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Tag: Administration

  • Abduction of schoolboys on my visiting day to Katsina meant to embarrass my administration – Buhari

    Abduction of schoolboys on my visiting day to Katsina meant to embarrass my administration – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the abduction of 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, was targeted at embarrassing his administration.

    Buhari made the statement when he met with the rescued Kankara students and representatives of their parents at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Katsina.

    The president, who spoke in Hausa, said it was not a coincidence that the bandits struck on the very day he visited his home town, Daura after about 18 months.

    He explained that his trip to Daura had become necessary in view of the fact he last visited home 18 months ago, disclosing that he planned to retire to the town after completing his second term in May, 2023.

    “I normally visit my home town because I swore by the holy Quran that I will safeguard the nation’s constitution, hence I must hand over power on May 29, 2023 to the next government.

    “So, if God spares my life, I’ll definitely come home. This informed my visits home.’’

    Buhari vowed to leave behind a stable and prosperous nation by the end of his administration.

    The president thanked God for sparing the lives of all the 344 rescued students, urging them to put behind them their ordeals in the hands of the bandits.

    He called on the students to take their studies seriously to enable them accomplish their missions in life.

    Buhari said that he was at the Katsina Government House to rejoice with the students on their release from captivity, saying that government would do all it could to prevent future occurrence of the incident.

    The president lauded Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State for his untiring efforts in ensuring the release of the abducted students.

    He also commended security officials involved in the rescue operation.

    The president reminded those saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding lives and property of citizens to bear in mind that they would also be judged by God after their earthly sojourn.

    Buhari, however, said the military and other security agencies still had a lot to do to secure the country and its citizens.

    “This is their job. They signed for it. Whether they like it or not, they will have to provide security for the country,’’ the president stated.

    In his remarks, Masari suggested that the security architecture in the country should be upgraded to ensure safety of citizens, assuring that the “kidnap of school children will never happen again’’.

    The governor said the release of the children was through collaborations, negotiations and discussions, thanking the president for consistently supporting the process, creating time for regular updates and taking actions when needed.

    Buhari had since departed Katsina State after his week-long visit to Daura, his country home.

    Masari and the Deputy Governor of Katsina, Mr Mannir Yakubu, were among dignitaries, who bid the president farewell at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport, Katsina.

  • Pray for Buhari to last until 2023 (2) – Dele Sobowale

    Pray for Buhari to last until 2023 (2) – Dele Sobowale

    Dele Sobowale

    “Under this administration, life has lost its value, and more and more citizens are coming under the influence of criminals. We do not see any willingness on the part of President Buhari to honour his oath to provide security for Nigerians. In civilised nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign.

    Northern Elders Forum, December, 2020.

    “Nowhere is safe under Buhari, Sultan-led JNI laments.”

    News Report, DECEMBER 3, 2020, p 8.

    Bashing Buhari has now become the national past-time. Individuals and groups who one would have assumed would stay with Buhari to the bitter end, are now the most vocal in calling for the President’s ouster. In addition to the Northern Elders Forum, and the Jama’atu Nastril Islam, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, just fell short of asking the President to resign.

    Perhaps, the most embarrassing criticism of Buhari must be that of Senator Kaita from Katsina and the President’s own senatorial district. Here was what an elected official from Buhari’s home front said. “I totally believe the President is doing his own best, but then doing your best is not enough when we cannot see the result….” Being booed by a Senator from the President’s party must hurt.

    “What does corrupting time not diminish…” Horace, 65-8 BC.

    Time has certainly diminished President Buhari – judging from the utterances of groups and individuals who were once fanatically devoted to him. Like a performer no longer entertaining, the audience is heading for the exits.

    About two years ago, Buhari proclaimed himself the most unhappy President in the world on account of the intractable problems of the economy and security. Then, the majority of the Northern establishment was still supporting him; or keeping their reservations to themselves. The vocal critics were the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Afenifere and Southern-based socio-political groups. It was easy for the President and his loudspeakers in Aso Rock to accuse the critics of “bad belle” politics. Now, the President has no place to hide. With only two and a half years to go in office, Buhari is being heckled by people who supported him in 2019. It is bad enough that they are now disenchanted with his leadership or lack of it, they actually want him to go NOW!!

    Certainly, just as unhappy are his Special Assistants on Media and other aides charged with reading all the papers and providing cuttings for the President. Hitherto, they could easily find positive reports and comments to present to the President – even if they don’t represent the majority view. Keeping the boss shielded from reality when it is unpleasant is part of their duties. Today, they can hardly find any favourable report or comment to present to Buhari. That on the surface will dictate that the safest thing for a columnist is to join the BUHARI MUST GO bandwagon. That is precisely what I will not do. Writing columns is not a popularity contest. The privilege always carried with it a great deal of responsibility – including finding the courage to be in the minority. Three reasons account for my position on Buhari.

