

  • Ondo poll: APC postpones Buhari’s visit to November 10

    Ondo poll: APC postpones Buhari’s visit to November 10

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has postponed the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state to November 10.

    The president’s visit was initially scheduled for November 3 for the commencement of the campaign of its governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Ondo state would hold its governorship election on November 26.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, said this at a press conference in Akure on Tuesday.

    Adesanya said that the postponement was due to the “tight schedule of Mr President”.

    “The president wants to be present at the campaign rally in person.

    “This is due to the economic importance of Ondo State in the development of Nigeria,” he said.

    Adesanya urged party faithful and the people of the state to ensure that the president receive a rousing welcome during the visit.

    A 30-man local organising committee for the campaign chaired by Mr Agboola Ajayi, the Deputy Governorship candidate, was inaugurated on Oct. 28.

  • Insecurity: Buhari meets Benue, Bauchi, Jigawa governors

    Insecurity: Buhari meets Benue, Bauchi, Jigawa governors

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met separately with some state governors over insecurity in their state.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, first met with the President before Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar and Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru together met with the President.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ortom said that he was at the presidential villa to seek the President’s assistance towards addressing some security challenges in the state.

    According to him, the Benue government has been partnering with security agencies and have received support from the Federal Government to tackle the level of crime and clashes between herdsmen and farmers, which have been put under control.

    He said: “We have been having security challenges but thank God with the collaboration with some security agencies in my state and with the support of Mr. President, I can say that there is relatively calm.

    “Today, the issue of herdsmen and farmers we have been able to through dialogue agree to work together in a manner that there will be win-win,” he said

    He noted that one of the best ways to end clashes between farmers and Fulani herds men was to adopt the system of ranching.

    “I have always said this, if we can copy the presidential system from America why can we not copy ranching? But you see it is a gradual process and cannot be done overnight.

    “We are propagating ranching as the final and lasting solution to these issues of herdsmen and farmers clashes. But is something that cannot be done overnight. We need the collaboration of the states and the federation to agree on a formula, one for the nomads,” he added.

    He said that the state is also planning the construction of Cargo Airport in Markudi to assist in the export of the huge agricultural produce from the state to other parts of the country and abroad.

    The Airport project, he said, will be executed through 85 percent contribution from a consortium of private sector with Benue only putting in 15 percent.

    He also confirmed that some governors have put their grievances in writing over the lopsidedness in the President’s appointments including the recent Ambassadorial nomination list.

    The action, he recalled, was part of the agreement reached at an emergency meeting held between the APC governors and President Buhari last week Monday.

    He however pointed out that it was the prerogative of President Buhari to choose whoever he wants to serve in his government.

    He said: “It is the prerogative of Mr. President to do appointments but where there is need we always give support. We have written where we have reservations and it is being attended to.”

    On their visit to the President, Bauchi Governor said that he came with Jigawa Governor to confer with Mr President on common security issues affecting the two states.

    He said: “As you can see, I am here with the governor of Jigawa, as you know we share border with Jigawa, we have come to discuss some security concerns with the President to solicit for his support for us to effectively ensure security in the two states, this is basically what we have come to discuss.

    “We are concerned that the spate of kidnapping is increasing and anything that will touch on the security of our states is a matter of grave concern to us, that is why we have rushed here before it becomes endemic and we have conferred with the President and we have his support.

    “The military is conducting exercise in the area but what the exercise lacked before is coordination between the two states so there is a need for us to coordinate and for us to do that we require the seal of the C in C.

    On the Northern governors’ trip to the United States, he said that they were invited by the United States Peace Institute based in Washington.

    “It is an organisation set up by the government of the US, they have a great concern in the northern part of Nigeria and they believe whatever situation that exist in the northern part of Nigeria have a multiplier effect on the whole nation. So if you are able to solve the problem before it becomes a national problem, it will help, we have discussed with them the root causes of insurgency and illiteracy, poverty, lack of empowerment of youth and women and this are issues we have discussed and the issues of IDPs in Borno, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe.

