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Tag: atiku

  • Alhassan voted Atiku against Buhari during APC presidential primary – El-Rufai

    …says we warned Buhari not to appoint her minister

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has accused the embattled Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan of voting former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar against President Muhammadu Buhari in the then All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primaries held in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

    El-Rufai noted further that the leadership of the party warned President Buhari against appointing Alhassan as a minister because she has never hidden her loyalty to the former Vice President.

    The governor said this while speaking with State House Correspondents at the Villa on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that El-Rufai’s comment is coming in a reaction to a viral video where the minister was seen endorsing Atiku for President in the 2019 general elections.

    The governor, however, advised Nigerians not to be surprised or shocked at her outburst.

    El-Rufai noted that the decision lies on President Muhammadu Buhari to either retain or sack her as a member of his cabinet.

     

    Details later…

  • Buhari used my money, influence to become president, but sidelined me – Atiku

    Buhari used my money, influence to become president, but sidelined me – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government of sidelining him after helping him to power in 2015.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Atiku spoke on the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) on Wednesday. In his words: “Honestly speaking, I’m still a member of the APC; I was part of all the processes, including campaigns until success was achieved.

    “But sadly, soon after the formation of government; I was side-lined, I have no any relationship with the government, I’ve not been contacted even once to comment on anything and in turn, I maintained my distance. They used our money and influence to get to where they are but three years down the lane, this is where we are.

    “Yes, there were successes but not comprehensive success because the Boko Haram miscreants are still very active, killing our people and many local government councils in Borno and Yobe are under their firm grip. People cannot dare go back to their dwellings

    “This thing baffles me; I never imagined that Nigeria will fight a protracted battle with Boko Haram for five years. At a time, we fought the Biafra war, which was more complicated because of the terrain in the South but the Biafran soldiers were roundly subdued in 30 months. But here we are, fighting an endless battle with the Boko Haram and there’s no end in sight”.

    On the anti-graft war, he said: “How many people were arrested, prosecuted and jailed? How much was recovered from the looters?

    “When we came on board in 1999, I remember we recovered between $4.5 and $4.7 billion from those that looted under (the late Gen. Sani) Abacha.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a member of the Buhari cabinet, Senator Aisha Alhassan who is the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development on Thursday declared her support for the former Vice President insisting that President Buhari is only interested in running a single term in office.

     

  • Video: Buhari’s Minister, Alhassan declares support for Atiku, calls him ‘Our President in 2019’

    …Says if Buhari decides to contest in 2019, I’ll still support Atiku

    …as other cabinet members kick

    A video of Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan (popularly called Mama Taraba) endorsing former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential race has gone viral.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan, who led a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) team from Taraba State to Atiku later told the BBC Hausa Service categorically that she would dump President Muhammadu Buhari under whom she is recently serving as minister for Atiku should Buhari show interest in contesting the 2019 presidential elections.

    Alhassan who spoke in native Hausa language in the video told Atiku: “Mr President, our father, Nigeria’s president for 2019, God willing, in your presence today are your people who have been placed under your care for forever.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan’s statement has since sparked reactions amongst other cabinet members who saw Alhassan guts as an act of disloyalty to her present leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    Speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the matter, a minister said: “Some of us called her when the video went viral and she confirmed the comments attributed to her.

    “To me, I think it is like passing a vote of no confidence on your boss. I think it is untidy to write off your boss as incompetent to continue in office.”

    Another source in the cabinet said: “I am not surprised; it is typical of the Minister of Women Affairs. But the ideal thing is to leave and pursue your career. This development might affect our unity in the cabinet. Some will certainly not trust her again.”

    Another minister said: “She shocked me because I used to think she is closer to the President. What you cannot dispute is that the President has never hidden his respect for her. She was away from the cabinet for months when she was ill and the President tolerated her absence. She should have chosen a different approach to it because one good turn deserves another.”

    A government official said he suspected “a script”. It might not be only her. Maybe she is flying a kite,” he said, pleading not to be named.

    Also, an APC stalwart, who also spoke in confidence, said: “I think she is kick-starting 2019 politics. I could see cracks in the coalition which formed the APC.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the presidency has not issued any official statement concerning the clip.

    However, a source in the Presidency said: “The President has just come back from Daura and he is just settling down. Actually, there is nothing to say.

