The new media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad was on Wednesday attacked by netizens over his support of death penalty as a punishment for blasphemy.
The outrage was sparked in the wake of the death penalty handed out to a Kano singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu who was found guilty of committing blasphemy for a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020.
Ahmad had in the tweet shared in 2015, supported the death penalty for blasphemy which he described as his “belief”.
The tweet read;
I cant pretend or keep silent. I support the death penalty for BLASPHEMY. That's my belief and I do not and will never support #SaveKanoNine
The tweet has led to an outcry from Nigerians who opined that Ahmad’s belief is similar to that of Boko Haram insurgents who mete out same treatment to those they accuse of blasphemy.
Here are some tweets below;
Sharia law, like most laws in Nigeria are only applicable to the poor. Boko Haram kills thousands of people, displacing them from their homes but are rehabilitated and integrated back into the society while those at the receiving ends of these attacks are placed in IDP camps…
you can keep silent over the 12 million homeless kids out of school in your region…..And yet you go to the mosque and say u pray to Allah…Are u not insulting Allah…what can be more blasphemous. You cannot fight for God he created you and the world.. Let him be his Judge
Your principals and your betters up the ladder know best to keep their mouths shut about this, while probably sharing your view. But you, in all your wisdom must call attention albeit negative to yourself. Quite sad for a young man!
This goes to prove that the reason Boko Haram still thrives in the north is because there are people in government who actively support their extremist cause for an ulterior motive. @BashirAhmaad has spoken the mind of his handlers. Their ultimate aim is bringing it down south.
What is the difference between this man and Boko Haram members? That is why some people believe that all Muslims are terrorists, they only hide their intentions but they are happy when fanatics kill non-Muslims.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad has slammed Barcelona for sacking manager, Ernesto Valverde and appointing Quique Setien as their new head coach on Monday night.
Ahmad in tweet on his official Twitter page said the Blaugrana are ‘so ungrateful’ for sacking Valverde after the 55-year-old won ‘two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana for the Camp Nou club’.
He wrote: “Ernesto Valverde lost ONLY 16 out of 145 games at Barcelona, he won two La Liga, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana for them, but the Club still sacked him.
“So ungrateful. Can the new manager shine more brightly than Valverde? I doubt, strongly.”
Barcelona have announced the appointment of Quique Setien as their new manager.
Setien replaces Ernesto Valverde, who was informed by Barca that he will be sacked, following a meeting on Monday with his agent.
“Agreement between FC Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde to end his contract as manager of the first team. Thank you for everything, Ernesto. Best of luck in the future,” an official club statement read.
“Quique Setien will be the new FC Barcelona coach. The man from Cantabria in the north of Spain comes to Barca after having had spells at Racing Santander, Poli Ejido, Logrones, Lugo, Las Palmas and Betis, his previous club in the 2018/19 season.
“Throughout his career he has been a proponent of possession-based, attacking football that has been attractive to the fans.”
Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, on Sunday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has less than 100 Aides, including Ministers.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Presidential Aide stated this in reaction to concerns that Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is aspiring to become Nigeria’s President, was ‘unnecessarily’ having over 250 aides.
“Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has less than 100 aides, including Ministers,” Bashir tweeted in resonance to a Twitter user who tweeted “A Governor seeking to be President has over 250 aides and nobody is shouting”.
Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has less than 100 aides, including Ministers. https://t.co/j5eLINbmx5
After considering certain documents, TNG can confirm Bashir totally faltered, but we cannot by this immediately generalize that all President Buhari’s Aides have caught up with lies.
TNG reports President Buhari has in his portfolio 7 Special Advisers, 49 Senior Special Assistants, 46 Special Assistants and 16 Personal Assistants, bringing the total to 118.
Special Advisers
Senior Special Assistants
Special Assistants
Personal Assistants
7
49
46
16
Buhari also is having 22 Honourable Ministers and 14 Honourable Ministers of State, resulting to an overall total of 154, as against Bashir’s claim of Buhari having less than a 100 Aides, including Ministers.
Ministers
Ministers of State
22
14
This number is also inclusive of office of Wife of President and Vice President that President Buhari, contrary to his electoral promise, appointed 10 Aides for.
Meanwhile, out of this number, the President enjoys massive support of a Vice President in Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the support of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
Well others are Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, FCA and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of Vice President), Mr. Adeola Rahman Ipaye.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad, has explained how troops of the Nigerian military were able to neutralise 20 bandits in Zamfara.
