The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria, says Chime

    A former Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime has said President Mohammadu Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria.

    He also cautioned against falling for the antics of candidates promising to restructure Nigeria in the presidential polls.

    Chime told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Enugu that it was deceitful for anyone to promise to restructure the country in six months.

    It would be recalled that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was reported to have promised to start the restructuring of the country from May 29 if he is elected.

    Abubakar also said that about 80 per cent of the restructuring of the country would be completed within the first six months of his administration.

    However, Chime described the statements as a `deceit’ aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians.

    The former governor said that in as much as he was not against restructuring of the country, it would not come easily.

    He said that restructuring of any nation was a long term project and would never be achieved by any single individual.

    He said that the clarification had become imperative as many people from parts of the country were beginning to fall for the bait.

    “Let no one deceive you on this because restructuring of this country is beyond what the president can do alone. It takes a very long time to achieve that.

    “Nothing can be as deceitful as that and you cannot be talking about restructuring without constitutional amendment,” he said.

    Chime, who is a constitutional lawyer said that at the moment there was no legal framework that would support the clamour to restructure the country as the Nigerian Constitution did not recognise any form of referendum.

    The former governor said that for the current structure of the country to be tinkered, it must be subjected to a well-defined referendum.

    “As we speak there is no legal framework to guide us to the change of let us say a parliamentary system of government or any other one.

    “It will take not less than 15 years for the country to be so restructured in the true sense of the word,” he said.

    Chime also said that those who were advocating for the restructuring of the country should convince Nigerians on why the current structure should be altered.

    “They should convince us why it is better than what we have now,” he said.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had shown enough commitment in leading Nigeria out of the woods and needed to be encouraged to continue his good works.

    “Buhari is the best thing to happen to Nigeria now because he brought us back to what Nigeria used to be. This is not about sentiments,” he said.

    The former governor condemned what he described as `politics of segregation or ethnicity’ saying that it had affected governance of the country.

    Chime, however, called on Nigerians to reject those that want to drag the country back to the dark days. (NAN)

  • Militants were unleashed on my government, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday revealed that militants were unleashed against his government in the early days of the administration.

    He made the remark during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign mega rally in Abuja.

    Buhari said: “When we came, the price of crude from over $100 average, went down to $37 and $38 and then the militants were unleashed on this administration but we have all now overcome those difficulties.

    From the little resources available to his administration, he said it has achieved a lot in terms of provision of critical infrastructure in various sectors of the economy across the country.

    Accordingly, he said the government has recorded great achievements on the campaign promises it made in 2015, including security, economy and the fight against corruption.

    He said: “I want to remind everybody where the country was before we came in in May 2015 where we are now and what we have been able to do with the resources available to us.

    “You residents of Abuja know a lot of our three fundamental campaign aspirations security, economy and fighting corruption.

    “Insecurity, the people of the northeast and the people of Abuja can know much better. Book Haram were holding more than 17 local governments in the northeast when we came, they are not holding any local government now.

    “But what they are doing is indoctrinating young men and women, wrap them up with explosives and send them to soft targets, mosques, marketplaces, motor parks and so on.

    “And then, we had the problem of herders and stagnant farmers in Benue state that we have looked after it. The problem of people who are just looking for trouble and they find something from you, especially in Zamfara state.

    Read also: Buhari, not sit-tight President – Oshiomhole

    “Those two are being looked after by the security agencies. On the economy, we are very lucky, but unfortunately, Nigeria has been underestimated.

    “We had in agriculture in the last three years since we came. What the government did was to get partners that are available at half the price it used to be and thank God we hardly import rice now, more than 90 percent of rice import has stopped and the money we realized, we are ploughing it back to infrastructure.” he said

    The President went on: “You know the condition of our roads, you know the condition of the railway, it was virtually killed and you know there was no power.

    “The previous government admitted without anybody asking them that they spent $16 billion on power. You know more than I do. Where is the power, where is the money? Stolen.

    “My point will come, when I talk about bribery and corruption which is the third undertaking we made, those people who said they spent $16 billion on power eventually they will account for it.

    “We are under a system now those who have been given responsibilities in the three tiers of government, the centre and the state government and if they abuse it we will ask the security agencies to investigate and prosecute them.