    “A journalist should be pursuing a fair rendition of the truth without regard to moods; the journalist must not be swayed by public opinion..”; that is according to US journalist Malvin Kalb in the 1970s. I am not a journalist. But, everyone who is privileged to write regularly must conform to that principle. My current position on Buhari is solidly grounded on that dictum.

    Secondly, “It is unthinkable that wisdom should ever be popular” (Goethe, ). The easiest thing at a time like this is to join the popular bandwagon while claiming that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”. Frequently, those making that statement forget another view which said “Vox populi, vox humbug (Latin) or “the voice of the people is often nonsense” US General William Sherman, 1820-1891’. Any leader who on very important matters decides what to do based on the “voice of the people”, which frequently means “the voice of the vocal few” will ruin his nation. That is one cardinal reason why Buhari should ignore the calls for him to step down by, undoubtedly well meaning, leaders and groups. Let me provide reasons – which are inextricably linked.

    NO BUHARI; NO APC.

    “A political party deserves the approbation of [the people] only as it represents the ideals, the aspirations and the hopes of [the people]. If it is anything else, it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.” US President Dwight Eisenhower,

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, was never a party representing the ideals, aspirations and hopes of the Nigerian people. Right from its creation by the legacy factions, it was more of a conspiracy to seize power. The party manifesto was nothing more than a deceptive document – which had since been discarded.

    The only way that conspiracy would work in 2013 was to make Buhari the Presidential candidate. Without that PDP would have trashed them. Now, more than ever, Buhari is the glue holding what is left of APC together. Former Senator Sani of Kaduna State revealed the truth about two years ago when he said “Without Buhari, APC will break and everybody will go to his house.” Even with Buhari as de facto leader, the party is already cracking up. APC will immediately disintegrate if Buhari, like President De Gaulle of France, should get tired of the caustic and humiliating criticisms he is now receiving and resign.

    Let nobody be deceived about the constitutional provisions stipulating that Osinbajo should take over. The Vice President will be in the same situation as Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was installed as the Head of the Interim National Government, HING, in 1993, by General Babangida as he “stepped aside”. Lacking his own strong political base, Shonekan was an easy push-over for the military who sent him packing in 32 days after assuming office as Head of State.

    Osinbajo also lacks a political base. And, it will amount to wishful thinking to assume that he can borrow Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political machine fpr two reasons.

    First, several forces within the two or three factions of APC are adamantly opposed to allowing Asiwaju’s group from seizing Aso Rock – even if it is done in support of Osinbajo. Furthermore, the VP-turned-President depending on somebody else for his political survival is a good definition for a puppet. The country Buhari will bequeath to Osinbajo cannot possibly afford a weak President – given the enormity of the problems he will inherit.

    Second, even Asiwaju’s political machine is no longer the powerhouse it used to be. Acolytes taken up; financed and turned into leaders at state and national levels now have a lot of money and are not easy to lead anymore. Some have even become hostile to their former benefactor. The South West, which was once regarded as Jagaban territory is now keenly contested. Asiwaju must now rebuild a new political and machine. Relying on Asiwaju for the monumental support required will amount to two cripples staggering forward arm-in-arm. It will not work well.

    By now, it should be clear to those asking for Buhari to be impeached or to resign why it is not in the national interest for him to do so. Only Allah can determine death and sickness. But, ask any insurance professional; and he will confirm that a man 78+ needs a lot of prayers to survive till 2023 and in good health. That is why we all need to pray for Buhari. He alone can still make certain changes which will get us beyond 2023.

    MODEST PROPOSALS TO PRESIDENT BUHARI.

    “I know I shall pass through this world but once…”

    Late Dr Tai Solarin,

    Buhari is in a small group of people in history worldwide who led their countries at two different times – Napoleon of France 1769-1821, Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia 1922-2012, Juan Peron 1895-1974 Argentina and our own Obasanjo (real birthday unknown); just to name a few. It is one of the verdicts of history that few leaders who were recalled a second time had a happy ending. In fact, Obasanjo remains perhaps the only happy exception in over 200 years among national leaders worldwide who were recalled from retirement or exile to lead their country again. Almost invariably, those who reached for the former leader in times of new trouble soon discover that he is no longer the saviour they once presumed. Then harsh criticisms follow. Some times, like late Milton Obote of Uganda, 1925-2005, he is kicked out twice.

    Fortunately for Buhari and Nigeria, there is very little chance that he will be impeached. The votes are not there in the Senate for that to happen. My real fear is that he might quit. Then untold horrors will follow that decision.

    Under the circumstances, the best Buhari can do between now and May 29, 2023 is to leave a positive legacy. By now, it should have been obvious to him that his Ministers, Security Chiefs, Presidency sycophants and jesters have been lying to him about how Nigerians – including Northerners – think of his government. He is held responsible for the sins of thousands of people. Only Buhari can save his legacy within the short time available.