TheNewsGuru reports the Nigerian military conducting Operation Sharan Daji to flush out bandits in Zamfara, on Saturday neutralised 20 bandits and freed their captives.
“During the recent clearance operation along Mashema, Kwadi, Kalage, Gambiru and Kagara axis in Maradun, Tsafe and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara State, heavy fight ensued between troops and bandits, Nigerian troops captured top bandits, destroyed their camps and freed captives,” Bashir stated.
According to Force Information Officer of the operation, Col. Muhammad Dole, the encounter at DABAN-DOKA village near Dansadau, troops laid ambush along bandits’ identified routes where 20 bandits were neutralised.
“Some bandits escaped with gunshot wounds and several motorcycles were burnt. In one of the troops’ encounter with the bandits, 2 notorious bandits, Bello Danboko and Sani Maza, were eliminated in Yanwari ward near Yankuzo and Mai Tukunya village near Dansadau all in Zamfara,” Muhammad said.
According to him, during the clearance operation, heavy fight ensued between troops and bandits, and that due to overwhelming military fire power, a reasonable number of bandits were neutralised and their camps were set ablaze.
This successful feat has created relative peace and spurred massive returns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their villages in Zurmi Local Govt Area, according to the military.
Muhammad said the troops had begun aggressive day and night fighting patrols around Kyaranke and Giwabawa villages in Kanoma District of Maru area, following a tip-off on imposition of one million Naira levy each on the 2 villages.
“Another tip-off led to the rescue and recovery of kidnapped victims and the sum of N500,000 ransom from kidnappers in Subulu forest,” he said.
He also said the troops in their recent exploits, apprehended 2 notorious bandits, known for terrorising Maradun town and its environs.
He identified the alleged abandits as Muhammad Aminu and another one popularly called Yellow at Tashan Udda in Maradun. They are undergoing interrogation.
He said some weapons, ammunitions, motorcycles, phones and large herds of cows were recovered.
He said the Force Commander, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, “wishes to assure the law abiding citizens that the troops are poised to ensure quick restoration of peace and safety in all the vulnerable areas in Kaduna and Zamfara States”.
Muhammad urged the populace to continue to give credible information for the success of the operation.
The commander said recent successes recorded were due to collaborative efforts between the troops and the communities.
Minister of women affairs and social development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, aka Mama Taraba, has been said to still be a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
Alhassan has been reported to have written to President Buhari to resign her position in order to contest the 2019 governorship election in Taraba state.
TheNewsGuru reports Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to Buhari, confirmed that contrary to reports of her resignation, the Taraba Senator is still member of the president’s cabinet.
“If you have the letter read it again please. She notified Mr. President on her intention to contest for governorship in 2019 and he replied to her,” Bashir stated.
Buhari, in his response to the Senator on her quest to contest the governorship seat of Taraba, raised a condition of supporting her so long as she vies on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I have today received your letter notifying me of your intention to contest for the governorship of Taraba State in the 2019 election.
“Let me thank you on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians for your services as minister under this administration.
“I note with passion your past contribution to our great party APC during and after the 2015 elections.
“As you are aware I am totally committed to free and fair elections. Our policy is to support all APC candidates.
“I wish you well in your ambition to be governor of your state.
“Rest assured that all security agencies as well as INEC will have my full support to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in 2019,” Buhari stated in his acceptance of Alhassan’s resignation letter.
Alhassan had in last September vowed that she would not support Buhari’s second term bid on the claim that he had promised to serve only one term and that she would only support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar who was at that time in the APC has now defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). It was yet unclear if she would follow Abubakar to the PDP.
Alhassan was the candidate of the APC in the 2015 governorship election and lost it by the whiskers.
Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has stated the Abuja Light Rail, the Abuja Metro will commence full commercial operations today.
The Presidential Aide made this known on Sunday with a tweet on his official Twitter handle.
“After commissioning by President Buhari on Thursday, the full commercial operations of the Abuja Light Rail, the Abuja Metro will commence tomorrow, Monday,” he tweeted.
TheNewsGuru recalls President Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the Abuja Light Rail Project and commended the Chinese Government for its investment in Nigeria’s economy.
During the inauguration at Abuja Metro Station, the president said the accomplishment of the project demonstrated his administration’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs in the country.
