The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Students back Buhari’s anti-graft war

    Students back Buhari’s anti-graft war

    …To take anti-corruption campaign to campuses

    Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have thrown their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing anti-corruption war.

    The group disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by its acting President/National Convention Chairman, Prince Miaphen.

    The students also supported the administration’s move to recover all funds stolen by corrupt former public officials and civil servants.

    Noting that corruption had for long remained the bane of Nigeria’s development, they said that corruption breeds nepotism, incompetence, and apathy.

    The group urged the President not to relent in the war despite criticism from some quarters.

    It read: “We strongly commend the zest and diligence of the Buhari administration in the war against corruption as it has made it resoundingly clear that indeed a new no-nonsense sheriff is in town and there is no hiding place for any former or present corrupt official.

    “It further makes bare that President Buhari is a man that matches his words with commensurate action because the anti-corruption crusade was a cardinal part of his presidential campaign manifesto.

    “We are fully aware that some trepid and disgruntled corrupt individuals and organisations are stopping at nothing to discredit and sabotage the ongoing war against corruption.

    “Some say it is selective, claiming it is targeted at decimating the opposition. However, we are yet to see a single individual or organisation that is standing trial or being investigated for corruption under the current administration that has not had his/it’s fingers tainted with corruption.” It added

    The group said it would partner with Buhari by taking the anti-corruption war to campuses.

    “We intend to partner with Mr. President by taking the anti-corruption war to the campuses.

    “The quest to revamp our educational sector must also integrate the need to stamp corruption out of the corridors of our Ivory Towers which has frustrated all efforts to bring our academic institutions to competitive standards,” it stated.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Obasanjo meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed-door with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Obasanjo, who was clad in dark blue ‘Agbada’ and white and blue cap to match, arrived the seat of power in black SUV jeep around 12.53 p.m.

    He was accompanied by one of his daughters.

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

  • FG not detaining Dasuki indefinitely

    FG not detaining Dasuki indefinitely

    Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla said Friday in Abuja that the Federal Government was not detaining Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) indefinitely.

    He dismissed as media propaganda suggestions that the Federal Government has refused to release Dasuki on bail.

    “I can assure you that nobody is detaining Dasuki indefinitely,Obono-Obla said.

    “There has been a lot of manipulation, media propaganda giving the impression that the Federal Government has refused to release him on bail.

    “It is not true; what happened was that he has several charges against him.

    “The first charge was unlawful possession of firearms which he was arrested and arraigned in the Federal High Court.

    “He was granted bail and he met the bail conditions, but before he was released, the SSS arrested him for an offence that is unrelated to that one of unlawful possession.”

    Speaking on the alleged detention of suspects without trial, Obono-Obla said detaining suspects for more than 48 hours without trial amounted to a breach of the provisions of the Constitution.

    “In civilised countries, people go to lawyers when they are arrested.Immediately they would tell you they want to talk to their lawyers.

    “Basically that is the law and that is the constitutional provision which is superior to any other law.”

    The Presidential aide said counsel to defendants are fond of resorting to  frivolous motions to delay trials because judges are  sometimes not firm.

    He added:“If you look at the Administration of Criminal Justice Act there is supposed to be collaborations between the Courts, the Law Enforcement Agencies and persons and authorities.

    “If you look at Section 1 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 to ensure that there is compliance of that law.

    “And what is the essence of that law, the essence of that law is to protect society from crime, to protect the rights and interests of defendants, suspects and society.

    “The lawyers take advantage of the fact that they are senior members of the bar and the judges are not firm on them, so they come out with all manner of excuses to get adjournment to prolong the matter.

    “So if the lawyers are alive to their responsibilities as ministers in the temple of justice then they cannot do that because the law is very clear even if it would adverse to your client’s interest.”

    Obono-Obla stated that the President is depending on the National Prosecution Coordinating Committee to improve the standard of prosecuting public officers that have looted the country’s treasury.

     

  • Impeaching Buhari is not a possibility –  Marafa

    Impeaching Buhari is not a possibility –  Marafa

    …Says Senate committee reshufflement part of APC reconciliatory move
    The new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara) on Friday ruled out any possibility of the Senate impeaching President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, no serving senator is contemplating such impeachment.

    Media reports had last week claimed that there were moves to impeach the President.