    “We have already done so in a number of cases, you know it, they came and bought properties here in Abuja, they invested outside the country.

    “We are appealing to the countries, Europe and America to help us recover the looted funds and property which we are putting back to build infrastructure with the resources available to us.

    “We were doing that militants were unleashed on us but we have now overcome those difficulties and now building infrastructure. If you give us the next four years, I assure you, you will not regret it.”

  • What happened to power sector cash, by Obasanjo

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo is of the view that those who believed his administration wasted $16 billion on power project implementation with nothing to show for it lacked proper understanding.

    In a reply to queries on what happened to the $16 billion power sector funds under his administration, the former president said it was wrong for anybody to reply on what he called “unsubstantiated allegations against him by the then leadership of House of Representatives over the project”.

    Before President Muhammadu Buhari vowed yesterday to probe the multi-billion dollar project, he had in May last year, queried where the funds went.

    The former President, who responded through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, blamed the query on lack of proper understanding.

    He said:  ”It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that a statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari, apparently without correct information and based on ignorance, suggested that $16 billion was wasted on power projects by “a former President.

    “We believe that the President was re-echoing the unsubstantiated allegation against Chief Obasanjo by his own predecessor but one.

    “While it is doubtful that a President with proper understanding of the issue would utter such, it should be pointed out that records from the National Assembly had exculpated President Obasanjo of any wrong-doing concerning the power sector and has proved the allegations as false.

    “For the records, Chief Obasanjo has addressed the issues of the power sector and the allegations against him on many occasions and platforms, including in his widely publicised book, “My Watch” in which he exhaustively stated the facts and reproduced various reports by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which conducted a clinical investigation into the allegations against Chief Obasanjo, and the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Power on the Investigation into how the Huge Sums Of Money was Spent on Power Generation, Transmission And Distribution between June 1999 and May 2007 without Commensurate Result.

    “”We recommend that the President and his co-travellers should read Chapters 41, 42, 43 and 47 of My Watch for Chief Obasanjo’s insights and perspectives on the power sector and indeed what transpired when the allegation of $16 billion on power projects was previously made.

    “If he cannot read the three-volume book, he should detail his aides to do so and summarise the chapters in a language that he will easily understand.

    “”In the same statement credited to the President, it was alleged that there was some bragging by Chief Obasanjo over $16 billion spent on power. To inform the uninformed, the so-called $16 billion power expenditure was an allegation against Chief Obasanjo’s administration and not his claim.

    “The President also queried where the power generated is. The answer is simple: The power is in the seven National Integrated Power Projects and eighteen gas turbines that Chief Obasanjo’s successor who originally made the allegation of $16 billion did not clear from the ports for over a year and the civil works done on the sites.

    “”Chief Obasanjo challenges, and in fact encourages, anybody to set up another enquiry if in doubt and unsatisfied with the EFCC report and that of the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal-led ad-hoc committee.”

     

  • Four feared dead at Port Harcourt rally

    ….14 persons were brought in dead, UPTH spokesman insists

     

     

    A HUGE rally to push President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for a second term ended yesterday on a tragic note in Rivers State – four persons died in a stampede.

    Many were injured and rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), which is close to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, venue of the rally.

    President Buhari, who got to the stadium at 2:32 p.m., rounded off his speech at 3:16 p.m., but most APC members and supporters had started leaving the main bowl before the national anthem was sung to end the event.

    It was learnt that when the crowd was leaving the stadium through the gate marked: “Pedestrians Only”, policemen opened only one side of the big gate, which was not enough for the surging sea of heads.

    When our reporter got to the scene at 4:50 p.m., three aged women and a middle-aged man were seen lying dead. A man, who was revived after fainting, blamed it all on ‘overzealous’ policemen who, according to him, did not leave the two sides of the gate open.

    Two UPTH ambulances moved injured persons and the bodies to the Federal Teaching Hospital.

    When contacted at 7:12 p.m., UPTH spokesman Kem Daniel-Elebiga confirmed that 14 persons were brought to the hospital dead. Three were being attended to at the casualty unit, more were being rushed in, he said.

    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said Police Commissioner Usman Belel had ordered an investigation into the stampede. Anybody found culpable is to be arrested and prosecuted.