    “They have indicated their concern for the humanitarian concern and with this hue and cry about the situation of Children in the IDP camp and we have solicited for their immediate support so that we can assist the children.”

    Governor of Jigawa said: “We have been fighting insurgency and criminal elements in our individual states but we believe we need a coordinated fight between Bauchi and Jigawa to finally drag them out of the forest and finally put rest to the problem there.”

    He said that the President is willing to assist the two states and more actions will be seen in the coming weeks.

  • Any N/Delta meeting without Tompolo will fail – activist 

    Any N/Delta meeting without Tompolo will fail – activist 

    A Niger Delta activist, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, has said that any meeting of Niger Delta leaders with President Muhammadu Buhari without the former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo), will fail to achieve the desired results.

    Comrade Bebenimibo said those parading themselves as Niger Delta leaders are not in touch with the people or are abreast with the issues of the region.

    Bebenimibo in a press statement issued in Benin City urged the Federal Government to make effort to identify the true stakeholders in the Niger Delta to achieve peace in the region.

    He stated that the commencement of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko and the private sector driven $16 billion EPZ project, would guarantee a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

    According to him, “We are happy that our leaders at talking with the Federal Government but the truth is that from the information from the grass root, the Federal government should also identify true stakeholders like High Chief Government Ekpemupolo. Government should identify such people to work with because he understands the terrain, he has the capacity to check militancy and above all, his humanitarian gesture has brought him closer to the people.

    “And when he speaks, the youths listens, so they need him. Majority of us are expressing this view because some of the leaders the Federal government is speaking with are not in touch with our people, as a result they cannot change anything. And if they go on with such people nothing will be achieved I can tell you.

    “For us to guarantee immediate peace and commence talks for the development of the Niger delta, the Federal government should kick off the Maritime university at Okerenkoko. Secondly, the private sector driven sixteen billion dollars EPZ project should start immediately to provide employment and business opportunities for our people.

    “These are the two projects that will guarantee immediate peace in the Niger Delta and conducive atmosphere in the region for government to implement other programmes and to also have hitch free crude oil business” he stated.

  • Ondo poll: PDP governors’ forum urges INEC to be fair

    Ondo poll: PDP governors’ forum urges INEC to be fair

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair in the conduct of forthcoming Ondo governorship election.

    In a statement by its Secretary, Patrick Okon, on Monday in Abuja, the forum also called for overhaul of the commission.

    It alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the help of INEC, was planning to rig the poll.

    “We are aware of the plan of APC to get Ondo state by all means, including enlisting the assistance of INEC.

    “We are warning that we will not fold our arms to watch this impunity and day-time robbery.

    “INEC is an umpire and should play its role very well so that the electorate will have confidence in it.

    “From the way things are going, the people are already losing confidence in the commission,’’ it said.

    The forum also called on INEC to stick to its electoral mandate and should not subvert the law of the land.

    “INEC should conduct itself very well in this forthcoming Ondo state governorship election to avoid a repeat of what happened in Edo election.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that INEC on Thursday cleared Mr Jimoh Ibrahim nominated by disputed National Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction, as the party’s candidate for the election.

    It based its action on a court order, which declared Ibrahim as the candidate of the party for the poll.

    The development jolted majority of members of the party, who had in a primary supervised by INEC as provided in the Electoral Act, elected Mr Eyitayo Jegede as candidate for the election.

    Jegede’s nomination was submitted by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party.

    However, the caretaker committee has the Court of Appeal to reverse the decision of High Court on the issue. Hearing on the matter has been fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abuja.

     

  • Arrest of judges: Court refuses to retrain Buhari, DSS, others 

    Arrest of judges: Court refuses to retrain Buhari, DSS, others 

    …Asks them to show cause

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an ex-parte motion seeking to among others; restrain President Muhammadu Buhari, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and others from taking further actions against some judges recently arrested by the DSS.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a bench ruling on Friday, refused to grant ex-parte a request for an order restraining the defendants from re-arresting or taking any “untoward action” against five of the eight judges’ whose houses were recently raided by DSS’ operatives.