He said the exercise also demonstrated the administration’s determination to ensure prudence in the management of public resources, value for money considering the huge investments in the project in keeping with the ideals of its Change Agenda.
Buhari said transportation was the live wire of any city and expressed optimism that the inaugurated of the project would bring about a boost to the economy of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and enhance social life.
“I am aware that what we have on ground today are coaches meant to provide skeletal services as we await the main set of the rolling stock for full operations,’’ he said.
Buhari said he had been briefed on the outcome of the recent visit of the ministers of FCT and Finance visit to China during which agreements for the procurement of the main rolling stock were signed.
The president assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s continued support for all the negotiations toward the realisation of the Abuja Light Rail system.
He thanked the Chinese Government and people for their investment in Nigeria and commended CCECC Limited – the Contracting Firm, for the quality of work and timely delivery of the project.
“Let me place on to the Government of China and the EXIM Bank of China for their support on this and many other projects currently being executed in the country.
“This gesture further cements the already existing cordial relations and developmental partnership between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.’’
The president urged the FCT Administration, especially the management of the rail services, to ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture in the operations.
The Minister of FCT, Malam Musa Bello, revealed that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System was an integral part of the FCT Transportation Master Plan.
He said the plan was designed primarily to transport large numbers of people and goods from satellite towns into the Metropolitan Public Transport system and the different Phases of the Federal Capital City.
He said the Abuja rail system was packaged in six lots planned for phased development, based on preferential demand and available financial resources.
He added that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System was planned to integrate with the National Rail Network when eventually completed.
“The Abuja rail is divided into Six (6) Lots and with total length of 290km. The lots are:
“Lot 1: From Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway through the Transportation Centre (Metro Station) via Gwagwa to Kubwa;
“Lot 2: From Gwagwa via Transportation Centre (Metro Station) to Nyanya/Karu;
“Lot 3: From Transportation Centre via Idu Industrial Zone to Nanmadi Azikwe International Airport;
“Lot 4: From Kuje Satellite town to Karshi Satellite town with the remaining legs of the Transit way line 2;
“Lot 5: From Kubwa via Bwari to Suleja and Lot 6: From Airport via Kuje and Gwagwalada to Dobi,’’ he explained.
The minister said the implementation of the project had been divided into phases, with phase 1 inaugurated by the president.
He said FCTA had concluded an infrastructure soft loan agreement with Exim Bank of China for the supply of the remaining coaches, including their maintenance for three years at a cost of 194 million dollars.
He said the bank would fund the project up to 157 million dollars or 85 per cent of the total cost, while FCTA would bring in a counterpart fund of 37million dollars (15 per cent).
Bello said FCTA had since commenced work on phase II of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project.
He said the phase 11 would cover a distance of 32.54km from Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway at Garki Area I via the Transportation Centre to Gwagwa and from Bazango Station to Kubwa.
He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2017 approved the project for construction by CCECC at a cost of 1.3 billion dollars.
“We hope that the minister of Finance would consider putting this key project in the next borrowing plans, the minister of Budget and National Planning would agree to it, the National Assembly would approved it and that China – Exim Bank would fund it as a mark of goodwill for the cordial relationship between our two countries,’’ he said.
The president was taken on a guided tour of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit and Abuja new International Terminal at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Minister of State, Aviation, Mr Hadi Sirika, and Bello led the tour at Idu Rail Station and Abuja airport.
The Abuja Rail Mass Transit is the first mass transit project in Nigeria as well as in West Africa.
Some commuters and residents of the Federal Capital Territory have extolled Thursday’s inauguration of the First Phase of the Abuja metro rail line by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The rail line, which connects the Abuja city centre and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, terminates at the Standard Gauge Railway Station in Idu, with the complete network planned to link Abuja with satellite towns such as Nyanya, Kubwa, Maraba (Nasarawa state) and Lugbe.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the inauguration of the project at the new metro station in Central Business District (CBD), the residents expressed the hope that the rail transport system would bring relief to the current transportation problem in and around the territory.
President Muhammadu Buhari will visit Ekiti State today to attend the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mega Rally at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to the President on new media made this known ahead of the State’s Gubernatorial Election.
TheNewsGuru reports the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had said it will spend about N600m on the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for Saturday July 14, 2018.
INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that a total of 667,064 voters are expected to vote in the election.
Already, tension is rife in events leading up to the Ekiti election.
