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Tag: Boss Mustapha

  • Presidency slams Boss Mustapha over ‘Tinubu didn’t make Buhari president’ remark

    Temitope Ajayi, media aide to President Bola Tinubu, has slammed the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, over the latter’s revelation that Tinubu did not make Muhammadu Buhari president in 2015.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Mustapha during the public presentation of ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience’, a new book authored by Buhari’s former media aide, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, made the remark while responding to previous claims made by Tinubu during his 2022 campaign.

    The former SGF said Buhari already had his organic supporters of over 12million before joining the APC.

    Reacting, Tinubu’s media aide, via Facebook page expressed disappointment with the former SGF’s remark, said the development ‘has done disservice to our recent history’, adding that it was an ‘unnecessary glib’.

    Ajayi said there was no way Buhari could have emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the party’s 2014 national convention in Lagos without Tinubu’s mobilisation of State governors.

    He wrote: “Let’s even leave the general election that the then General Buhari won to become president in 2015.

    “There was no way he would have won the election to be president without first becoming the presidential candidate of his party APC.

    “General Buhari would not have won the APC primary election at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, in 2014 without President Tinubu, who mobilised the APC governors and the South West delegates to move Buhari’s way.

    “Former SGF Boss Mustapha did a disservice to our recent history with that unnecessary glib at the book launch today.

    “Every effort and support that made it possible for President Buhari to win should never be diminished.

    “Buhari had his 12 million captive Northern votes, yet he lost three presidential elections in 2003, 2007, and 2011.”

  • ‘You didn’t make Buhari President’- Boss Mustapha knocks Tinubu

    ‘You didn’t make Buhari President’- Boss Mustapha knocks Tinubu

    The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has slammed President Bola Tinubu for claiming that he was solely responsible for the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president in 2015.

    Mustapha during the public presentation of ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience’, a new book authored by Buhari’s former media aide, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, responded to previous claims made by Tinubu during his 2022 campaign.

    The former Lagos governor in a now-famous campaign address in Ogun State in June 2022, had declared that Buhari owed his presidency to him, adding that Buhari would not have been president without him.

    Mustapha who served under Buhari dismissed the notion and credited Buhari’s long-established grassroots popularity in Northern Nigeria as the real engine behind the APC’s victory.

    “The CPC had only one state then, but the important votes that gave us victory came from CPC,” Mustapha said.

    “We knew what we did to produce Buhari’s presidency. Buhari already had 12 million votes. What the merger brought was an additional three million. It wasn’t about anyone making anyone president. Buhari’s base was already solid,” he added.

    The rebuttal is the latest reflection of the widening rift within the APC as internal power blocs realign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Northern APC leaders, particularly those loyal to Buhari, have increasingly distanced themselves from Tinubu’s style of leadership and historical claims.

    They have aligned with the coalition being led by former vice president Atiku Abubakar, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 election.

    Ahead of the Buhari victory in 2015, various groups forged a coalition to form the APC. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and factions of PDP and APGA— aligned and defeated then President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    Although it has been three years since the infamous statement, Mustapha countered saying, “There’s a tendency to distort the facts. Buhari had an unshakable followership.”

  • Wonders as Ex-SGF, reveals how Buhari’s signature was forged to withdraw $6million from CBN

    Wonders as Ex-SGF, reveals how Buhari’s signature was forged to withdraw $6million from CBN

    Ex- Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha on Tuesday told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, of how his signature and that of former President Muhammadu Buhari were forged by those who withdrew $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on February 8, 2023.

    A witness in the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the CBN, the former SGF who was linked to the withdrawal of the fund, said to have been used to pay foreign observers in the 2023 elections, told the court that he knew nothing about the transaction and that his signature was also forged.

    Explaining that it was not the business of the Federal Government or the office of the SGF to request funds from the CBN for the payment of foreign election observers, but solely that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deal with issues relating to election observers, he denied involvement in the matter.

    Michael Onyeka Ogbu a CBN official, had on Monday told Justice Hamza Muazu of the court that the amount was given out in cash to an official from the office of the SGF, named Jibril Abubakar following approvals by Buhari and Godwin Emefiele resulting from a request by the SGF.