    The defendants are President Buhari, DG, DSS, Lawal Daura; the DSS; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    The motion was filed by a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje. He specifically sought an order of interim injunction restraining “the respondents, their agents, servants, privies, men, officers or anybody deriving authority from them by whatever name called from further arresting, intimidating, arresting, inviting, seizing or taking any untoward action against the arrested and affected honourable judges and judicial officers pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

    He explained, in a supporting affidavit, that his motion was informed by his apprehension that the judges could be charged in court before the conclusion of the substantive suit he filed, challenging the propriety of the DSS’ invasion of the judges’ houses, their arrest and detention.

    Justice Kolawole, after listening to Ogungbe’s lawyer, Ayo Ogundele argued the motion, said he must first resolve a number of issues, particularly the plaintiff’s locus standi, in an inter-party hearing, before making a pronouncement on the prayer as contained in the motion.

    The judge directed that the plaintiff’s motion on notice, seeking similar prayer,  be served on the respondents.

    Justice Kolawole ordered President Buhari, Daura; the DSS; the AGF and IGP  to appear in court on the next adjourned date (November 15)  to show cause why the interim restraining order sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.

    The judge ordered that the plaintiff’s motion ex-parte and on notice be served on the respondents and they shall be enti‎tled to respond within seven days of being served.

    Ogungbeje had on October 14 filed the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/809/16, arguing that  the arrest of the judges without recourse to the NJC was unlawful and amounted to humiliating them.

    Ogungbe, who sued on behalf of five of the judges, who are still in service,  said the DSS operations violated the rights of judges under sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Constitution.

    The judges are Sylvester Ngwuta, John Okoro, Adeniyi Ademola, Muazu Pindiga and Nnamdi Dimgba.

    The plaintif, is seeking 10 reliefs including N50bn against the defendants as “general and exemplary damages” and N2m as cost of the suit.

    Ogungbeje equally wants an order compelling the DSS to return to the judges the sums of money recovered from them.

    He also seeks perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from arresting, inviting, intimidating, or harassing the judges with respect to the case.

    The plaintiff is among others contending that the raid on the residences of the judges and their arrest was unconstitutional.

    He argued that the arrest of the judges did not follow the law.

    The plaintiff, in a supporting affidavit, stated that: “the 1st (President Buhari), 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), 4th (AGF), and 5th (IGP) respondents have no petition against the affected to the 6th respondent (NJC).

    “The 6th respondent is the only body empowered by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline judges and judicial officers in Nigeria.

    “The judiciary is an independent arm of government in Nigeria and separate from the executive and the legislature.

    “This illegal and unconstitutional action by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents have been roundly condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association.

    “The 2nd (DG of DSS), 3rd (DSS), and 5th (IGP) respondents carried out their action which brazenly infringed upon the rights of the affected five judges without lawful excuse or recourse to the 6th respondent.

    “The 2nd, 3rd and 4th (AGF) respondents have no right under the law and and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discipline, infringe upon the rights of the affected judges.

    “Due process of law has not been followed in the arrest, humiliation harassment and detention of the affected Judges by the armed agents and officers of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respondents

    “The affected judges have not committed any crime or wrong known to law to warrant their arrest, harassment, humiliation and detention, the forceful invasion and sieging of their residential houses and the forceful seizure and confiscation of their monies and properties without any court order.

    “Due process of law were not followed and carried out by the 2nd, 3rd and 5th respondents before the arrest, humiliation, harassment, embarrassment, hounding, detention and forceful, seizure and confiscation of their monies.

    “The officials and agents of the 2nd, 3rd and 5th respondents have threatened and vowed to continue to use to use unconstitutional means to arrest, humiliate, harass, pillory, hound, intimidate, and detain Hon. Judges and judicial officers of superior courts in Nigeria without recourse to the 6th respondent as the constitutionally recognised body to discipline erring judges.”