    “The Area Commander, who led the police team, informed me that he saw four bodies and four injured persons, who were moved to UPTH in two ambulances belonging to the hospital (UPTH). For now, I am not aware of higher casualty figure, but the thorough investigation ordered by Rivers State Commissioner of Police will reveal further details,” DSP Omoni said.

    But the UPTH spokesman insisted that 14 persons were brought in dead to the hospital.

    On Monday, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and many members of the party were at the stadium. APC leaders said holding their rally the next day was to use their brooms, the symbol of the party, to sweep away the PDP, its candidates and members.

    This is the President’s second visit to the state since May 29, 2015 when he mounted the saddle. His first visit was when he inaugurated the International Terminal of Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa.

    At yesterday’s rally were the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the Director-General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers State Governor; ex-Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio; Rivers governorship candidate of APC Tonye Cole and his running mate, Chief Victor Giadom as well as the state chairman of APC, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; among other leaders of the party.

    Buhari promised to remain steadfast and consistent in fighting corruption; stressing that Nigeria is one and would remain one. “I will not preside over a government that will cheat or abuse trust of Nigerians”, he said.

    The President went on: “I stand here to express my most sincere gratitude to you for being here since early this (yesterday) morning. Thank you very much indeed. I am also here to congratulate you for your restraint. It is absolutely clear and I am very pleased that you are responding to whatever the leadership of APC agrees to do within this political system.

    “I am very very disturbed by the decision (of the court) that we (APC’s candidates in Rivers) are not allowed to participate in some of the processes. I have no doubt I got elected, but I have to respect the institutions that I inherited. I assure you and I recommend that you should be patient and resolute. We are going to assure that justice is done in this country.

    “When we came in, in 2015, you knew the condition we found this country. The people of the Northeast are the witnesses of the improvement affected in the security of the country. In the economy, God has blessed us. In the last three rainy seasons, government made fertiliser available at half the price it used to be. People went back to the farm, they did not regret it and we have virtually achieved food security. The hundreds and millions of dollars we used to spend on rice, we save it now for infrastructure.

    “About fighting corruption, we are going to remain steadfast and consistent. I like to ask you for your patience and understanding. The fundamental thing is that Nigeria is one and it will remain one. And we will do justice to all and sundry. It is our duty. I assure you that I will not preside over a government that will cheat and abuse the trust of Nigerians. I will be accountable to God and to you for my performance as the President of this country.

    “I like you to please bear with me that I am going to be steadfast. I am going to see that you are respected. You have one vote, I have one vote, as the President of this country. What I will do, I will make sure, through the armed forces and law enforcement agencies that Nigerians are respected, they are allowed to vote for those they like across the parties, in whatever constituency. So, please have faith that I am going to be fair to all. I will not allow anybody or any institution to intimidate any constituency in this country. I thank you very much and I respect your loyalty.”

    Oshiomhole appreciated APC members for their steadfastness.

    Read also: Govt accuses PDP of planning to scuttle poll

    He said: “Let me begin by appreciating the fighting spirit of the APC people and the APC supporters in Rivers State. I am extremely impressed that in spite of all the efforts to demoralise you, to weaken your spirit, to create doubt and to compel you to wallow in self pity, you are here this (yesterday) afternoon on your feet, as if nothing has happened, to make the statement that you are not weakened by the forces of enemy, whether from within or without. I salute your fighting spirit and I salute your vision.

    “These are tempting moments when men of little hearts will give up, as if this is the end of the world. When I stepped into the stadium and saw this crowd, I said what would it have been, if we were here much earlier or better still, if what we had in Abuja today (yesterday) was not the case, but let me say to you, the attitude that you have displayed this (yesterday) afternoon is the appropriate one.

    “Those who may be happy, who may be smiling that they will become what they do not deserve, they will find that the downfall of a man is not the end of his life. I have seen those who seemed to smile too early in the morning, they end up crying much later in the night.”

    Amaechi, however, declared that he and other APC members in Rivers would battle Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the last.

    The minister said: “Whatever PDP does in Rivers State, we are equal to the task. I am not going to Abuja again. We have a governor (Wike) who will try to negotiate with us that he will support us for presidency, but we should give him governor. He is afraid. We will battle him to the last. I have not spoken like this before. On Saturday (February 16), they should get ready. We are ready for them. They used federal and state institutions against us. They killed APC people and cut off their necks everyday. The right to choose our leaders to stop the killings, they got a state high court judge to give judgment.

