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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • APC chief to Igbo: don’t be distracted by Obasanjo’s letter

    a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Livinus Okwara has advised Ndigbo to ignore former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and support the President’s re-election in 2019.

    Okwara who is also the CEO of Rimax Computers, said that Obasanjo’s sudden support for the Igbo presidency is deceitful, adding that the Igbo have a better chance of realising their age-long ambition of producing Nigeria’s president in 2023 with Buhari’s support.

    He said, “Obasanjo cannot be trusted. His push for Igbo presidency in 2019 will not favour the Igbo our best bet is 2023 and the only party that guarantee Igbo presidency come 2023 is the APC. My advice is that the Igbo should vote massively for Buhari come 2019 to secure our chance for 2023. When I was coordinating Buhari’s campaign in the Southeast in 2015 I told our people that Buhari was going to win but majority did not believe but it came to pass and concerning the Igbo Presidency I told them to forget about 2019 so that we can allow Buhari to finish two terms and assist us in 2023″.

    Commenting further on the former President’s letter, Okwara said that the accusation of non-performance against Buhari is unfair, adding that “Nigeria’s problem cannot be solved overnight. Obasanjo’s letter is self-serving, he came to power and saw that there were certain areas of the constitution that the people were not happy with but he did not do anything about it and now he is fighting President Buhari who is fighting hard to fix the rot he caused in the system”.

     

  • Buhari to Ramaphosa: Let’s work together

    Buhari to Ramaphosa: Let’s work together

    President Muhammadu Buhari has told the new leader of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa that he is looking forward to working with him to enhance the cooperation between Africa’s two biggest economies.

    Buhari said this today in a letter of congratulation to Ramaphosa, who was endorsed today by the South African parliament as the successor of former President Jacob Zuma.

    Ramaphosa had been the deputy president to Zuma since 2009, but was elected the ANC President last December, a position that created a power problem between him and his boss.

    On Tuesday, the ANC leadership asked Zuma to step down from office, by recalling him.

    Zuma initially rebuffed his party, but when it dawned on him that he faced the humiliation of being removed by the parliament, he resigned on Wednesday night, paving way for Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and business tycoon, to take over.

    President Buhari was impressed by the peaceful transfer of power.

    “President Buhari also felicitates with the African National Congress (ANC)), and the Government and people of South Africa, on the peaceful transfer of power that resulted in the election of President Ramaphosa,” said Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant media to the Nigerian leader.

    “The Nigerian leader salutes the leadership and statesmanship of former President Jacob Zuma, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours”, Garba said.

    Nigeria and South Africa have maintained ties, dating from the anti-apartheid struggle years, when Nigeria provided a lot of assistance.

    Many South African companies such as MTN, Multichoice and Shoprite are today flourishing in Nigeria.

  • I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    I’ll keep crying until we get justice – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has said he will keep speaking out on the invasion and ongoing killings in the state until the people of the state get justice.

    He spoke when a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South South Zone, led by Archbishop God-Dowell Oyibo Avwomakpa, visited him at the Peoples House in Makurdi.

    He said if those saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property had acted promptly on reports which he made about threats to invade the state, subsequent massacre could have been averted.

    Governor Ortom reiterated his call for the resignation or sack of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for his unprofessional conduct of taking sides with the invaders and lack of capacity to stop the killings.

    According to the Governor, the sacking of communities and killings had continued after the burial of the 73 victims adding that several security operatives had been killed and their rifles taken by the Fulani herdsmen.

    He said herdsmen attacks had become an enormous national problem which patriots across the country must rise up to tackle decisively.

    The Governor commended the people of the South-South for rallying support for the state in its time of need more than any part of the country and prayed that God would reward them.

    Earlier, Archbishop Avwomakpa called on President Muhammadu Buhari to defend the people of the state as Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the country.

    He said the delegation visited to get first-hand information so as to know how to cry to fellow Christians in other parts of the world to come to the aid of fellow Christians in Benue State.

    The delegation had also visited and donated relief items to some of those displaced by the crisis in one of the seven camps.

    Read Also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/ortom-senate-igp-taken-side-benue-killings/

     

  • Buhari to Christians at lent: pray for Nigeria’s unity, progress

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Christians on the solemn occasion of the beginning of this year’s Lenten season.

    As they join their counterparts worldwide to emulate the worthy example of Jesus Christ, who fasted 40 days at the beginning of His earthly ministry, the President urged Christian brothers and sisters to pray fervently for the country’s unity and progress.