    To do so, he should focus on the following simultaneously: restructure the polity; right-size the Federal Government, mobilise Nigerians against all terrorists, herdsmen included, stop borrowing NOW and be prepared to lead a new political party into 2023 and beyond.

    I am limited by space to explain all these fully. But, here are some of the reasons. Restructuring is an idea whose time has come. It is irresistible now. The US President-elect will name less than 20 cabinet members. Nigeria should have no more than 30 instead of 43. Bandits, kidnappers, Boko Haram and herdsmen kill Nigerians. Buhari should move against all of them. We borrow mostly to pay salaries and entitlements of public servants representing less than two per cent of Nigerians. Buhari should stop this economic lunacy at once by refusing to borrow. The Service should either be self-sustaining or be down-sized. Finally, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has become a problem and a major constraint for rapid action. In fact, the APC exists now only on paper. Buhari should take his own faction into a functioning alliance that will enable him to achieve results.

    LAST LINE. Buhari has already made history; he can walk away from office. He no longer needs us; we need him. That is why we should pray for him. The President should also endeavour to leave a positive legacy behind. He should seek out and work with patriotic Nigerians who want the country to remain united. The alternative to forging unity is perpetual wars across the territory.

  • Will a Biden Administration Put Smiles on Africa?, By Tony Iyare

    Will a Biden Administration Put Smiles on Africa?, By Tony Iyare

     

    What does the victory of the more urbane Joseph Robinette Biden Jnr hold for Africa? Will the continent elicit a better deal from his incoming administration than the “shithole” perception of a garrulous Donald Trump? Is there some glimmer of hope, that the new American government, with Kamala Momala Harris, an African American as Vice President, will have a more chummy relationship with a continent still ravaged by poverty and myriads of militia groups? Is the Biden administration likely to be sterner in checkmating the growing resort by many African leaders to subvert their constitution and cobble a third term agenda? These and other issues are examined by TONY IYARE.

    Quite frankly, I share the deep enthusiasm, excitement and frenzy that have greeted the election of former Vice President, Joseph Robinette Biden Jnr as the 46th American President. No doubt, his resounding victory against an uncouth President Donald Trump, whose policies have stunted America’s leading role in global affairs and undermined many multilateral organisations and global alliances, has resonated with all parts of the world.

    Biden, who sought the presidency “to rebuild the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class and to make America respected around the world again” will surely makes a difference in reasserting America’s frontline role. He has also promised to heal the wailings of his now divided nation and govern in the interest of all Americans, pleading with those who casted their lot for Trump in a hotly contested election, to give him a chance.

    What may perhaps be forlorn is the renewed optimism by some that Africa will get a better deal with the Biden administration because an African American woman of Asian extraction, Kamala Momala Harris is his vice. Some including former President Olusegun Obasanjo have even pointed to the filial relationship of her sister who’s married to a Nigerian and extrapolated a more friendly and understanding stance.

    If wishes were horses, we may indulge ourselves in some jolly ride and even chew the bubble gum. It is understandable that many may have gotten sucked to the lack of institutional trappings in our environment where family ties play a dominant role and want to generalise it in other climes. What however governs the conduct of American foreign policy whether under a Democrat or Republican President, is not given to such trite and puerile consideration but propelled largely by its strategic interests.

    Before we dance ourselves lame over such consanguine attachments, we may want to ponder on what really were the significant gains of the 8 year administration of the first African American President, Barack Obama to Africa or to Kenya where his forebears came from?

    Are we easily lost to the western coalition spearheaded by Obama which overthrew and killed Muammar Ghadafi, leaving a hitherto stable and prosperous Libya into shreds, now taken over by different militia groups with arms roaming freely and imperilling the continent? That this has stoked other militia groups like Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa and other jihadist groups allied to al Qaeda and ISIS operating on the Sahelian fringes of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to completely destabilise that region including Nigeria, is tragic.

    Obama himself concurs that the aftermath of intervention in Libya was his “biggest foreign policy regret”. In a town hall meeting in 2016, he confessed: “I did a little too much counting on other countries to then stabilise and help support government formation, and now it’s kind of a mess.”

    Despite being sanctimonious that Africa needs “trade and not aid,” his support to the continent was virtually a pittance. The $8bn aid that the US spent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 was relatively small compared to what he gave to Afghanistan ($5.5 billion) and Israel ($3.1 billion) that together received more aid than the 42 African countries south of the Sahara.

    Rather than assist to lighten Africa’s burden and boost its economy, the Obama government was paranoid in the pursuit of gay, lesbian and transgender (LGBT) rights that was directed at dismantling the African concept of marriage. The New York Times estimates that more than half of the $700 million slated for global campaign on the issue under Obama was spent in sub-Saharan Africa.

