TheNewsGuru

Tag: Buhari

  • Presidency dismisses N500,000 bribery allegation against Buhari

    Presidency dismisses N500,000 bribery allegation against Buhari

    The presidency on Wednesday, dismissed reports in some section of the media claiming President Muhammadu Buhari through his former lawyer, Kola Awodein bribed Justice Ademola with the sum of N500,000 during the certificate saga in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday alleged that Awodein gave Ademola a gift of N500,000 while a suit challenging the veracity of the President’s certificate was before the judge.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said there was no truth in the reports.

    Adesina, recalled that Buhari challenged the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011 at the Supreme Court and was never named as trying to compromise any judge.

    The statement reads in part: “Nigerians know that President Buhari challenged the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011, up to the Supreme Court, and not once was he named as trying to compromise any Judge, though some of them were his schoolmates, or contemporary, at one time or the other.

    “It is in keeping with the President’s time-tested reputation as a man of truth and integrity. Any attempt to sully that reputation is bound to fail, inexorably.”

    The Presidential aide quoted Awodein’s statement as saying, “I am constrained to make in absolute good faith, in good conscience and in the interest of justice and fair play the following very short statement on account of the distorted news story currently being peddled as affecting the person of Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and my good and very noble self.

    “The very simple and plain facts are as follows:

    “I have known as a friend and for well over 35 years Mr Justice Niyi Ademola, a notorious fact known to the majority of lawyers who have practised especially in Lagos for over that same period more or less and also to so many other professionals of other disciplines and other prominent and not so prominent Nigerians.

    “It is a fact that the sum of money mentioned was personally paid by me as a friend to Mr. Justice Ademola as a personal gift, as our custom well recognises and demands, on the occasion of his daughter’s High Society wedding solemnized at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on the 9th of May 2015, which I attended in person.

    “I was fully convinced then, as I remain today, that I could do no less as a friend of longstanding to fairly reasonably support him on that memorable occasion of his daughter’s wedding.

    “Anyone and everyone who knows me would readily and unquestionably testify that I am and have always been a man of impeccable integrity on and off the Courts and that such a record speaks always loudly for itself.

    “I would conclude by stating categorically and without any equivocation that ANY link whatsoever with Mr. President, or any court case or cases, of my personal gift from my personal resources delivered to Justice Niyi Ademola by myself on that occasion or any suggestion whatsoever that it was anything but such a gift or that it ever came from Mr President or at his instance or that I was acting, under any circumstances, on his behalf is most malicious, utterly ridiculous and in very very poor and revolting taste and most undeserving of any further comments.”

  • BREAKING: Buhari writes Nigerians, explains why he needs longer period of rest

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained why he extended his medical vacation indefinitely in London, United Kingdom.

    This was revealed in a four paragraph statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and obtained by TheNewsGuru.com.

    The statement explained that the president was advised to wait for the results of the series of medical checkups carried out by his team of doctors in London.

    The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari thanks millions of Nigerians who have been sending good wishes and praying for his health and well-being in mosques and churches throughout the country.

    “The President is immensely grateful for the prayers, show of love and concern.

    “President Buhari wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is no cause for worry.

    ‘”During his normal annual checkup, tests showed he needed a longer period of rest, necessitating the President staying longer than originally planned.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari travelled out of the country on Thursday, January 19 on a medical vacation in London after seeking the approval of the National Assembly. However, while he was expected to resume duties on February 6, he wrote the National Assembly again on February 5, requesting for an indefinite extension of the vacation on the advise of his doctors.

    The president has however handed over power to his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who has since been acting in his stead.

  • 2017 Budget: We won’t allow Buhari, APC to be disgraced – Dogara

     

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said the House will do everything possible to ensure easy passage of the proposed 2017 budget to avoid a repeat of the mess that happened with the 2016 budget.

    The Speaker said the lawmakers are working round the clock to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari overcome the current challenges and even come out stronger.

    Dogara stated this while addressing a round-table on the N7.29trillion budget proposal, organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors in Abuja on Monday.