    He believed that Nigeria’s existence as one united country is a divine arrangement and nothing should be done to put it asunder.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, enjoined Nigerians to intensify love, brotherliness and concern for the less-privileged members of their communities to strengthen the bond of togetherness.

    “As Christians begin the period of increased prayers, piety, sacrifice and selfless services, the President wished them and all Nigerians well,” the statement said.

  • Lent: Buhari urges Christians to Pray for Nigeria’s unity, progress

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday felicitated with Christians in Nigeria on the solemn occasion of the commencement of this year’s Lenten season.

    As they join their counterparts worldwide to emulate the worthy example of Jesus Christ who fasted 40 days at the beginning of His earthly ministry, the President urged Christian brothers and sisters to pray fervently for the country’s unity and progress.

    He believed that Nigeria’s existence as one united country is a divine arrangement and nothing should be done to put it asunder.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, enjoined all Nigerians to intensify love, brotherliness and concern for the less privileged members of their communities in order to strengthen the bond of togetherness.

    As Christians begin the period of increased prayers, piety, sacrifice and selfless services, the President wished them and all Nigerians well.

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    Boko Haram membership thinning out, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    He made the remark while receiving the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina said the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that will eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and you keep shouting God is great.

    “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

    “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps,’’ he said.

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by repositioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ President Buhari told the Archbishop.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

  • Buhari, NHIS and anti-graft battle

    Happenings at the seat of power in the last few weeks, to many Nigerians, are fast pointing to the beginning of cracks in the Presidency.

    Many Nigerians have continued to wonder if the ‘father’ – ‘son’ relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is still intact.

    Severally in the past, the two leaders have maintained that the relationship between them is more than just ‘cordial’ but ‘father – son’ relationship.

    The good relationship was clearly exhibited when the President was on medical vacation for over 100 days in the United Kingdom last year.

    During the period, Osinbajo’s loyalty was total, which had never been seen between the past number one and number two citizens of the country.

    But one of the recent issues that is giving the impression that a division is fast taking place in the Villa, is last Tuesday’s reinstatement of the suspended Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.

    Osinbajo, who was the Acting President when the President was in London last year, had approved through the Minister of Heath, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the suspension of Yusuf on 6th of July, 2017 over allegations of fraud.

    Yusuf, whose suspension was based on allegations of abuse of office, nepotism and insubordination, was accused of buying a brand new Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle with number plate, NHIS 12Y-01 FG, for N58m.

    The amount for the vehicle was said to be above his spending limit of N2.5m and without the express permission of the Health Minister.

    In total, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was alleged to be investigating Yusuf for over N900 million fraud.

    Apart from being accused of awarding contracts to his cronies without following due process, Yusuf was also said to have favoured northern Muslims while many Christian southerners were often treated denied.

    In order to get to the bottom of the matter in line with the administration’s anti-graft battle, the EFCC and ICPC stepped in and began investigation on the matter.

    But before they could finish their investigations and make their findings public, a letter from the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, reinstated Yusuf last Tuesday.

    Many Nigerians, who noted that the government, as at last weekend, was yet to disown the Kyari’s letter or disown the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar, over recall to service of former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulraheed Maina, have continued to criticised the latest action by Kyari.

    Apart from claiming that the government is paying lip service to the fight against corruption, they believe that some northerners in the good books of the President are becoming untouchable irrespective of fraudulent allegations leveled against them.

    In a statement last Wednesday, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) signed by its Secretary-General, Alade Lawal, said “This is one intervention too many and as such Mr. President should allow Yusuf to retire from service to have time to run his personal business. How can a government official being investigated for a whopping sum of N919m fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission be reinstated by the government that came to power promising to sanitise the system?

    “This is very unfortunate. We, therefore, urge President Buhari to rescind his action and allow Prof. Yusuf to leave the system in peace.

    “Thus, if Prof. Yusuf resumes as the Executive Secretary of NHIS, it will amount to passing a vote of no confidence on the Minister.

    “What type of a government are we claiming to be running that anyone who is close to the President will become lawless, will not obey public service rules, nor report to the supervisory Minister and running a government agency as his personal estate because he is close to the powers-that-be?

    “This is the type of action that continues to give the likes of the United States President, Donald Trump, the effrontery to be deriding Africa and its leaders.

    ”The Investigative Panel set up by the Minister of Health to look into the alleged atrocities of Prof. Yusuf, including engagement of a consultancy firm in which he had vested interest to be ripping off the NHIS is a serious public demeanour that should not be condoned.