Following Saturday afternoon’s raid by suspected bandits at Gwaska in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a new military battalion for the area.
Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, made this known on Monday morning while also disclosing the President as well approved a new Police Area Command and two additional Div Police HQs for Birnin-Gwari.
TheNewsGuru reports bandits attacked Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari on Saturday afternoon leaving about 45 persons dead.
Residents said the killings occurred around 2:30 p.m. when the bandits stormed the village in large numbers on motorcycles. They also burnt many houses in the community.
Confirming the incident, Kaduna State Police commissioner, Austin Iwar, said the police have deployed over 150 personnel to the area as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Sunday.
“Yes 45 people were confirmed dead and as we speak the state command have already deployed 150 policemen to the area to provide security,” he said.
“We will also deploy another 200 police officers by next week to help protect lives and property in Birnin Gwari. We are doing everything possible to secure the area,” he said.
On the need for the command to work with local vigilante in the area, Mr Austin said the police is already doing so and will continue to work with them in the area of community policing.
A community leader in Birnin Gwari, who identified himself as Hussaini, said over 40 bodies were brought to emir’s place in Birnin Gwari on Sunday afternoon.
“Some bodies that were seemed to have been burnt were already buried by their love ones at Doka and Mando villages, few kilometres from Birnin Gwari town,” he said.
Following the latest attack, Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Sunday evening had announced that the federal government agreed to deploy a permanent army battalion in the troubled area.
Bashir Ahmad said today’s approval of the new military battalion, the new Police Area Command and the two additional Div Police HQs for the area was efforts by the Buhari government “To bring an end to the bloodletting, and ensure that the criminals behind it are brought to justice,” while adding “The killings in Birnin Gwari are regrettable”.
El-Rufai confirmed the development, stressing the engagements between the State and Federal Governments is yielding results.
“Military and security deployments have continued in the area since then, but the bandits hiding in the forests continue to exert a deadly toll, killing civilians, soldiers and other security forces
“The Federal Government has now approved a permanent army battalion in the area, instead of the previous ad-hoc deployments. Police strength in the Birnin-Gwari axis is also being enhanced,” the Kaduna state governor confirmed.
From all indications, Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is rejigging its platforms on the Internet, ranging from its websites to its social media handles.
TheNewsGuru reports Twitter erupted in confusion on Saturday after Spokesman of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi disowned the party’s supposed official account, @APCNigeria.
For the upteenth time, @APCNigeria IS NOT the official Twitter handle of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In several official statements, we have disclaimed that handle. We view this latest development as a case of criminal impersonation.
This is following reports that the account was ‘sold’ as reported in some quarters in the media or hacked as TheNewsGuru.com verifiably reports.
Today, Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad further disowned the @APCNigeria Twitter handle and revealed the party “is now officially on Twitter”.
“Our great party, the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) is now officially on Twitter. Kindly follow @OfficialAPCNg. Also on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube,” he tweeted.
When TheNewsGuru assessed the various Internet platforms of the ruling party, findings reveal that the APC is actually moving platforms, which includes a new domain name registration that has one Ololade Otayemi as registrant.
TheNewsGuru findings reveal that Mr. Otayemi, who operates Orbra I.T.C. located in Lokogoma, Abuja registered the www.officialapcng.com domain name on Monday 9th April 2018.
The APC official website is being hosted on a German server by Softlayer Technologies Inc, and efforts to reach Olalade to confirm the findings repeatedly returned: “The MTN number you are trying to call is currently switched off; please try again later” as at the time of filing this report.
The party’s Instagram handle, created today, is presently having 29 followers; and while the new Twitter handle is having 22 followers, the new Facebook page is having 106 page likes.
In a phone conversation with TheNewsGuru.com, the manager of the APC former Twitter handle, Phillip Obin, confirmed the account was hacked and not sold.
“The account was hacked, but I am currently engaging Twitter to help restore it… we have gotten an assurance that the challenge will be sorted out soonest” he said.
According to a tweet from the hacker, the account was reportedly sold for ‘$2k’. The hacker also went ahead to post tweets relating to the sale and purchase of bitcoins.
A Twitter user who goes by the name Justin Sun on his Twitter handle is alleged to have claimed that someone he identified as “Nigerian president” sold the official @APCNigeria Twitter handle to him.
A rapidly circulating tweet with suspicious verified Twitter handle, “Justin Sun @APCNigeria,” shows one Mr. Justin Sun threatening to reveal all the correspondences between him and a supposed president of Nigeria if his demands were not met.