    Marafa, who is the spokesman of the Senate Unity Forum Senators, said the report must be a heavy joke.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “In legislature, we crack a lot of joke. I will only describe that as heavy joke. Nobody is contemplating that. It is not a possibility and God’s willing it will not happen in this assembly.

    While noting that the reshufling of the Senate committees on Thursday was normal in parliamentary, he said that it was part of reconciliation between the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Senate.
    He said: “I think reschuffling of committees is not new in any parliament. What made that of yesterday a little new is the circumstances of the emergence of this leadership and what followed.

    “What happened yesterday is a result of the efforts the party has been putting in for reconciliation in the last few days,” he said.

    He also admitted that peace has returned to the Senate.

    “Yes, as long as the party comes in and the will of the party is respected. We are not at loggerhead with anybody. It is not like we hate somebody. The current Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been one of my very close friend and senior in the 7th assembly. What you saw happened is what I will describe as loyalty to the party. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes only the party, it doesn’t recognize any individual.

    But he disclosed that it is the party that has the final say on whether to withdraw the cases in court.

    He said: “We didn’t go to court because we didn’t like the face of those that emerged, but this is the will of our party. During the 7th assembly, we accorded the ruling party at that time the utmost cooperation and we knew the committees that we were given that time.

    “But now, we are in power it is our own time and we should be accorded all the necessary cooperation. We should be seen to respect the party. If the party says withdraw the case, we will on to withdraw the case,” he said.

    Stressing that the relationship between executive and legislature at any level is like relationship of husband and wife, he was optimistic that the crisis between his state governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the State House of Assembly will soon be resolved.

    “So there is nothing knew as far as I’m concerned. We belong to the same political party and we are one. We are on top of the situation and we are trying to calm the nerves and look at the problem from its root. We will resolve the issues amicably. By our tradition and culture, Zamfara has never had that kind of problem.” He said

    According to him, the ongoing bombing of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta is more injurious to the region.

    He called on them to come to the table to resolve whatever grievances they have.

    On his visit to President Buhari, he said: “The President is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the committee I was given yesterday relates to the Ministry. As my father and leader, I will not start anything without seeking for his blessings. He has prayed for me and I can face the assignment headon.””For the umpteenth time, the IYC call on the Aides and Advisers to President Buhari to properly advise him on how to solve the current hostilities in the Niger Delta region and equally display a determination to resolve the problem as his predecessors did.

    “Only a sincere and holistic dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta region which is aimed at addressing the remote causes of recurrent militancy can bring permanent peace to the Niger Delta region. This can only happen when President Buhari as the political leader of Nigeria come down to the negotiation table,” the statement said.

  • Tompolo blasts Buhari

    Tompolo blasts Buhari

    *says President knows nothing about Niger Delta

    *Accuses FG of unfair treatment

    *Buhari should be father of all

    The leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo, has slammed  President Muhammadu Buhari ignorance about situation of the Niger Delta region.

    He said the APC-led Federal Government is only interested in the oil produced in the region and not the well-being of its people.

    Ekpemupol (AKA Tompolo), in his latest letter to the President, also accused him of unfair treatment and alleged molestation of his 84-year-old father, Chief Thompson Ekpemupolo.

    He claimed that his octogenarian father lost a lower limb to amputation following his encounter with  troops of the Federal Government who invaded Kurutie, Warri South West Local Government Area in May.

    He urged the President to take keener interest in the affairs of the region and investigate allegations against him instead of judging him by what politicians say about him.

    He said, “As it stand now, you are not abreast with things happening in this part of the country, perhaps you are only abreast with crude oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta region.

    “I do not need to remind Your Excellency that, the primary duty of any government is to seek after the welfare and security of the citizenry,” he said.

    On his father’s travails, he added, “The military went to Kurutie Town in search of my 84-year-old father and brutalized him. We managed to rescue him to Warri and hospitalised him.

    “Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctors report, it will be a miracle if he survives this incident. Is this 84 years old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, that he was brutalised to the point of death?

    “Will your Excellency accept this in good faith if this was done to your father or someone of this age in your family? I have not heard of anyone that was treated like this even in the volatile North Eastern part of the country,” he added

    Tompolo, who dwelled extensively on his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the N13bn NIMASA University land acquisition debacle, urged the President to deploy his trusted aides to the area to ascertain the true state of affairs.