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    Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ogbu, former branch controller of the CBN, Abuja branch identified the documents presented to him by the prosecution admitted that they the same papers he worked on adding that on January 8, 2023, a request for payment in the sum of $6,230,000 came to his office and documents for the disbursement of the money were approved by the then CBN boss in cash for international election observers.

    He told the court: “My Lord, all requests for payments are usually channelled to the branch controller and that is my office. And on that day, my Lord, the request to my office was $6,230,000 and my attention was drawn towards it by my office assistant. It came from the banking services department and the memo carried the signature of the Director, Banking Services, with an instruction to the branch controller to pay the sum of $6,230,000 to a staff of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, bearing the name and identity card of the person.”

  • Ex-SGF denies $6.3m CBN looting allegation

    Ex-SGF denies $6.3m CBN looting allegation

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha has dismissed as outrageous insinuations alleging his involvement in an illegal withdrawal of 6.3 million dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Mustapha refuted the allegations, describing it as “outrageous and unsubstantiated”.

    He said the allegation was a  malicious fabrication, and an orchestrated attempt to assassinate his character, and tarnish his reputation.

    The former SGF said he lacked knowledge of the purported “Presidential Directive” being referred to, as justification for the withdrawal.

    Mustapha said that he was never involved in discussions or transactions, relating to any payment for foreign election observers.

    He further questioned the timing of the allegation, pointing to the sensitive pre-Christmas period as a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and sow seeds of doubt.

    The former SGF called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, urging the authorities to probe the source of the fabricated documents and expose those behind the smear campaign.

    He said the report claimed that a special investigator, appointed by President Bola Tinubu, uncovered the alleged theft.

    “It was said to have supposedly occurred on Feb. 8, three weeks before the presidential election.

    “The report further alleged that  along with the embattled former CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, authorised the removal of the cash from the bank’s vault, under the guise of funding foreign election observer missions.

    “The investigator’s report, as quoted by the publication, claimed CCTV footage, captured how the money was moved out of the apex bank,” he said.

  • Ex-SGF, Boss Mustapha reacts to $6.3m CBN looting allegation

    Ex-SGF, Boss Mustapha reacts to $6.3m CBN looting allegation

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha has dismissed outrageous insinuations alleging his involvement in an illegal withdrawal of 6.3 million dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Mustapha refuted the allegations, describing it as “outrageous and unsubstantiated”.

    He said the allegation was a  malicious fabrication, and an orchestrated attempt to assassinate his character, and tarnish his reputation.

    The former SGF said he lacked knowledge of the purported “Presidential Directive” being referred to, as justification for the withdrawal.

    Mustapha said that he was never involved in discussions or transactions, relating to any payment for foreign election observers.

    He further questioned the timing of the allegation, pointing to the sensitive pre-Christmas period as a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and sow seeds of doubt.

    The former SGF called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, urging the authorities to probe the source of the fabricated documents and expose those behind the smear campaign.

    He said the report claimed that a special investigator, appointed by President Bola Tinubu, uncovered the alleged theft.

    “It was said to have supposedly occurred on Feb. 8, three weeks before the presidential election.

    “The report further alleged that  along with the embattled former CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, authorised the removal of the cash from the bank’s vault, under the guise of funding foreign election observer missions.

    “The investigator’s report, as quoted by the publication, claimed CCTV footage, captured how the money was moved out of the apex bank,” he said.

  • George Akume officially takes over from Boss Mustapha as SGF

    George Akume officially takes over from Boss Mustapha as SGF

    Sen. George Akume has officially taken over from Boss Mustapha as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Akume assumed duties on Wednesday with a pledge to coordinate and monitor the implementation of government policies and programmes.

    Before his appointment as SGF, Akume was two-term Governor of Benue from 1999 to 2003 and 2003 to 2007.

    He was also appointed as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, in  former President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government.

    Appreciating the former SGF Mr Boss Mustapha for the smooth transition Programmes handled by him, Akume said though work in the SGF’s office was sensitive,  he would do his best from where the former SGF stopped.

    “We will do our best in the interest of the country, I have an open-door policy and we will continue to do our best, starting from  where you stopped.

    Akume also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for giving him such a great opportunity to serve his fatherland.

    Earlier, Mustapha said it was his pleasure to be present to formally hand-over the affairs of the office of the SGF to Akume.

    He used the occasion to highlight some of the important responsibilities and the functions of the office to Akume.