    “I must say that the APC as the party with majority in the National Assembly will not allow Mr. President and the APC as the ruling political party to be humiliated or defeated on its budget priorities as we are all part of the same government,” he said.

    Dogara also insisted they were very sensitive about constituency matters irrespective of party affiliation.

    “It is however, important to stress that on budget matters members of the National Assembly tend to be very sensitive to their constituency representational functions, irrespective of party,” he said.

    He promised that the passage and implementation of the budget would be transparent.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the 2016 budget was marred with several controvercies that revolved around padding the budget with several items and figures that were not in the originals as presented by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

  • Buhari not in Abuja House, London says Official

    Buhari not in Abuja House, London says Official

    Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari is not in Abuja London House, an official told a Guardian reporter on Sunday.

    The unidentified official said this when the reporter attempted to see the President who is currently on medical vacation.

    Recounting his encounter, the reporter quoted a staff member of the Abuja House, as saying, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s not here.”

    The Abuja House is the official residence of the Nigerian High commissioner to the United Kingdom, UK.

    He wrote: “At 2:50 p.m., when a black Mercedes jeep arrived, the occupant sitting by the driver rolled down the glass and asked, “Why are you here?

    “When I told him that l was a reporter with The Guardian and l had come to see if the president was there and to interview him, he looked quite irritated and replied angrily: ‘he’s not here, you can’t see anybody here.’

    “In an extraordinary move, two police officers, Constables Marlett and Stock, were called in by the security staff at the Abuja House to arrest the reporter.

    “When both arrived on their motorcycles, they took the reporter’s name and date of birth and subsequently made a check on the national database, before staying around for about 20 minutes and then left.

    “Prior to that, the security staff threatened the reporter with the police when he called at the Kensington residence to interview President Buhari about his continued stay in the UK.”

    Recall that shortly after Buhari embarked on his vacation few weeks ago, rumour had it that he was dead.

    This was further fuelled by the fact that the President who was expected back in the country, following the completion of his vacation, sent a letter to the National Assembly same day extending his 10-day vacation in the UK to enable him complete and receive medical results.

  • Osinbajo’s achievements are ‘milestones of the Buhari administration’ – Presidency

    Osinbajo’s achievements are ‘milestones of the Buhari administration’ – Presidency

     

    The presidency has refuted reports in some quarters that there were divisions within the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, maintaining that even in the president’s absence, the successes recorded so far by his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who as being in acting capacity are “milestones of the Buhari administration.”

    This was revealed in Abuja over the weekend by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu.

    Shehu made the remark while dismissing insinuations in certain quarters that there was division in the Presidency.

    The Presidential spokesman maintained it was not true that some close appointees of President Buhari had constituted themselves into a cabal with the aim of whittling down the influence of the Acting President.

    In his words: “This country has one government. When Nigerians voted, they voted for Buhari/Osinbajo on one ticket. Nobody can divide that ticket, so if Prof. Osinbajo achieves a milestone, it is a milestone by the Buhari administration. It is one government, no division in this government.”

    Reacting to calls by some Nigerians for the president to address the nation via a video message, the spokesperson said: “Okay, if you are making a suggestion, we will put it to him, in case he would agree. We will put it to him.‘’

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari proceeded on a medical vacation to London, United Kingdom on January 19 to after writing the National Assembly and handing over power to his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who has been in acting capacity since then.

  • Again, Buhari, Saraki meet in London

    Again, Buhari, Saraki meet in London

     

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Sunday night met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Abuja House in London, TheNewsGuru.com reports.

    However, details of the meeting are still sketchy.

    The handle of the President @NGRPresident confirmed the development.

    “This evening President @MBuhari met with Senate President @bukolasaraki, at Abuja House”.


    This came few days after Buhari, Saraki and House of Reps Speaker, Yakubu Dogara met the president.

    The trio had deliberated on matters of mutual interests between the Executive and the Legislature.