    He hinted that the issue of his alleged fraud was being used as a tool of blackmail and political vendetta, stressing that if the president took time to  investigate the matter the truth would be revealed.

    Nevertheless, he maintained his avowal to adopt lawful means always and  not  violence to prove his case with the EFCC.

    Yet he said, “Your Excellency sir, I have been wondering since the beginning of my travails at your instance, and I wish to ask whether, is this part of the fight against corruption in Nigeria? Or was it because I supported my kinsman, former president Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections? I thought everyone in Nigeria has the liberty to support whoever he or she deemed fit in an election.

    “And as Dr Jonathan bravely accepted the outcome of the election, which brought you in as President of Nigeria today, I thought you will heal wounds as the father of the Nation. And it was on this premise that I visited you immediately after your swear-in ceremony to pledge my loyalty and readiness to work with your administration.

    “I am yet to be told the reason for all these shenanigans exhibited by your security agencies and party members. I really want to know whether this macabre dance is being declared by you or is it out of their own volition to perpetuate this high level of hatred on my person and close associates? It has really gotten to a worrisome dimension as the situation is getting deteriorated by the day.

    “The latest victims of this unwarranted, misdirected and wicked act are Hon. Simeon Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta State Waterway and Land Security Committee and a driver of one of my aides, Mr Ebipade Kari, who was on an errand with a little baby.

    “The baby was thrown away from the vehicle, as the driver was beaten to pulp by your men, as he was asked the whereabouts of his boss.

    “That was not all, the military men stormed the house of one of my younger brothers, and harassed his pregnant wife with guns pointed at her. This has led to complications because of the closeness to her full time of delivery.

    “The duo who were arrested are presently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, Effurun. Before this incident, the Navy went to the apartment of another of my aide, and picked up his heavily pregnant wife as he was out of town, and kept her for 24 hours in the Navy base before releasing her.

    “The truth of the matter is that I have been treated unfairly by you sir. After all these hullabaloo about the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in which I was accused of some wrong doing, you are yet to send emissaries to Okerenkoko (permanent site) and Kurutie( temporary site) of the University to ascertain the level of things on ground.”

  • Militants deny talks with FG

    Militants deny talks with FG

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim to be in talks with Niger Delta militants, including the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has been described as a manifestation of the president’s insincerity, as there had been no established contact yet.

    President Buhari had on Thursday, during a farewell meeting with the outgoing German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zinner, said his administration was in talks with the armed insurgents in the Niger Delta, through security agents and oil companies operating in the region.

    But the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), as well as the most vocal of the insurgent groups in the region, NDA, claimed President Buhari’s claim was insincere and aimed at deceiving Nigerians and the international community.

    While the Avengers, in a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo,  denied being in any talks with the federal government, the IYC, in a statement circulated by its spokesman, Eric Omare, expressed at the president’s claim to using foreigners (oil companies) to negotiate on the nation’s behalf.

    The Avengers, in the statement, said it stood by its earlier decision not to be involved in any negotiation with the federal government in any talk that would not involve the international community.

    “Our attention has been drawn to media report that the President is in touch with Niger Delta agitators including the Niger Delta Avengers, but the truth is that we are not aware of any peace talk.

    “If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The President knows our demands. So they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community.

    “If there is any such peace talk, it means the President is talking to their mercenaries set to disturb the genuine struggle of the agitators. President Buhari led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies”, it said.

    IYC, in its statement yesterday, charged the Buhari administration to borrow a leaf from its predecessors and seek an all-encompassing talks with the peoples of the oil-rich region.

    “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide says that President Buhari and the federal government of Nigeria should stop deceiving Nigerians and the international community about talks with Niger Delta militants on how to stop attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

  • We are talking with militants – Buhari

    We are talking with militants – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president on Thursday.

    Buhari spoke at a farewell audience with Mr Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria at the State House, Abuja.

    He said his administration was studying the instruments of the amnesty programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.

    “We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments.

    “We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,’’ he affirmed.

    He expressed appreciation to the government of Germany for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the ongoing rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.

    The president also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.

    The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration”.

    He expressed the readiness of Germany to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North-East to help displaced persons return to their villages.

    He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.

    Zinner reiterated the standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Buhari to visit Germany.