In the Tweet allegedly posted at 7.52pm on Saturday, April 14, 2018, Justin Sun, who resides in San Francisco, state of California, USA, asked to be paid $100,000 for him to shut up about how APC’s Twitter handle became his personal possession.
The trending tweet supposedly by Justin Sun reads: “If the president of Nigeria does not pay me $100K, I’ll post all the correspondence here, and the whole world will see it.”
According to information available on Mr Justin Sun’s verified Twitter handle, he is the founder of Tron Foundation and he is one of Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 entrepreneurs and the First Millennial Graduate of Hupan University Founded By Jack Ma of the Alibaba Group.
“Justin Sun graduated from Hupan University as the program’s first millennial graduate. Sun received his diploma from Principal Jack Ma and updated him on the latest developments at #TRON. Sun also expressed his gratitude towards Principal Jack Ma for his unwavering support. #TRX,” another information on Justin Sun’s Twitter handle read.
Suffice to say, a perusal of Mr. Justin Sun’s official Twitter handle showed that his last post was seven hours ago, and he seemed to be unaware of the controversies surrounding his Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, the @APCNigeria Twitter handle has undergone several metamorphic processes since it was taken over, whether hacked or sold.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is expected to leave Abuja today for an official visit to the United Kingdom, has officially announced his intention to contest the 2019 presidential elections.
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to Buhari on New Media made this known on Monday morning.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has just officially announced his intention to seek re-election in 2019. Details soon…,” he posted on Twitter.
BREAKING: President Muhammadu Buhari has just officially announced his intention to seek re-election in 2019. Details soon…
Shortly before making the declaration, the President presented a speech on the report submitted by the APC National Executive Technical Committee.
Buhari’s Speech:
1. I am delighted to welcome you all to this very important meeting in the affairs of our party and our country. I want to specifically thank members of the Technical Committee for a job well done within the limited time frame.
2. It shows a great sense of commitment to the ideals of our party with a view to consolidating and positioning the party to continue delivering good governance in the overall interest of Nigerians.
3. With the present state of the party and based on the report submitted by the Technical Committee, It is important to focus on how to move the party forward by avoiding actions detrimental to the interest of the party. Considering that politics is a game of numbers, we must not be a house divided against itself and must try to note, appreciate and accommodate our differences as far as the law permits.
4. Upon my review of the Report, my position is to ensure that the party tows the path of unity, legality and cohesion and not that of division.
5. Therefore, I am stressing that we should strengthen our internal democracy by organising the Party’s Congresses and Convention where election of National Executive Committee members would be held. This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of Court compelling the party to hold its Congresses.
6. I also believe that the current executives should be free to vie for elective positions in the party if they so wish as permitted by our Party constitution.
7. However, considering the provision of Article 31(1)(iii) of the APC Constitution which requires any serving officer desirous of seeking re-election to resign from office 30 days before election, I am not sure of the practicality of present serving officers’ ability to meet this condition.
8. Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised from participating in the elections should they wish to do so, provided this does not violate our rules.
9. Necessary waiver(s) should also be extended to executives at the Ward level whose tenures may have elapsed, and indeed to anyone knocking at our doors from other political parties. This is in the spirit of the Right to Freedom of Association guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
10. In this circumstance, the party should officially issue a statement on the above Waivers so that our house may be full. We all must not be ignorant of the times, and the journey that is ahead of us.
11. Just like our party symbol; “the Broom,” which typifies strength in unity, let us strive to remain united in our purpose. Victory is sure by the Grace of God, and together we must continue to sanitize Nigeria’s political environment.
12. Once again, I welcome you all to this meeting with the hope that we will, in our deliberations today, conduct ourselves without rancour and promote the highest interest of the party and the nation.
——————————————————————-
Buhari will today leave Abuja for an official visit to Britain where he is due to hold discussions on Nigeria- British relations with Prime Minister Theresa May, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings scheduled for 18th to 20th April.
The President will also meet the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Plc, Mr. Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners’ plan to invest $15b in Nigeria’s oil industry.
These investment ventures will lay the foundation for the next 20 years’ production and domestic gas supply, according to the Presidency.
President Muhammadu Buhari will also in the UK renew discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, a good friend of the President, on inter-religious harmony in Nigeria and worldwide.