    But for many African leaders who had the effrontery to resist this campaign that was now insidiously tied to aid and who maintained that they were not interested in subverting the natural process of nurturing the family. Even the much vilified George W Bush administration which bequeathed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) enacted in 2000 to promote international trade in sub-Saharan Africa, presented a fairer deal.

    Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi has however warned us not to be too expectant of the Biden administration, but he too seems to have joined in the optimism that the new government will mean well for Africa.

    “Don’t let us forget that the American economy is in dire straits now. So I don’t expect to see a massive foreign aid package targeted at Africa specifically.

    “In terms of African aid, you know the AGOA put in place by President George Bush Jnr, to encourage value-added products from Africa and to allow them entry to the United States. The AGOA treaty was going to run out and President Trump said he was not going to renew it, Biden is not going to allow it to run out.”

    “With problems now in Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea, Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire, all dealing with electoral malpractice, I foresee a Biden administration intervening either directly or through a surrogate- the AU, ECOWAS and others being used in resolving issues than Trump was not willing to do,” he argues.

    I’m wondering what strategic interests these countries mean for the US, now in the throes of a waning economy and Covid 19 pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 of its citizens that a Biden administration will worry about the shenanigans of their leaders?.

    Akinyemi, also a former director general, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), told Arise Television that “I believe that a Biden Presidency will be more sensitive to the struggle for human rights, the struggle for democracy and for decency in governance. The presidency is not going to encourage either by emulation, or by foreign aid or military aid, the comfort of dictators and autocrats that we have in the world.

    “That to me is what I can identify specifically in dealing with Africans. African interests have always been part of interests promoted by multilateralism,” he contends.

    Some also naively think that a Biden administration may smoothen the chances of former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Iweala, an international finance expert to clinch the position of director general, World Trade Organisation (WTO), forgetting that the US which controls 12 per cent of global trade is querying her lack of experience in that area. It will be full hardly to expect the US under Biden which may just be a different face of the same coin, to bark down on this vital demand.

    We may not like Trump who has been hard on immigration which many perceive as targeted at the Latino and African Americans with a rising geometric growth in population. But his vision is in synch with that of mainstream Whites who perceive a future threat on their continued hold of political power and are agreed on the need to urgently check it.

    The difference really is that what a tweeting Trump says glibly on the housetops is shared by many Whites in the secluded recess of their homes. Do not take the slogan that America is a land of opportunities for all on the face value. Why then are the Black and Latinos population perennially at the receiving end of Police brutality or criminal profiling? Although Biden’s tragedies seem to have humbled him to connect with different races that this will translate to his leaning to change the power configuration in the US may be a mirage.

    It’s really intriguing why many are enmeshed in the renewed hope that the Biden administration will put smiles on Africa. Human rights is narrowly perceived as expanding the frontiers of LGBT rights. Since Biden’s vision of human rights is also beclouded by the LGBT community which supported his victory, is this not to suggest that he may be toeing the Obama agenda and railroading the continent on this path?

    It may also be farfetched to expect that America under Biden will check the antics of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other agents of international finance from strangulating African economies and by extension, undermining the living standards of the people. It is illusory to expect foreigners to propel African development. The solution to tackling the crises of African economies and creating a better life for its people must be located in Africa.

    Rather than tie its destiny to the vagaries of the Biden administration, the African people must rise up to challenge their governments to massively invest in healthcare, education and infrastructure in order to enthrone a congenial living condition on the continent. Instead of excoriating Trump for denying our people Visas, we must resist the urge to allow our people to be indiscriminately lured to other lands in search of the Golden Fleece. We need to appreciate that no country tackles its development challenge by allowing its best brains to emigrate to Europe and America.

    Iyare, a Communication and Development Consultant is also an International Relations Analyst.

  • Why my administration may sometimes jettison rule of law – Buhari

    Why my administration may sometimes jettison rule of law – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said his administration may have to jettison the rule of law for the overriding interest of the country at large.

    The president said during a gathering of lawyers that the “Rule of Law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest.”

    “Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society,” Buhari said while addressing the opening ceremony of a conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Read the president’s full speech below.

    I am delighted to address this distinguished gathering on the occasion of the 2018 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association. Let me thank your Association for the invitation to declare this Conference open and to express my hope that the Conference will consolidate the position of the NBA as a prime stakeholder in our national affairs.

    2. I am informed that with an average attendance of over 10,000 participants, this Conference represents one of the largest single gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world. I congratulate you all for this achievement which is a plus for our nation.

    3. The theme of this 2018 NBA Conference — “Transition, Transformation and Sustainable Institutions” — is one which is apt in the light of our contemporary domestic and global challenges. I also consider it significant in view of the fact that it demonstrates the willingness of the NBA to address issues, not only related to the immediate practice of law but more importantly, to solutions of wider society’s problems.