    Mustapha briefed Akume on pending issues such as report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to consider pending Bilateral Agreements between the Federal  Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Others are the report of the Presidential Committee on the Review of Number and Strategy for Resourcing Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions World-Wide, approval of the recommendations of the reviewed white paper on the Presidential Committee on the restructuring/rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions.

    Others, he said, are the Ama Pepple Report on the new Agencies created after the Oronsaye Report, which WhitePaper was produced by the Ebele Okeke-led Committee, report on the Presidential Implementation Committee of the White Paper on the Commission of Inquiry into the Alienation of Federal Government Landed Property.

    He also briefed the new SGF on the Report of the Presidential Steering Committee [formerly Presidential Task Force (PTF)] on COVID-19;

    implementation committee on Special Detainees Linked to Boko Haram Insurgency and report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the investigation of Mr Ibrahim Magu, the former Acting Chairman of the EFCC, among others were also presented.

  • May 29: As long as the Lord tarries there will be inauguration – Boss Mustapha

    May 29: As long as the Lord tarries there will be inauguration – Boss Mustapha

    The Federal Government says the inauguration of President-Elect, Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-Elect, Kashim Shettima on May 29 remains sacrosanct.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said this when he addressed a World News Conference to kick-start the inauguration activities on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mustapha, also the Chairman, Presidential Transition Council(PTC), said the ongoing litigation the presidential election tribhnal would not affect the swearing-in of the president-elect and the vice-president-elect.

    “Without any fear of contradiction, there will be inauguration on May 29.

    “This is not the first time, during the election of former President Shehu Shagari there was litigation but the country went ahead with the inauguration.

    “Also, During the election of former President Olusegun Obasanjo there was litigation but we continued with the swearing in.

    “It was only former President Goodluck Jonathan that did not take the route of litigation.

    “So, as long as the Lord tarries there will be inauguration,” he said.

    The PTC chairman said the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act made adequate provision on how to go about litigations arising from elections.

    On attendance of Heads of Government, Mustapha said a good number of them had indicated interest in attending the inauguration.

    He, however, did not mention those who had been confirmed their attend, citing security reasons.

    “Diplomatic privileges will not allow us to announce the number of presidents or who is coming because of the precarious times we are in today.

    “However, there is enthusiasm and eagerness to come and support Nigeria to sustain it’s democracy.

    “So we have a responsibility to get it right,” he said.

    May 29 Presidential inauguration will be the 7th consecutive democratic transition of power in Nigeria. The day will also usher in the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • How Nigeria spent N13trn on fuel subsidies in 16 years – Boss Mustapha

    How Nigeria spent N13trn on fuel subsidies in 16 years – Boss Mustapha

    Following the confusion surrounding  the removal of Fuel Subsidy the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has said the country spent N13 trillion on subsidies payment between 2005-2021.

    Mustapha made this known on Monday while unveiling the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Abuja.

    He explained that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had managed the petrol subsidy best.

    He added that the outgoing government would leave a robust framework for President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s incoming administration.

    “From that policy advisory, over N13tn is documented to have been expended on the subsidy payment between 2005 – 2021. The figure is equivalent to Nigeria’s health, education, agriculture, and defence budget in the last five years and almost the capital expenditure for ten years between 2011 and 2020,” he said.

    Recall that the Federal Government suspended subsidy removal until the end of June, proposing that the incoming government acts on it.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, had disclosed that fuel subsidy removal by the end of June would save Nigeria N3.36 trillion.

  • APC voids SGF, Boss Mustapha’s suspension

    APC voids SGF, Boss Mustapha’s suspension

    The Adamawa chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has voided Wednesday’s suspension of  Mr. Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by his Godabawa ward.

    Dr. Raymond Chidama, the state APC Secretary, said this when he addressed newsmen in Yola on Thursday.

    “It is a known fact and worth of mentioning that the contribution of Boss Mustapha toward sustaining and supporting the party is second to none and cannot be overemphasised.

    “Therefore, any group hiding under the auspices of the party which is sponsored by the opposition to come out with malicious allegation at this critical time is highly condemnable.

    “We hereby state such suspension is unconstitutional, null and void, and is of no effect,” he said.

    The APC leadership in Godabawa ward in Yola-North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Wednesday suspended Mustapha from the party for alleged anti-party activities.