    “The Minister of Women Affairs has confirmed to BBC that she made the comments. What else do you want the presidency to say?”

    In an interview with the BBC, the minister said: “Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics.” She spoke in Hausa. “And again, Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019.

    “Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel down and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister but Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest.”

    “If because of what I said I am sacked, it will not bother me because I believe in Allah that my time has elapsed, that is why…

    “Baba is not a mad man like those calling for my sack. They have been sending it and spreading that if Baba sees this I will be sacked.”

     

  • Nigeria too old, too big to fail – Atiku

    Nigeria too old, too big to fail – Atiku

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said on Sunday that the Nigeria nation was too old and too big to fail saying the option out of the present agitations in the land was to restructure the country until it comes close to a country envisaged by the nation’s founding fathers.

    In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, the former Vice President said Nigerians must realized that for every Atiku to be great, it must go through struggle, pointing out that Nigeria must also go through a phase of struggle and come out from it stronger than before.

    The former Vice President commended the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators for withdrawing their quit notice asking Northerners and south westerners in the region to vacate before October 1.

    The statement reads: “Just as I commended Arewa Youths for listening to good counsel and withdrawing the ill advised quit notice to people of Igbo origin to leave the North before October 1 or face consequences, I similarly applaud Niger Delta youths for rescinding their counter quit notice to persons of Northern and Southwestern descent to quit the South South region.

    “This news could not have come at a better time as when Nigeria defeated Cameroon 4-0. The Super Eagles scored four goals and none of those goals were scored in the name of Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba or indeed under the aegis of North or South. Each and every one of those goals was resoundingly for Nigeria.

    “No one disowns a child when he or she is almost 60. Nigeria is too old and too big to fail. Instead of divisions, what we must do is restructure our Federation till it more closely resemble the almost perfect union that our Founding Fathers chiseled together at the various pre Independence conferences.

    “There is enough in Nigeria for everyone’s need and to meet every bloc’s aspirations. What we need is not uniformity but harmony. Just like an orchestra, we may all sing differently, but when our voices are blended together, they give off a richer more melodious symphony than would ever have been possible if we were to sing individually.

    “I urge all Nigerians to be hopeful. To be great, every nation must go through struggle. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, if you are going through struggles, keep going. We will go through and emerge better than before. This is my promise to Nigeria.”

     

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Atiku cautions extremists, sues for unity, peace

    Eid-El-Kabir: Atiku cautions extremists, sues for unity, peace

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says protecting the image of Islam is the greatest challenge facing the Muslim faithful today in the light of the activities of extremists who are bent on destroying every humane virtues of the religion.

    In his Sallah message to Muslims on the occasion of the Eid el Kabir celebration, the former Vice President advised Muslims to reclaim the religion which is being hijacked by violent extremists whose atrocities portray Islam in bad light.

    The Wazirin Adamawa expressed sadness that the activities of these violent extremists have economically destroyed the North, in particular, the Northeast and disrupted its social life.

    “As a citizen of the Northeast, I have a firsthand experience of the impact of terrorism on our people’s daily lives”, he said.

    He called for rigorous scrutiny and vigilance to guard against the influence of extremism, including exposing innocent students and followers to their virulent ideas.

    He advised parents to be wary of letting their children follow any preacher and thereby, falling victims of indoctrination, warning that poisonous ideas are as destructive as a bomb.

    The Waziri Adamawa also called on Muslims to show increased commitment to peaceful coexistence and tolerance in line with the demands of the Muslim faith and Nigeria’s complex diversity.

    According to him, love and peace should not only be preached, but must also be put into practice for the sake of sustaining the peace in our land.

    The former Vice President advised Nigerians to eschew religious bigotry, and condemned politicians who use ethnic and religious sentiments to gain power.

    According to him, identity politics founded on religious loyalties rather than competence and commitment to unity is a threat to our democracy and progress.

    Atiku Abubakar wishes his fellow Muslims a happy and hitch free celebration.

  • We are delighted to have PMB back – Atiku

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari back home after his medical leave in the United Kingdom, and expresses delight at his level of good health and recovery.

    In a press statement made available to journalists on Monday by his media office, the former Vice President said every well-meaning Nigerian should be happy with the recovery of the President.