    4. Since the inauguration of this administration, I have had the privilege of observing at first hand how societies experience transition, attempt transformation and build or strengthen institutions to manage these processes.

    5. As you will recall, this administration’s emergence marked the first successful civilian transition in Nigeria’s democratic history, following the outcome of the 2015 General Elections.

    6. Given the enormity of the challenges we inherited and the yearnings of a citizenry earnestly desirous of a new way of running national affairs, our first challenge was to transform our country speedily into a society where impunity in the management of national resources would be replaced with a culture of accountability and transparency. We needed to deploy our resources to address our common needs rather than the greed of a callous few.

    7. In order to achieve this, we have had to disrupt age-old assumptions and unsettle ancient norms in the management of our national patrimony, as you have all witnessed in the last three years.

    8. While we have made appreciable progress in several sectors, including public awareness of the need to challenge the corrupt and the brazen in our midst, we have also learnt useful lessons on the dynamism of our society. However, elements within every society, including some lawyers, can equally become unduly resistant to change, even where it is proven that such change is to serve the interest of the larger society. At worst, corruption fights back.

    9. As we gradually move into another season of intense political activities preparatory to the 2019 General Elections, I enjoin you to remember that by reason of your profession, you all have a responsibility to work for national cohesion and unity through your speeches and public positions and most importantly in your advocacy in court.

    10. In the context of opinions and narratives about our past and present political and socio-economic experience, you cannot afford to jettison rational and proper analysis of issues in a manner which builds, rather than destroys the nation. I also urge you to work to uphold and improve the sanctity and integrity of our judicial and electoral institutions which play a fundamental role in the sustenance and growth of our democracy.

    11. However, let me remind you all, my dear compatriots, that the law can only be optimally practiced in a Nigeria that is safe, secure and prosperous.

    12. As you go into this Annual Conference, let me assure you of the resolve of this administration to promote measures that will achieve a vibrant economy under which the practice of law will thrive.

    13. Through fiscal discipline, good housekeeping, we navigated the difficult days of economic transformation at the beginning of this Government in 2015 and have now come to improving economic indices, including the consistent increase in our foreign reserves; thirteen straight months of decreasing inflation; the expansion of social safety nets programmes as well as the blockages of historical drain pipes in our national treasury, all within the context of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

    14. It is equally significant to emphasize that our willingness to hold persons accountable for offences against society, through the judicial process, will equally transform the future of public service in Nigeria in a positive manner.

    15. I believe that lawyers can contribute to another core objective of enhancing our business environment and promoting social justice by promoting respect for the Rule of Law; contributing to the law reform process and putting national interest and professional ethics above self in the conduct of their business.

    16. Rule of Law must be subject to the supremacy of the nation’s security and national interest. Our apex court has had cause to adopt a position on this issue in this regard and it is now a matter of judicial recognition that; where national security and public interest are threatened or there is a likelihood of their being threatened, the individual rights of those allegedly responsible must take second place, in favour of the greater good of society.

    17. I trust that this Conference will achieve tremendous success and I urge you all to participate actively in its various intellectual and social activities in order to build new bonds and strengthen old relationships. I congratulate the incoming National Executive of the NBA led by Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN, and wish them a successful tenure in the task of advancing legal practice in Nigeria.

    18. In conclusion, may I wish you all, once more, a very fruitful Conference. It is my hope that the outcome of your deliberations will impact positively on the socio-economic fortunes of our country and Africa in the years ahead and improve access of the poor and under-privileged in our society to justice. I look forward to reading the conclusions of your conference.

    19. Your Excellencies, My Lords, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Bar, it is now my pleasure to declare the 2018 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association open.

    Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Why I’ll probe Fayose, Eleka’s administration – Fayemi

    Why I’ll probe Fayose, Eleka’s administration – Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi has declared that he will probe the administration of the outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after he was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, Fayemi who stated that there was need to remove this election from personalities, noted that the election that we fought on issues.

    “ It will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years, what was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period”

    He said his administration will want to know “ why we were we not able to pay salaries in the state, adding that “ these issues should be examined in the interest of good governance.

    “It is not about probing Fayose, probing Eleka etc, it is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good government and how to do so will also involve looking at what transpired in the last four years.” he said

    Fayemi who disclosed that he has started the process of putting the government together, said transition committee has already began “to look into the record of the state, its assets and liabilities adding that he expect the outgoing government to extend its hands of cooperation to the committee

    “ We will engage also all of our professionals to ensure that we deliver good governance to Ekiti people. That is what they voted for and that is what we intend to give. So, basically, this three months will be used for this purpose”

    “What sold us to the people is really the track records of our commitments to social investment, good government, transparency in government, extensive infrastructure and community involvement. These were the things.