    The leaders used the opportunity to personally pray for President Buhari and wish him quick return to Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari jetted out of the country to London, United Kingdom on a medical vacation since January 19.

     

  • Jonathan, not Buhari’s administration initiated N250m gate house for Vice President

    Jonathan, not Buhari’s administration initiated N250m gate house for Vice President

    The Office of the Vice President has denied media reports that the proposed N250million gate house for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s official residence was captured in the 2017 budget.

    The Senior Special Assistant on media to the Vice President, Laolu Akande revealed this in a statement on Monday.

    Akande maintained that the N250m gate house for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President was initiated by the immediate past administration as far back as 2010.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC Dino Melaye had blown the whistle of the outrageous amount for the gatehouse and had called for immediate review of the proposal.

    However, Akande clarified that the proposed plan of the Jonathan administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.

    “The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.

    ‘Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false. “Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.

    “While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.”

     

  • 2nd Niger Bridge: Buhari as Igbo’s best friend

    By Chukwudi Enekwechi

     

    Despite obvious criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration by some South Easterners, it has finally manifested that under this administration, the people of the area will heave a sigh of relief in the aspect of infrastructural development.

    Before his assumption of power, South Easterners had to put up with a litany of unfulfilled promises by successive PDP administrations. The circuitous journey started with the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo who despite all pleadings for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge merely paid lip service to the peoples’ clarion call.

    Till President Buhari arrived on the scene no serious deliberate effort was made towards the realisation of the project. The good news however is that President Buhari has approved the construction of the second Niger Bridge as a national priority in the 2017 budget proposal.

    What this implies is that once the 2017 appropriation bill is passed into law, full construction work will commence on the Second Niger Bridge, and sufficient funds have been provided to ensure its successful completion.

    In the final analysis, the point must be made that despite the shenanigans of the PDP lords of manor about loving Igbos, President Buhari has demonstrated in concrete terms that his love for Igbos is real and unpretentious. For sixteen years, South Easterners put up with a deceitful, self-seeking and rapacious crowd whose claim to leadership was based on god-fatherism, and links to Abuja overlords.

    They failed to spare a thought for the long-suffering people of South East whose physical infrastructure had dilapidated to unimaginable levels. Rather they gloried in self-immolation and aggrandisement, preferring to pollute the atmosphere with their filthy riches, while at the same time abusing our sense of decency and tolerance.

    With President Buhari’s emergence, the people will sing a new song as a Daniel has come to judgement, as he has exhibited large heartedness towards the people of South East. In a figurative manner, one can rehash Bob Marley’s popular song which says that your “worst enemy could be your best friend”.

    This can simply be translated to mean that in spite of various misgivings against candidate Buhari during the elections by some Igbos; his proactive actions towards ameliorating the plight of the people are today visible. It is on record that no administration has gone this far in making deliberate efforts to address the infrastructural deficit of the South East geo-political zone.

    As a sign that the Buhari administration has a lot of goodies in stock for the South East it is pertinent to state here that the federal government under President Buhari has earmarked over seven strategic roads for complete rehabilitation in the zone. It is not in doubt that decayed infrastructure has remained the major militating factor towards the economic emancipation of the South East. This has also led to what many people from the area have termed as marginalization.

    Without mincing words, this is the first time a significant attention is being paid to the infrastructural decay in the South East. Regrettably, despite the fact that the zone produced five Senate Presidents, SGF, chairmen of works committee in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, it is puzzling that they failed to influence the repair of the roads in the zone.

    It is therefore only reasonable that the people of South East should throw their weight behind the APC administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, as they embark on massive rehabilitation of road infrastructure in the zone.

    Even as President Buhari undergoes medical check-up in the United Kingdom, the fervent prayer of all Nigerians, especially people of the South East is for God to grant him good health, long life and even a second term to be able to complete his assignment for all Nigerians.

    It is indeed regrettable that despite the massive support the South East gave to PDP while their reign lasted, they merely took their support for granted, and deceived the gullible into believing that their destinies were intertwined. Unfortunately the zone had as their representatives, senators and political appointees, people with pecuniary interests who never understood the meaning of selfless service to their various constituencies.