    ”It is also on record that Prof. Yusuf had recruited persons from his primordial constituency who are on Grade Level 10 in the State Public Service and imposed them on the staff of the NHIS by placing them on Grade Level 15 and above.

    ”As of the time of going to the press, the workers in the NHIS have become restive thereby setting the tone for a series of trade union actions that will be deployed if Yusuf is eventually reinstated.” he added

    Based on the reinstatement, Constitutional and Human Rights lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said “This is one more exemplication of the truism that this government fights corruption within the government with sweet – smelling Sasarobia perfume while it fights corruption against opponents and critics of government with a powerful insecticide.

    “That is why the government will order the arrest of Kassim Afegbua for merely advising the President not to seek re-election.

    “That is why a whole Minister will remove a person after a panel of enquiry has found the person culpable and the President will reinstate that person.

    “It shows again and again the issue of corruption being fought is a ruse to hoodwink the unwary and ignorant members of the society. No corruption is being fought at all.” he stated

    The seemingly tribalistic trend, according these Nigerians, is fast encouraging impunity and in-subordinations in the system.

    Workers union at the NHIS has also protested last week against the reinstatement of Yusuf.

    Also some Nigerians have started to warn the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, (a Southerner), whose Ministry has supervisory role over the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) headed by Hameed Ali (a Northerner), not to expect different treatment from what Adewole experienced in his ministry and NHIS.

    It is really hoped that all Nigerians will be able to see clearly the current fight against corruption to be non-selective, non-bias, and without any ethnic or religious consideration.

    Nobody, irrespective of his or her position or state of origin, or closeness to the power-that-be should be above the law.

    The same set of law in the same circumstances or situations should be applied to all Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious factors.

    Also upturning the decision of the Acting President, when he was in the saddle, without conclusion of investigations to give Yusuf a clean bill, is definitely sending a wrong signal to Nigerians, if the Presidency is still one united family.

    Only a united Presidency can stand together and withstand the storm coming in 2019.

     

  • Buhari, security chiefs meet in Aso Rock 

    Buhari, security chiefs meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 11.a.m. as most heads of the security agencies arrived the seat of power before 11.a.m.

    The meeting is an enlarged one also involving agencies such as Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Fire Service.

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

    Details Later…

  • Sokoto defunct CPC members cry marginalisation in state affairs

    Sokoto defunct CPC members cry marginalisation in state affairs

    MEMBERS of the Sokoto state chapter of the defunct  Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Saturday regrouped to lament over alleged total marginalisation  from affairs of governance and appointments by the Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal led administration in the state.

    They unanimously appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene by requesting the presidential panel to mediate in the matter with a view to addressing the problems.

    Similarly, they accused the current government in the state for metting gross injustice ranging from victimization as well as subjecting them to various criminal abuses.

    Addressing a press conference in Sokoto, the Convener, Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashir said after their painstaking sacrifices in the electoral processes that saw to the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) both in the state and at the centre, they were side lined.

    Bashir maintained that after the electoral victory, the PDP decampees under the leadership of Governor Tambuwal formed the government  without any one of our members. They have extricated themselves from all the merger agreements.

    ” Out of the sixty nine elected offices, none has been given to us from the office of the Governor to councils chairmen.

    ” Also, out of eighty eight political appointments, only one is given to CPC even though, he was a former member of the PDP who decamped to CPC after loosing relevance in the party at that time”, he pointed out.”

    The group however, applauded the move by the President for recognising the exigency to appoint a mediator to finetune and salvage the ruling APC from imminent disintegration and utumate collapse.

    ” We acknowledge and express our support and joy for a mediator in the person of our National party Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu to assist in salvaging our great party, the All Progressives Congress from imminent disintegration and ultimate collapse”, the convener said.

  • Buhari retires Justice Ademola, dismisses another judge Tokode

    Buhari retires Justice Ademola, dismisses another judge Tokode

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the compulsory retirement of Honourable Justice A. F. A Ademola of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and the dismissal from office of Honourable Justice O.O. Tokode of the Benin Division of the Federal High Court.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President’s approval followed recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    The statement reads: “The disciplinary actions on the two justices are in pursuance of section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “Justice O.O. Tokode is also to refund all salaries and allowances earned illegally from 2nd December, 2015 when he was sworn in as a judge of the Federal High Court to date,” he said.

    Meanwhile, President Buhari has commenced the process of ensuring that persons, judges and justices recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment into various courts of record in the instant are fit and proper, and are not under any disability to function as judicial officers.