    “Everywhere we went during the campaign, we were able to show what we did for each community. All of our 132 communities were are projecting all of them and they knew that our government was regular in payment of salaries, support to a range of the weak and vulnerable in the society and that was really what sold us.

    Fayemi denied allegations of voted buying, challenging anyone with evidence to make such evidence public.

    “I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote buying and intimidation. In the place where l voted there was no vote buying anywhere.

    “As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that, it is not our style.

    He disclosed that his party the All Progressive Congress ( APC) won the election fair and square” adding that “it was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote buying. So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience”

    Speaking on his program for the state, Fayemi declared that “ We always been interested that out people lived a decent life, a life without hunger, with social support and that is why we were paying social security benefits to the elderly, we provided the youth graduate scheme fir the recent graduates, provided support for the communities”

    “For us, we never saw stomach infrastructure from any pedestrian manner that the current administration has lived it up to. For us, it is about total development of our people, human capital development in education, health care, in social services and infrastructure development. It is the services we focused in.

    “We increased salaries three times so that people could put food on their table in four years. That was why we provided range of allowances fo4 the workers . There was a huge difference between what we did and the present administration with lack of salaries , heartless , despair and despondency. We are restoring the values and reclaiming our mandate.

    The chairman of the APC Ekiti election committee Governor Atiku Bagudu commended the party leaders, including President Muhamamdu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo , the National leaders, stakeholders and Ekiti people for the success of the eclectic not

    “We had a vey successful election, it was quite peaceful and Ekiti on the day the election results were declared, there was jubilation and we congratulate them. We thank INEC and the security despite the misconstrued reports, provided their best. I have seen many who said this is the most peaceful election we have had.”

    “Let people campaign on issues and here we have a candidate who was humble and despite what happened before, he was humble to say in 2014 that if that was the wishes of Ekiti people, I will not go to court. Ekiti people have once again delivered their wishes and anyone who loves Ekiti should respect their wishes “ he said

  • Stop comparing our three years administration with PDP’s 16 years – Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said comparing the three-year-old administration of the incumbent All Progressives Congress (AP) to the sixteen years administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was unfair.

    He said the fact that the opposition PDP had started assessing the present government even shortly after spending two years in office showed that “we have performed well.”

    Osinbajo said this in his short remarks at a gala night/dinner organised to round off activities marking the 2018 Democracy Day.

    The Vice-President stood in for President Muhammadu Buhari at the event held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Osinbajo said it was important for the current government officials to thank God for having been in office for three years.

    He said he would not have believed the prophesy if anybody had told him five years ago that he would become the nation’s Vice-President.

    Osinbajo said the administration had recorded great success.

    He said for those who had been in government for 16 years comparing themselves to an administration that was just three years, showed that the administration had done very well.

    Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, described the evening as auspicious in the sense that it was the third year of Buhari’s administration and 19 years of democracy.

    “As we go into the fourth lap of this administration, good things are about to happen,” he said.

    According to the SGF, the democracy lecture delivered by a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, on Monday, was one that would be discussed for a long time.

    Mustapha said, “Jega spoke truth to power across all divides and that the time has come for Nigerians to begin to tell themselves the truth if the country must experience the desired change.

    “He spoke to all divides, executive, judiciary and legislature. I believe it is high time we told ourselves the truth if we must experience the desired change.”

    Osinbajo, during the event, formally received members of Team Nigeria that participated in the 21st Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast 2018, Australia.

    The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, said the athletes made Nigeria proud at the games both as athletes and ambassadors in discipline and conduct.

     

  • Democracy Day: Capital market operators laud Buhari administration

    Democracy Day: Capital market operators laud Buhari administration

    Capital market operators on Tuesday urged the federal government to focus more on infrastructure development to boost local employment and consolidate the achievements of the past three years.

    The operators stated this in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, while appraising the three years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    Rasheed Yussuf, a former President of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said the government should invest more in power, roads and railway.

    Yussuf said the challenges in the past were due to low oil production, low oil price and low foreign reserves which led to recession.

    He said these three critical economic conditions depressed the economy, but that the government had been able to evolve the appropriate economic policies to deal with them.

    According to him, the government used the ban of 41 items to stimulate local production. He urged the government to sustain the ban to strengthen the growth and development of the economy.

    Yussuf said Nigerians needed to understand that they must pay a price for the economy to improve accordingly.

    “If you are moving from an import-oriented economy to export-oriented economy, you will see unemployment along the line because you have adjusted the employment circle.

    “There is no way we will not go through pain given the economic situation we went through in the last three years because there is a complete change of economic situation.

    “If we develop our own local capacity, we will be better off than being import dependent. Being import-dependent means we are providing employment for foreigners.

    “If we can develop our own, it means we are providing employment for our own people,” Yussuf said.

    According to him, government has managed to do its best in economic management.

    He, however, tasked the government to invest heavily in education and health to improve economic growth.