    According to him, a healthy and stronger Buhari would be able to concentrate more vigorously on the task of implementing his campaign promises to Nigerians.

    He explained that President Buhari’s recovery is good news for the country and Nigerians because “it would reduce the needless conspiracy theories surrounding his health and long absence.”

    The Waziri Adamawa noted that the task of governance is so enormous that the country should celebrate the return of the President.

    Atiku advised Nigerians to help the President succeed “by focusing on issues that unite us rather than those that divide us, and thereby distracting the President from attending to the tasks at hand.”

    The former Vice President also cautioned politicians against the promotion of hate politics for selfish advantages, adding that “a situation where Nigerians perceive one another as enemies rather than brothers who should be united by their common interests is unhealthy and inimical to our democracy.”

    He urged all Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliation, to continue to pray for the President to succeed in the larger interest of the country.

  • Restructuring: Replace state of origin with state of residence – Atiku urges NASS

    Restructuring: Replace state of origin with state of residence – Atiku urges NASS

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has asked the National Assembly to replace state of origin with state of residency in the ongoing constitutional amendment as a way of addressing hate speeches and other quit notice on Nigerians in their places of residence.

    In a statement entitled: “An eye for an eye will leave Nigeria blind”, the former vice president condemned the quit notice by a coalition of Niger Delta agitators on northerners and Yoruba in the Niger Delta region to vacate the area.

    He, however, hailed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for sanctioning radio stations that aired the anti-Igbo song and embarking on broadcasting hate speeches.

    He said: “Again, it has sadly come to my attention that there has been a counter quit notice issued in reaction to the unfortunate initial notices issued by some misguided youths in July of this year.

    “Just as I strongly condemned the quit notice on people of the Igbo ethnic stock living in Northern Nigeria and the counter quit notices that ensued, I also vehemently condemn the retaliatory quit notice given by certain elements in other parts of Nigeria to persons of other origins – be they Northern, Yoruba or any other ethnic grouping within our nation.

    “First and foremost, it is a fallacy to believe that there are people of Northern or Southern origin. Nigeria only has people of one origin. We are all of Nigerian origin and as Nigerians, we must be pragmatic enough to realise the obvious truth that an eye for an eye will leave Nigeria blind.

    “Let me at this juncture remind these ‘quit noticers’ that when brothers fight to the death over a domestic dispute, it is their neighbours that eventually end up inheriting their father’s property.”

  • PDP to woo Obasanjo, Atiku, Saraki others back its fold

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara back to the party.

    Others targeted by the party include Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, Abdullahi Adamu, Danjuma Goje and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

    The party appointed Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as chairman and Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) as deputy chairman of a reconciliation committee set up to invite the said politicians back.

    The National Caretaker Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi inaugurated the committee and urged it to deliver on the assignment.

    The party also appointed a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, as chairman of a newly inaugurated Disciplinary Committee. A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara was named as deputy.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is chairman of National Convention Committee with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido as deputy chairman.

    Makarfi urged the reconciliation committee to extend its assignment to the founding members of the PDP, stressing that the dragnet should be extended beyond those who left the party in 2015.

    Makarfi said those targets should “include President, Vice President, governors and former senate president, speaker of House of Representatives and all other former top ranking members in the party.

    “Everybody that was in PDP at one time or the other should be reconciled with. It is not limited to pre-2015”.

    Makarfi also mandated the committee to reach out to other individuals who have never been in the PDP, with a view to bringing them into the party, without any conditions attached.

    “We cannot foreclose the opportunity for those who stayed behind during the turbulent period,” he said.

    Ikimi assured that former PDP members who defected to the APC would soon be back in the party.

    He said, “APC is now dying and is almost dead. I am aware that they were able to win in 2015 because of members of PDP who defected there.

    “I have it on good authority that key members who left PDP and joined APC are now returning to the party. I would like us to receive them with open hands and we will rebuild the party”.

    The party also suspended the former factional Chairman in Anambra State Ken Emeakayi.

    National Publicity Secretary Dayo Adeyeye who announced the decision, said three days after the dissolution of all factional executive in the state in July, Emeakayi went ahead to summon a meeting of his faction, which was in violation of the decision of the National Caretaker Committee.

    He said the committee issued him a query but rather than respond to the issue, Emeakayi disparaged the national leadership.