    Today, with the presentation of 2017 budget proposals by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing , Mr. Babatunde Fashola to the National Assembly, it is crystal clear that the Buhari administration is poised to make a difference in the lives of Igbos and Nigerians in general.

    Of course, he is able to achieve this feat based on the fact that he is incorruptible, serious-minded, and does not play games with lives and welfare of the people he governs. This administration is action-packed, and the impact will be felt in different sectors, ranging from power, railway, roads, housing, health, science and technology, agriculture, internal security, social empowerment schemes, and fight against graft in public offices.

     

    Chukwudi Enekwechi, Journalist and Politician, writes from Abuja and can be reached via kwechis19@yahoo.com

  • Stop visiting Buhari, he needs rest, Fayose tells politicians

    Stop visiting Buhari, he needs rest, Fayose tells politicians

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said politicians visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in London should desist from the act and allow the president to attend to his health issues.

    Fayose also said he remained a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP loyal to Ahmed Makarfi-led faction despite the Court of Appeal judgment declaring Alimodu Sheriff as the National Chairman.

    Fayose revealed this on Saturday in a monitored programme aired simultaneously on Ekiti owned television and radio stations.

    In his words: “We are not going anywhere. The matter has been appealed. In elections, three things are important: party, candidate and people. We have the people. The power of the people is greater than the machinations of the people working against us.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose, while praying for sound health for the president, said his desire for a better Nigeria accounted for why he had been criticising the Federal Government when things were not done the right way.

    ‎He explained that he had stopped criticising the president since he travelled abroad for medical attention because anyone could fall sick and the president should be allowed to enjoy his rest.

    “I don’t have any problem with the president; the only problem I have is with his handlers. They will say something today and say another tomorrow. Anybody can fall sick.

    “I have not been criticising the president because he is sick. When he comes back and he is not doing the right thing, we will continue to criticise him,” he said.

    Describing the visits by some All Progressives Congress, APC chieftains to the president as a make-belief and too much of eye service, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum said it would not have been necessary if the people knew the truth from the onset.

    The governor spoke further: “It is God that gives power to whoever He wills. As humans, we can fall sick. But people should allow him to rest.

    “Some people are visiting him to convince people that he is well; that is a make-belief and too much of eye-service.”

    “So many women are in pains today because some husbands had become terrors at home. We must consciously promote women, show love to them and assist them.”

  • Osinbajo should release El-Zakzaky, he needs medical attention like Buhari – Shi’ites

    Osinbajo should release El-Zakzaky, he needs medical attention like Buhari – Shi’ites

     

    Following the continuous detention and alleged failing health of the leader and founder of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, widely known as Shi’ite , Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat, the Sokoto State leader of the group, Malam Kasim Umar, has called on the federal government to immediately release the incarcerated leader.

    He stated that just like President Muhammad Buhari, who urgently left the country to take care of his health, Zakzaky too was in desperate need of medical attention.

    “It is confirmed that Malam’s health is deteriorating by the day,” he told newsmen on Saturday.

    “He has lost one eye already and even the second eye is being affected. If left unattended to, he can lose it as well.

    “The gunshot injury he sustained on one of his legs during the military clamp down in 2015 is still there.

    “I am therefore appealing to the acting President who is a pastor and a renowned lawyer to release Malam as ordered by the Court for him to be properly checked and treated’’, he said.

    On purported plan by the federal government to release Zakzaky to the Kaduna State Government for prosecution, Umar expressed Shi’ites’ fears.

    He stated that their leader would not be given fair trial, with Kaduna government planning to charge Zakzaky based on alleged offences committed over 30 years ago.

    Umar appealed to other nations of the world, local and international human right groups to pressurize the federal government to obey existing court order and release the IMN leader.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that an Abuja Federal High Court had on January 30 directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura to release El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat or risk going to jail.