  • Buhari greets Babalola at 85

    Buhari greets Babalola at 85

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated legal luminary, educationist and philanthropist, Chief Afe Babalola, as he turns 85 on October 30, 2016.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President joined members of Aare Babalola’s family, close associates, professional colleagues and the academia in celebrating the milestone in the life of the man, whom he said epitomizes unique and enviable qualities that every nation will want projected in its leadership and citizenry.

    He reaffirmed that the legal luminary’s lifestyle exemplifies discipline, diligence, honesty and wisdom, which are virtues he employed from childhood to succeed against the vicissitudes of poverty and deprivation, and climbed steadily to reach the pinnacle of his career as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    As he marks his 85th birthday, President Buhari believed Aare Babalola can look back with pride at his achievements, which include the God-fearing act of always catering for the poor and under privileged, and mentoring of lawyers from his Emmanuel Chambers that have turned Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Attorneys-General and Ministers of Justice.

    He also extolled the patriotism and commitment of Aare Babalola to nation building through regular counseling of leaders, representation of the Federal Government and founding of one of the best universities in Africa.

    Buhari prayed that the almighty God will grant the philanthropist longer life, good health and wisdom to sustain the good works.

  • Buhari, Gowon meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Gowon meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd).

    The meeting, which was held in the President’s office at the State House, Abuja, lasted for about one hour.

    The former Head of State’s last visit to the Villa was in August.

    Gowon, who was abroad during the last Council of State meeting, was meeting the President for the first time since then.

    At the end of Thursday’s meeting, Gowon did not speak with State House correspondents.

    There was also no official statement concerning the meeting at the time of filing this report.

  • Buhari to minister: stimulate economy with petroleum 

    Buhari to minister: stimulate economy with petroleum 

    …Kaxhikwu vows to raise $20b

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday launched the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Roadmap tagged “The 7 Big Wins”,” and urged the Minister of Petroleum Resources to maximize petroleum resources to  stimulate the economy.

    Speaking during the public presentation at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said: “Therefore, the task before the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is to maximize the potentials and opportunities across the whole range of the Oil and Gas industry to stimulate our economy in spite of the current challenges.”

    He admitted that the industry presently remains critical to the nation’s economy in spite of her challenges.

    He stressed that the “golden era of high oil prices may not be here now, but Oil and Gas resources still remain the most immediate and practical keys out of our present economic crisis.

    “The Oil and Gas still remain a critical enabler for the successful implementation of our budget as well as the source of funds for laying a strong foundation for a new and more diversified economy.”

    The President noted that as important as it is to ensure that Agriculture, Solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy are supported to grow and contribute more to the nation’s economy, Nigeria still needs a virile and efficient oil & gas industry to take care of her foreign exchange requirements.

    According to him, this is a national imperative and a core thrust of the nation’s economic policy.

    Continuing, Buhari said “Therefore, the task before the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is to maximize the potentials and opportunities across the whole range of the Oil and Gas industry to stimulate our economy in spite of the current challenges.

    “To do this certainly requires creativity, innovation, technology and robust partnership amongst various stakeholders.”

    The President called for the dire need to instill a new culture of transparency and efficiency in the industry, streamline operations along best practices by championing and implementing strategic reforms at every layer of the industry.

    He noted that this “will help us improve oil and gas production, explore our frontier basins, improve our local refining capacity and above all build sustainable partnerships with the oil producing communities.

    “If we are able to plug the leakages, and tighten loose systems that characterized this industry in the days of high oil prices, we are convinced that we can do even more with the little that we are getting at the moment than we did even in the time of plenty.

    ”  As you are aware, recent developments in the Niger Delta have temporarily limited our oil and gas production and supplies. However, let me reaffirm that, whatever challenges we are currently facing in the region, our resolve and capability to work with all stakeholders to restore normalcy will guarantee success.”

    Speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu explained that  disclosed that the major thrust of the programme is to raise government’s revenue from the oil sector through cutting down on project contracting cycle, ensuring 100 per cent local refining by 2019 and the commercialization of gas flaring.

    He further stated that the country would ensure that it finds every oil that is available in every part of the country, with increased private sector participation, while it intends to raise $5 billion and $20 billion in the short and long term respectively, for the Federal Government.