    “His reply not only showed disrespect to the National Caretaker Committee, he disparaged the personality of the chairman and the secretary.

    “He issued words of abuse totally unbecoming of a person who claimed to be holding an important office as chairman of a state chapter.

    “We found this to be gross indiscipline. And today, we decided on this matter, in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution.

    “So, the National Caretaker Committee at its meeting today took cognisance of the violation of the Provision of Section 58 (1A, B, C, G, H, I, J, M) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended) by Chief Ken Emeakayi.

    “We took a decision to immediately suspend him for one month, in accordance with Section 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended),” Adeyeye said.

    Adeyeye said seven aspirants had obtained the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms for the November 28 Anambra State Governorship election.

    They are Dr Alex Obiogolu, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Prince Okechukwu Emeka, Dr Patrick Ubah, Mr Akolisa Ufodike, Lynda Ikpeazu and Mrs Stella Oduah.

  • Atiku decries Hausa song calling for Igbo genocide

    Atiku decries Hausa song calling for Igbo genocide

    Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on “the security agencies to thoroughly and decisively swing into action and apprehend, try, convict and severely punish those behind this ungodly song which incites racial hatred.

    He noted in a statement that “It has come to my attention that a song disparaging people of Igbo origin, and which wishes them dead, is circulating in some parts of the nation. I totally and unequivocally condemn this development, and I call on all men of goodwill to rise up against this evil.

    This song is reminiscent of the beginnings of the Rwanda Genocide. Nigerians need to be aware that the Rwanda Genocide was believed to have been ignited by a song titled Nanga Abahutu (I hate Hutus), sung by Rwanda’s then most popular musician, Simon Bikindi. God forbid that we should have such a déjà vu in Nigeria.

    Simon Bikindi was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for igniting and aiding the Rwandan genocide. Thus, let those who think they can treat their fellow citizens so unjustly know that within and outside Nigeria exist mechanisms that will ensure they answer to their crimes.

    I call on all men of goodwill to remember those immortal lines from our former National Anthem “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”.

    The effects of hate in any shape or form were made even more evident over the weekend, in a mass shooting incident that left many of us reeling with shock. I commiserate with the people of Ozubulu in Anambra State, who lost family members in the fatal shooting that also left almost a score injured. I pray that peace will return to their minds and their community soon, even as the police work hard to get to the bottom of the matter. May God comfort them as no man can.

    The difference between us as Nigerians is not a difference in our tribe or our religion. It was and remains a difference based on whether we are good Nigerians or bad Nigerians, and I am very certain that the good Nigerians far outnumber the very few bad ones.

  • Blockage of Bill No. 3, lost opportunity – Atiku

    Blockage of Bill No. 3, lost opportunity – Atiku

    Former Vice President and APC Chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, has described as shocking and saddening, the decision of the APC-led Senate to block the passage of Bill No. 3, which would have granted devolution of power to the states.

    In a statement released by his media office in Abuja, the Waziri of Adamawa decried the lost opportunity to honour one of the Party’s election promises to bring about change by shifting power closer to the people in the remotest regions of our country.

    “This blockage of the Bill by an APC-led Senate majority is a betrayal of our Party’s pre-election promises,” Atiku said. “It was an important vote and I’m shocked by some so-called progressives’ visceral and cynical opposition to restructuring.”

    Atiku decried the reluctance of democratically elected lawmakers to remove the insidious structural impediments to development, which decades of military rule had hoisted upon our nation.

    According to him, instead of building the foundations for a true federation, a small group of so-called progressive Senators decided to stick with the new party line, pretending they didn’t know what restructuring was all about, and that even if they knew, it couldn’t be done.

    “I think this is disingenuous,” he said. “And I think it is a sad day for our Party. But I’m confident the APC will learn the right lesson from this self-inflicted defeat, and remember the mission and mandate given to us by the people.”

    The Waziri also expressed hope that Nigeria’s lawmakers would find the courage to stand by what is right, and not by what serves their personal vanities and political interests.

    “Let me be clear: Restructuring is no panacea to all our nation’s problems. But devolving resources and responsibilities from an overbearing, unresponsive, and ineffective federal government to the states is the first step we must make if we are serious about putting our nation back on track, and our people back to work,” he said.