    “If you have a healthier and well-educated population, the economy will grow better,” Yussuf said.

    He said Nigeria needed national economic goals that every government must focus on irrespective of the political party in power instead of changing economic goals regularly.

    Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., said the government should come out with robust economic policies that would touch all aspects of the economy including power and transport to address unemployment.

    Kurfi said the government should tackle insecurity in the country to boost investors’ confidence.

    He said the eventual listing of MTN Nigeria on the Nigerian Stock Exchange would increase the depth of the market as well as the market capitalisation.

    “We hope more efforts will be put in place to ensure the listing of companies in the power sector and refineries in the capital market as well,” Mr Kurfi added.

    He also called for downward adjustment of the Monetary Policy Rate by the Monetary Policy Committee for achieve stability in the capital market and strengthen the real sector.

     

    (NAN)

  • South-Easterners occupying more positions in my administration than northerners – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said his administration favoured south easterners more than people from the northern region.

    The President stated that he gave the South-East zone four substantive ministers and can’t take any substantive decision on foreign policy and investments without the input of two of them.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President met with the southeastern leaders on Friday in Abuja after the Jumat Prayers at Aso Rock

    According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving leaders from the region led by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said Buhari told his guests that while seven states in the North got Ministers of State in his administration, the South East got four substantive ministers.

    “I gave South-East four substantive ministers in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour.

    “Seven states in the North got ministers of state; and of the two ministries headed by your sons, I cannot take any decision on foreign policy and investments without their input,’’ the President said.

    The President also promised the leaders, comprising governors and ministers from the region, the President of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, and representatives from the National Assembly, that he will visit states in the zone soon.

    “I want to assure you that I came into government with a clear conscience and I will also leave with a clear conscience,’’ he said.

    The President assured them that the region will benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy.

    He said the Second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, are receiving utmost attention from his administration.

    The President said counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the region.

    “I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off.”

  • Fayose sponsoring IPOB, other agitation groups to discredit Buhari’s administration – APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State of funding the Indigenous People of Biafa, IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu to discredit President Muhammadu’s Buhari’s administration.

    The Ekiti State chapter of the party, which made the accusation against Fayose said the governor was on a mission to plunge the nation into crisis.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Federal Government had also on Sunday accused the opposition of using the group (IPOB) to destabilize the country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement on Sunday that the Nigerian Army was performing its constitutional role of preserving the unity of Nigeria and bringing all secessionists and their backers to justice.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Governor Fayose had urged the federal government to embrace dialogue in the resolution of the Biafran agitation after the Nigerian military declared IPOB a terrorist organisation.

    He had earlier accused the government and the military of ethnic cleansing in their handling of the Biafran agitation.

    However, in a swift reaction, Olatunbosun said the governor’s actions and utterances had shown that he was “solidly behind any activity that will bring Nigeria down.”

    “On April 26 and as published by The Nigerian Tribune Newspaper and its online publication on April 27, 2017, Fayose said he was working in conjunction with Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to raise funds for Kanu, stressing that he was taking his support for Kanu beyond showing solidarity in court by raising funds that would be deposited in an account opened in Kanu’s name,” Olatunbosun alleged.

    He quoted Fayose as saying that, “as many lawyers willing to fight the oppression should join the struggle for liberation from the oppression,” alleging that the governor was not new to seditious and treasonable activities to bring Nigeria down.

    “He led a campaign to the Chinese Embassy in Abuja and later to Shanghai, the Chinese capital, to urge the Chinese government not to lend hands in helping Nigeria out of recession,” continued Olatunbosun.

    “Relentlessly, he led hate campaigns against the symbol of the Nigerian authority, President Muhammadu Buhari, wishing him dead, including hounding and haunting the President across the world, including on his sick bed, and threatening to expose the President on a life-support machine, all these in spite of swearing to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to be loyal to the Nigerian state and her President.

    “He went further as reported in the media on May 25, 2017 that ‘Ekiti State is now part of Biafra’, which drew the ire of several Yoruba groups as reported in the media.

    “Not done, while Nigerians and indeed the country’s leaders were celebrating Nigeria’s exit from recession, Fayose was the only governor across the country who dismissed the celebration as a ruse, maintaining that Nigeria was still in a deep economic mess even though in his state, he is the biggest stumbling block to the survival of Ekiti people by diverting all loans he took to pay workers salary to needless projects contracts awarded to his friends’ companies in which he allegedly has interest.”

    Olatunbosun further alleged that Fayose demonstrated the seriousness of his support for the collapse of Nigeria when he released his telephone number 070300000393 and email: mystory2006@yahoo.com as reported in the media on April 27, 2017, urging all that were interested in the Biafra cause to contact him through the phone number and email address.