  • OAU names Elujoba as acting VC

    OAU names Elujoba as acting VC

    In compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate of the the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has recommended Prof Anthony Adebolu Elujoba for appointment as the acting Vice Chancellor of the University.

    A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that after an extensive deliberation by the Senate, presided over by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Omolayo Ajayi, Elujoba was elected by massive votes of the over 200 senate members in attendance.

    The new Ag Vice Chancellor, is an accomplished academic who had served in various capacity over the years as the Head of Department of Pharmacognosis, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Chairman, Ceremonials Committee of the University among others.  He is also a n alumnus of the university.

    The statement said the news of the recommendation of Elujoba was greeted with wide jubilation by the workers.

  • Nigeria to explore new opportunities in gas technology – Buhari

    Nigeria to explore new opportunities in gas technology – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration will continue to welcome innovative ideas in the gas, technology and agricultural sectors to reposition the economy.

    Receiving the Letter of Credence of the High Commissioner of the Republic of India, Mr. Nagabhushana Reddy, at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari said Nigeria will strengthen cooperation with the Asian country on education, technology transfer and military training.

    Buhari, in a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “The relationship between Nigeria and India is a long one. The relationship pre-dates Nigeria’s independence and as soon as we got our independence we opened a mission in New Delhi.

    “Our relationship cuts across education, military, trade manufacturing and technology. I recall schooling at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington from 1970 to 1973 and the significant role India played in establishing the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    “Certainly, you are also the biggest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil today. We need more of that partnership as Nigeria tries to be more innovative in education, manufacturing and agriculture to diversify the economy,” he said.

    The President said that the strong relationship that had been established between Nigeria and India over the years could be further explored in creating a competitive edge, and mutual advantage for both countries in agriculture, trade and skills transfer.

    In his remarks, Reddy said the Indian government was looking forward to consolidating its relationship with the Ministries of Petroleum, Agriculture, Trade and Investment, and Power, Housing and Urban Development for various projects.

    The Indian High Commissioner said the Indian Chamber of Commerce had already created a Nigerian Chapter, with a view to promoting trade, especially in the energy sector.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from   Ambassador of the Republic of Gambia, Mr. Famara Kassy Gaye; Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Thambirajah Reveenthiran and Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Morteza Rahimi Zarchi.

  • Buhari seeks confirmation of Ndome-Egba, 18 others

    Buhari seeks confirmation of Ndome-Egba, 18 others

    ….Nominates Eko, Augie Supreme Court Justices

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of Justices Ejembi Eko and Amina A. Augie for confirmation as Justices of the Supreme Court.

    This is contained in a letter addressed to the Senate president, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The President said that the two nominees will represent North-central and North-west‎ respectively.

    The letter said, “In accordance with Section 231 subsection (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, I have the pleasure to forward for your confirmation, the nomination of the two nominees as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

    In another development, President Buhari also forwarded the name of a former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and 18 others as chairman and members of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    President Buhari in the letter asked the Senate to give the request an expeditious consideration and confirmation of the NDDC board of directors’ nominees.

    Apart from Senator Egba who hails from Cross River state, others appointed are Nsima Udo Ekere who is to serve as managing director. He hails from Akwa Ibom state.

    Adjogbe Ajenakevwe is to serve as executive director in charge of projects and hails from Delta state. Mene Ienyie Derek, executive director is to head finance and ‎administration and hails from Rivers state.

    Other board members are Donatus Enyinnah (Abia state), Frank Samuel George (Akwa Ibom state); Brambaifa Nelson (Bayelsa state); Sylvester Effefiom Nsa (Cross River state); Ogaga Ifowodo (Delta state); Uwuilekhue Saturday (Edo state) and Osita Bonaventure Izunaso (Imo state).

    Olatokunbo Ayotunde Ajasin (Ondo state); Harry Iboroma Dabibi (Rivers state); Bernard Banfa (North-central zone); Yahaya Mohammed (North-east zone); Mustapha Dankadai (North-west ‎zone); Igo Weli (Niger Delta region); Mahmoud Isa-Dutse (Federal Ministry of Finance) and Abdul-Kazeem Kasumi Bayero (Federal Ministry of Environment) were also on the list.

    The consideration and subsequent confirmation of the nominees will be done when the Senate resumes from its 6-week break in September, 2016.

    The two letters were read by Senate President yesterday in plenary.