    “Eighty per cent of those who have made successes in Rivers State politics passed through me. Wike was my chief of staff. I made him chairman of council (Obio/Akpor). I nominated him as a minister. When he saw Goodluck (former President Jonathan), he betrayed me. He betrayed serially everybody he met, including Senators. After you finish helping them, after praying for them, they go and betray you for a pot of porridge. Saturday is our day.”

    To Akpabio, the crowd was clear evidence that APC was waxing stronger in the state.

    The former governor of Akwa Ibom State urged Rivers people and other Nigerians to massively vote for President Buhari to “take Nigeria to the next level”.

    Cole, co-founder of the Sahara Group, described Rivers APC as “strong, alive and would not die”.

    Flag-Amachree reiterated that there was a deliberate conspiracy to disenfranchise APC’s candidates and the electorate from participating in the elections. The people will not agree, he said.

     

     

  • Buhari mourns deceased APC supporters in Port Harcourt

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the tragic death of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in a stampede at the presidential campaign rally held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that President Buhari is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and extends deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

    He also wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.

    The President described the deaths as “needless loss of lives and an anti-climax to a highly successful outing” in the oil city that could have been averted if there was an orderly exit from the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

    Read also: 14 die, many injured in stampede at Buhari’s rally

    “It is indeed a great tragedy that Nigerians who have important roles to play in shaping the future of the country and had come to see and hear from us how hard their government is working to build a Nigeria of their dreams, would meet their end in this unfortunate circumstance.

    “I assure the people, with all sense of responsibility, that the party and the government will do everything possible to ensure the well-being and safety of our citizens as they troop out to attend rallies and all other political events,” the President said.

    President Buhari assured the government and the people of Rivers State as well as the affected families of the support and prayers of the Federal Government during this difficult time.

    The President prayed Almighty God to repose the souls of the deceased.

  • Buhari: ‘I’m confident of winning’

    Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said he would win. The President hinged his confidence on his performance and integrity. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN sought opinions of Nigerians on the president’s claim.

    The standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari, has predicted his victory ahead of the contest. He made a similar prediction in 2015, which eventually came to pass. Some Nigerians believe that the president is on the verge of winning again, given his soaring popularity and performance.

    A political analyst, Dr Baba Aliyu, said the president was right to say he would win, because there was no credible opposition that can match his personality and integrity. Aliyu said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in disarray. He said other aspirants who contested for the ticket with Atiku Abubakar who eventually won the primary have not supported his bid.

    Aliyu said: “The likes of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido, David Mark, Ahmed Makarfi, Aminu Tambuwal and others have distanced themselves from Atiku’s campaign. The opposition party is weak; there is no unity of purpose among the leaders. It shows that they are not pleased with the emergence of Atiku as the PDP flag bearer.

    “I could remember that Makarfi warned his party (PDP) not to give the presidential ticket to the highest bidder. He said the party should present a candidate whose integrity could match that of President Buhari, because the president is still very popular in the north. Makarfi warned that if the moneybag emerged as the presidential candidate, the PDP should just forget 2019 presidential election.”

    Aliyu observed that all the 24 states controlled by the APC have adopted Buhari as their presidential candidate. He said: “Even in states like Ogun, Imo and Zamfara, where there are intra-party crises over governorship primaries, they have pledged to work for Buhari’s victory. In states controlled by the opposition parties, some of them are working for Buhari. He will improve on his performance this year in the Southsouth and Southeast, where he scored about five per cent in 2015.”

    Civil right activist, Comrade Moshood Erubami, agrees with Aiyu.  He said the absence of a credible opposition is an added advantage that that will make Buhari win the other parties hands down and make them to lose their deposits.

    The President of Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTASS), a civil society group, said there two kinds of opposition parties presently. He added: “There is the PDP, which remains its own problem; its past has been blotted by its antecedent of robbery and empting of the treasury, clueless sense of good governance. The leadership of the party is bereft of character that can convince Nigerians to vote for the PDP to win again in the next elections.

    “There are some of them in the legislature that are marking their last sojourn in the parliament. Some will contest their elections in detention for their offences against the state. Some will not come back to continue their leadership position in the 9th National Assembly. All these will add up to make it easy for the president to win and run good government in the coming dispensation.”