    “All the South-east governors, including the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, have opposed Kanu in his secessionist activities while Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has warned Kanu and IPOB to stay away from Rivers; but Fayose declared Ekiti State as part of Biafra and that has confirmed the report that he is part of Biafra’s financiers as he had publicly declared to the media,” said Olatunbosun.

    “No wonder, just four months after Fayose started mobilising funds for Biafra, thousands of deadly weapons, including military assault rifles, were smuggled into the country but were intercepted by the Nigerian Customs while it was also discovered that uniformed Biafran militants already have military training camps where they are planning deadly assaults against Nigeria after threatening her leaders.

    “We had earlier alerted the security agencies to the presence of armed gangs and stockpiling of arms in the Ekiti State Government House and his present activities in raising funds for Kanu only confirm that he is part of rebellion against the Nigerian state.

    “We have always insisted that Fayose is a threat to the Nigeria’s unity and the economic survival of her people.”

    The APC spokesman urged security agencies and Interpol to investigate Mr. Fayose in his support for funding IPOB with “the latest influx of military assault rifles into the country.”

    “His support for Kanu in funds mobilisation for his treasonable act and the activities of Fayose’s media men in promoting the Biafran cause only point to one agenda to destabilise Nigeria and that has proved us right that Fayose has no agenda than the destabilisation of Nigeria to enable him escape all illegal and criminal activities linked to him in recent past,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Governor Fayose in a reaction through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, described the allegation as baseless, saying his support for the group did not translate into funding of the IPOB.

    Adelusi noted that APC’s allegation against him was an attempt to “cover up the federal government’s torture and killing of the Igbo people.”

    He said the governor had the right to express his support for any group, including the IPOB, arguing that the travails of the Igbo people should be the concern of all Nigerians.

    “The attack by the military on the IPOB should be a concern for all Nigerians,” he said. “The people are expressing their fundamental rights. Their demands are legitimate.”

    He denied raising funds for the group, saying that it was the ploy of the APC and the government at the centre to defend their wrongdoings and silence any opposition.

    “The agitation of the IPOB is as a result of bad governance by the present administration,” Mr. Adelusi said.

    “If there was good governance, there would not have been any need for the agitations; there would not have been calls for restructuring by the Niger Delta agitators, Afenifere and other groups.”

  • Effective Local Government administration will subdue growing national disenchantment – Dogara

    Effective Local Government administration will subdue growing national disenchantment – Dogara

    …Urges State Assemblies to endorse financial autonomy

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has said growing level of discontentment and disenchantment by the generality of Nigerians will be greatly reduced when local government systems work effectively.

    He added that there is a chance to meet up with the expectations of Nigerians as the ongoing Constitution Amendment exercise affords lawmakers the opportunity to improve on governance from the grassroots to the top.

    The Speaker said these while speaking at a consultative meeting for building consensus among the conference of Speakers, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and leaders of thought on local government and State Houses of Assembly Autonomy by leveraging on the ongoing Constitution Review Exercise.

    He said the “amendment exercise could not have come at a better time than now that there is a loud and deafening call across the nation for restructuring and deepening our democratic systems and processes.

    “As leaders, we must use every opportunity to find ways of strengthening Nigeria’s unity through effective governance and delivery of public goods and services that will lead to an improvement in the livelihoods of the average Nigerian. If we can make the local government system work effectively, most of the discontentment and disenchantment among the rural population and the generality of Nigerians will be greatly reduced.

    “The Constitution amendment process provides an opportunity for the National Assembly in collaboration with the State legislatures to enhance our governance architecture, strengthen our democratic institutions, entrench equity and social justice in our polity and most importantly put Nigeria on the part of the greatness that Nigerians crave for.”

    He also disclosed that in the last aborted Constitution Alteration exercise in the 7th Assembly, all the State Houses of Assembly voted to support autonomy for the State Houses of Assembly, having learnt from the bitter experience of the 2nd Alteration Bill where the State Houses of Assembly on their own turned down Autonomy for State Houses of Assembly.

    Reiterating his position that financial autonomy for local governments and state House of Assembly will bring good governance and dividends of democracy to the states and rural areas, he noted, “Indeed, financial autonomy for the State legislatures is one of the most important ingredients for good governance at the State level.”

    Stressing the need for continuous dialogue and consensus building in democratic governance, Dogara said it provides a platform for thorny and divergent views to be discussed, harmonised and addressed amicably.

    “Democracy in practice, is a process through which government actors and citizens’ representatives continuously dialogue constructively in order to build harmony and consensus on critical and competing issues and interests,” he said, adding that “consultation is a very critical element of any democracy because it provides a platform for thorny and divergent views to be discussed, harmonised and addressed amicably.

    He commended the leadership of the State Houses of Assembly, DFID and PERLS for the partnership and support in the previous amendments, and called for same as the legislature strives to find lasting solutions to the bottlenecks that have inhibited the ability of Nigeria to achieve its true potentials.