    On Buhari’s achievements, Erubami said the government has now shown leadership in the construction of roads and railway lines. He said there were verifiable achievements that cannot be denied, which will win him election in 2019. He listed some of the road projects as follows: Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway; Yola–Hong-Mubi road; Umuahia-Ikot-Ikpene road; the construction of the second Niger Bridge; Bauchi-Azare road; Kano-Jigawa-Maiduguri expressway; dualisation of Yenegoa road junction-Kolo-Ituake in Bayelsa and the rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugeb road in Cross River State.

    Others are the rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Ibadan highway; the rehabilitation of access road to Apapa/Tincan port; the reconstruction of Nasarawa-Loko-Alushi road; the emergency repairs of collapsed Tatabe bridge, along Mokwa-Tegina road in Niger State; the reconstruction of Benin-Ofusu-Ore-Ajebandele-Sagamu expressway; the rehabilitation of Gbogan/Kwara State border road; the construction of Pankshin-Tapshin-Gambar-Sarka-Kal-Gindiri road in Plateau State; the Bodo-Bonny road with bridges in Rivers State and Kaduna eastern bypass.

    They also include construction of Nnewi-Uduma-Uburu road in Ebonyi;  the construction of Lokoja-Benin expressway;  the rehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha dual carriageway; the construction of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwara road in Ekiti; the reconstruction of Gombe-Numan-Yola road; the construction of Ikot Ikpene border-Aba-Owerri dual carriage way; the construction of Tsakuwaran-Galambi road in Jigawa; the repairs of Kaduna-Abuja express road; the dualisation of Kano-Katsina road; the rehabilitation of Zaria-Gusau-Birni Kebbi road; the reconstruction of Sokoto/Tambuwal/Jega/Kantagora/Makera road and the rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa- Birni Gwari road.

    For the rail project, he said the Buhari administration has completed Kaduna-Abuja rail line started by the PDP government and that the Warri-Aladja rail line has also been completed and being test-run, while the Lagos-Ibadan rail will be ready for commissioning next month.

    Erubami added: “In the areas of agriculture, the following commodities are now being produced locally in an attempt to diversify the economy: rice, maize, cassava, soya bean, wheat, fish and poultry products. In power sector, the government is already excelling in the building of Mambila hydro electric power plant located in Taraba State, Northeast zone. On completion, it will generate 3050 megawatts to make up for the targeted over 10,000mw.”

    A social scientist, Dr Abubakar Alkali, said a poll research conducted by his firm on 2019 elections has shown that President Buhari is in pole position to win the election. He explained thus:  “In terms of popular votes, the APC seems to have an edge in the big two- Lagos and Kano states controlled by APC. The total number of registered voters for Kano and Lagos is 12, 028, 038 which is 14 per cent of the total number of registered voters. This says a lot about the likely outcome of the election in terms of popular votes.

    “APC is certain to win the popular votes and in a good position to satisfy the constitutional requirement of 25 per cent in at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is likely that APC would satisfy this requirement.”

    He said the projected total votes for President Buhari is 30 million votes (71.4 per cent) as against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s 12 million (28.5  per cent).  On state by state analysis, he said the president is likely to win in 26 states namely, Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Niger, Edo, Akwa Ibom, FCT, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Nassarawa,  Kwara, Plateau and Osun.

    “Our projected results indicate that President Buhari of APC will win the 2019 presidential elections with 30 million votes or 71.4 per cent while Atiku Abubakar will score 12 million votes, he concluded.

    Similarly, a public affairs commentator, Simeon Kolawole had given five reasons why  Buhari would win the 2019 presidential race. He said when you look at the numbers of the registered voters, you would realise that the APC strongholds of Southwest and North have the highest number of registered voters. The Southeast and South-South where anti-Buhari sentiments are strong are still playing catch-up. If the North and Southwest settle for Buhari again, then Buhari will win.

    He said: “The PDP has become a joke since it lost power at the centre in 2015. The party as it is presently constituted is still the strongest opposition platform. But, its brand image is not sparkling. After overcoming the internal imbroglio that nearly decimated it, the PDP is now perceived as the property of one or two governors.”

    Kolawale said Buhari is still much loved on the streets of the north. Everywhere Buhari has visited in the North has been the same story. Surging crowds chanting ‘Sai Baba and delving into a frenzy each time the president puts that legendary fist up. For all his faults, Buhari remains a huge factor in the politics of the North.

    He said the continued defection to APC is a major factor that will favour Buhari’s re-election bid.  He explained, “The APC currently has 24 states in its kitty. Juxtapose that the PDP’s 11 and APGA’s one? When the PDP ceded plenty of grounds to the APC in 2015, most of its members began to empty into APC. The mass defection continues at a frenetic pace till today. Don’t be surprised if the APC sweeps more states in 2019, because PDP members are daily emptying into the governing party in droves. We may just end up with a mono party democracy in 2019 and that would be bad for everyone.

    Kolawole said the perception of Buhari’s fight against corruption has won him public support. He said: “Nigerians who actually possess Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) may just hand Buhari another term because he is not a thief. These Nigerians have also been told that the thieves are the ones frustrating Buhari and who want to stop him from getting another term. Barring a miracle, it will be Sai Baba till 2023 and there will be just enough humble pies to go round, he concluded.

    It appears President Buhari has made an in-road into Niger Delta given the declaration of the youths to support his second term bid. For instance, the Ijaw youths had assured the President of their votes in the forthcoming general elections. The youths under the aegis of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide insisted Buhari deserves a second term. They said they were excited by Buhari’s plans to allocate oil blocks to Niger Delta oil –producing states to facilitate development in the region.

    The group spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka, said the only way they could reciprocate the Buhari’s good intentions through his programmes and projects in the region is to reward him with a second term. He said: “Buhari won our admirations when he resisted pressure mounted on him by haters of the region to scrap amnesty programme in 2015. Besides, he deserves a second term to enable him consolidate his agenda in the region.

  • Buhari hails Osinbajo for role in economic recovery

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday commended the qualities and competence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Buhari, specifically praise him for the role played on the ‘CHANGE AGENDA’ and his capacity as the head of the National Economic Council (NEC) in the past three and half years.

    He gave the commendation during a meeting with Ogun State traditional rulers, led by Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.

    The President was responding to the Vice President’s presentation at the meeting on the economic outlook in the country in the last three and half years and how the APC-led administration has done more with fewer resources.

    The President said: “Him (Osinbajo) being the Chairman of NEC is in a very strong position to know what we are earning and what we are doing with the earnings.

    ‘‘I am very pleased with his vast experience and intellect. He has captured effectively what the administration has done and I commend him for playing a very great part in that. Thank you, Mr Vice President.’’

    The President told the traditional rulers that in all the States he had visited so far for his re-election bid, he had taken time to explain to Nigerians the achievements, programmes and future plans of his government in the three key areas of economy, security and anti-corruption.

    ‘‘On the promises on security, I have mentioned repeatedly that the people of the North East appreciate our undertakings because you cannot manage a country unless it is secure. We have succeeded in that and we thank God,’’ he said.

    The President noted that Nigeria has attained food security under his watch, adding that many farmers have testified that fertilisers are now available and affordable.

    ‘‘Fighting corruption is the most difficult under our system but still, we have not given up. We are steadfast in our determination to ensure that those who abuse trust are brought before the law and punished,’’ he said.

    President Buhari appealed to the traditional rulers to prevail on their subjects to be law abiding and show respect to constituted authority during and after the elections.

    ‘‘I am happy for what you have done on voter education so that your people can choose whoever they like from whatever party,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Oba Gbadebo assured the President that Ogun people will give him more than 60 percent of the votes in the State to guarantee his re-election and that of their son, the Vice President, on February 16.

    He hinged Ogun people’s support for President Buhari on his commitment to the welfare of the masses, reflected in the array of well-conceived, executed and various ongoing projects that abound all over the country.

    The Oba announced that Ogun State has been a major beneficiary of Federal Government projects, listing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway that passes through 80 percent of the State, Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge fast train, the latest technology in train movement the world over, among others.

    ‘‘It was my privilege to have been part of the passengers on the trial run on the Lagos-Abeokuta stretch of the rail on Friday, February 8, 2019. Generations unborn will continue to thank your Administration for taking the bull by the horns,’’ Oba Gbadebo said.

  • Buhari expresses hope in resolving Zamfara APC crisis

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed hope that the crisis threatening the inclusion All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates in Zamfara in the coming general elections will soon be over.

    The President said this in Gusau during his campaign rally in the state on Sunday.

    “I took an oath as the president of this country to preserve and respect the sanctity of the judiciary and I will maintain this so that the right thing can be done.

    “Our party decided to go for either direct primaries, indirect primaries or consensus during the last party primaries ahead of the up coming general elections but we experienced challenges in eight states including Zamfara.

    “However, since the matter is in the court now, l hope and pray that before next Saturday, the court will resolve the issue so that candidates from our party can participate in all the elections,” he said.

    The president maintained that he could not hand out the party’s flag to the candidates in the state during his campaign rally as a sign of respect to the rule of law.

    He recalled that he had kept his 2015 campaign promises to Nigerians all the three areas of provision of security, improvement of economy and fight against corruption, noting that all recovered stolen money would be used for infrastructure development.

    While calling on the people to come out en-mass and vote for all the party’s candidates in the coming elections, the president urged them to be law abiding throughout the exercise.

    Earlier, the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari told the gathering that the party in the state had followed its case through the courts of law and pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the court’s ruling and allow the party’s candidates to participate in the election.

    Yari thanked the president over the visit and assured that the party would win all the seats in the coming general elections.

    In his remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole also urged the leaders, members and supporters of the party to be law abiding assuring that the party would be victorious in the coming general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the presidential campaign were Ministers of Defence, Mansur Danali and that of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau as well as former governors of Zamfara, Borno and Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmed Yarima, Alhaji Ali Modu and Aliyu Wammako among others. (NAN)

  • Buhari sends SGF, others to console families of 8 dead Taraba supporters

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha to Taraba state to commiserate with families of eight supporters that died during the All Progressives Congress (APC), presidential campaign in Jalingo, the state capital.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, he also condoled with the government and people of the state over loss of lives that attended last week’s loss.

    Other members of the team included Governor of Adamawa (a neighbouring state to Taraba) Mohammed Bindow; Senator Ali Ndume; Mallam Mohammed Bello, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Dr Ali Isa Pantami, Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

    Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf, a Taraba stakeholder, also joined the team.

    At the Taraba Government House, where the team was received by Governor Darius Ishaku, Boss Mustapha, speaking on behalf of the President, lamented the sad loss of eight people during and after the rally, promising that they would not die in vain.

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    The SGF said: “President Buhari will continue to focus on public good and welfare of the people. The eight people would then not have died in vain.

    “They represent the good of our people and country. They wanted good governance as symbolized by President Buhari, so they turned out to welcome him at the rally.

    “As we go to the polls, let’s exercise the civic responsibility with zeal, but also with decency and restraint. The country is our own, and we must preserve its oneness.”

    Ishaku expressed “sincere gratitude and thanks to Mr President for promptly sending a delegation to condole with us,” adding that the people of Taraba were grateful for the show of concern.

    He prayed the souls of the dead would rest in peace, stressing: “Peace is my mantra. I stand by it any day. I am thankful that Mr. President, who is firstly my elder brother before being my president, came to Taraba in peace, and left in peace.”

    An official letter of condolence personally signed by the President was presented to the governor by the SGF.

    At the palace of the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, the leader of the delegation condoled with the monarch and the people on behalf of the President, praying that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The Emir said it was President Buhari that needed to be condoled, since he lost his supporters, who loved him dearly.

    At the family home of one of the deceased where the relations of other victims had congregated, the names of the dead supporters were read out.

    Alhaji Haruna Kawuwa, who lost his wife, Safiya, at the overcrowding that attended the rally, thanked President Buhari for remembering and condoling with them at their time of sorrow.

    The delegation also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, where prayers were said for the quick recovery of the injured on admission.

    On hand during the visit, among many others, were Taraba APC chairman, Barrister Ibrahim El-Sudi, who also got a condolence letter from the President; the APC gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Sani Danladi, his running mate, and other party chieftains.

  • Photos/Video: Buhari visits Lagos for campaign

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in Lagos is just getting underway at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

    Thousands of supporters of the party from all parts of the state are converging at the venue,  to give President Muhammadu Buhari who is visiting the state a rousing welcome.